Clemson has improved on defense, especially the play of their DL

USC has improved on offense, and their OL is much improved this season

Advantage??

USC's defense has slipped slightly from their performance last season. They have made significant strides forward as the season has progressed. The biggest slip on D has been their run D, which they have allowed around 20 more ypg from 2012. They are allowing about 2 ppg more this season and overall around 30 more ypg...

Clemson hasn't really improved all that much on offense from 2012: they score 1.3 ppg more; they are passing for more yds but are rushing for less, so that they average 516.6 total ypg compared to 512.7 ypg in 2012. Not really all that different is it? But Clemson has a lesser run gm this season than last, so can they capitalize on USC's run D being less?

Biggest difference between 2012 and 2013? Game is in Williams-Brice instead of Memorial Stadium. Clemson boasts of having a great home-field advantage in football. They got routed by FSU earlier this season but that was the only home gm they lost. The previous home game loss? Against USC last season. The previous one before that? Against USC in 2010.

USC will have it's starting QB for this game, and also have Thompson ready to go as well. We'll have our starting RB in Davis, but also will have 3 other RBs ready to go - all 3 have rushed for 100+ yd games in their careers at USC - plus Wildcat option Pharoh Cooper who is averaging 12.5 ypc. Our WRs are deeper than last yr and more productive...

Clemson was VERY intimidated by the home crowd in 2011 when they were last there: Boyd was 11 for 30 for 80+ yds, and CU overall had 183 offensive yds. We beat them 34-17 in 2009 and 34-13 in 2011...

This post was edited on 11/27/13 at 5:55 am