College Football Preview: Clemson Tigers

Kyle Parker delayed a baseball career to play this fall for Clemson. (AP Images)

The Clemson Tigers won the ACC Atlantic Division in 2009 and reached the conference championship game for the first time – losing to Georgia Tech – largely on the shoulders of electrifying running back and return man C.J. Spiller, and it’s Spiller’s shoes that will be the biggest to fill when the Tigers open the season Saturday against North Texas as 24-point favorites on Bodog’s NCAA football odds.

Can the Tigers win their first ACC title since 1991? They are generally picked to finish second in the Atlantic behind Florida State, but there certainly is enough talent still at Clemson. Plus the team caught a break when quarterback Kyle Parker decided to return for his sophomore season after turning down a full-time career as a baseball player at least until next year. Parker threw for 2,526 yards and a Clemson freshman record 20 touchdowns last year. He is one of seven starters back on offense. Sophomore Andre Ellington should be the featured back after averaging 7.2 yards per carry last season. Top WR Jacoby Ford also has moved on, and the No. 1 guy this year should be senior Xavier Dye, who has just 24 career receptions. Four of five starters are back on the offensive line.

Six starters are back on the defense. The line lost star Ricky Sapp but brings back junior end Da'Quan Bowers, who had 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and seven quarterback hurries last season. SS DeAndre McDaniel decided to return for his senior season after picking off eight passes and making 102 tackles last season. Linebacking could be a problem. And starter Brandon Maye had arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday and will miss at least North Texas game. Maye has started 25 of the last 26 Clemson games at linebacker and has 190 career tackles, including 103 last year.

Clemson’s over/under for wins on Bodog’s NCAA futures odds is 7. Think you know better? Then be a player at put your money where your mouth is.