2008 Clemson Tigers College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are wagering on college football this season, don’t miss Alex’s winning college football picks.

Clemson Tigers (9-4, 5-3 in 2007, 2nd place in the ACC Atlantic)
After many years of waiting, Clemson Tigers fans may finally have a chance to shine in the national spotlight in 2008. HC Tommy Bowden has assembled a tremendously talented squad that should be the favorites to win the ACC, and could challenge for the National Championship when it’s all said and done.

2007 Highlight: Clemson’s opening game of the 2008 season against the Florida State Seminoles was a beauty as Tommy took on his father, Bobby, in the annual Bowden Bowl. His Tigers jumped out to a 24-3 halftime lead, but the Seminoles clawed their way back to within six. A stifling defense that tortured FSU QB Drew Weatherford all game held on to preserve the 24-18 victory. RB’s James Davis and CJ Spiller combined for 259 all-purpose yards in the win.

2007 Lowlight: The trip into Bobby Dodd Stadium was a disaster for the 4-0 Tigers, who were ranked #13 at the time. The offense put three points on the board just over a minute into the game, but failed to score again against a stout Georgia Tech defense. QB Cullen Harper had his worst game of the season, completing only 17 of 39 passes for 194 yards and a pick.

Offensive Outlook: Eight starters return for an offense that averaged 33.1 PPG a year ago. Spiller and Davis are certainly the best running back tandem in the ACC, and are both amongst the elite backs in the nation. Harper looks to improve on a junior season in which he threw 27 touchdowns against just six interceptions, and will be helped by the return of his two favorite targets, Aaron Kelly and Tyler Grisham. The offensive line has some questions, but the skill position players are all in place for this to be one of the top offenses in the nation.

Defensive Outlook: After allowing a svelte 18.6 PPG a year ago, the eight returning members of the Tigers defense will look to have an even better ’08. The entire secondary returns, and the three returning defensive line members will be joined by incoming freshman Da’Quan Bowers, who was the #1 defensive end recruit in the country this year. Senior Cortney Vincent will have to lead an inexperienced group of linebackers, but should be picked up by the veterans on the rest of the defense.

2008 Preview: If the Tigers can roll past the Alabama Crimson Tide in their opener, look for them to be undefeated and towards the top of the polls going into November. The schedule sets up nicely for Clemson if they can survive road games at Boston College and Florida State, to possibly be undefeated going into their rivalry game with the Gamecocks in the regular season finale.

2008 will be a success if… the offensive line keeps it together. If the unit excels, the Tigers are going to be a tough team to tame in 2008.

There are steep expectations at Clemson this year, and if the Tigers don’t win the ACC, Bowden could find himself on the chopping block.

Prediction: 11-1, 1st place in ACC Atlantic