For the second time in three weeks, Louisville will take on a top five opponent. Two weeks ago, the No. 3 Cardinals dismissed Florida State by 43 points. Now, however, they’ll travel south to Clemson, where they’ll meet the No. 5 Tigers in Death Valley (kickoff on Saturday 8 p.m.).
This game will mark the 15th time in league history that two top 10 ACC teams have faced one another. It will mark just the fifth time in ACC history that two top five teams from the conference have competed. Louisville and Clemson have played twice before — both times the Tigers have been victorious.
Louisville and Clemson are powered by superstar quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson. Jackson has been the best player in America this season, accounting for 25 total touchdowns in just four games, and ranking No. 1 in ESPN’s Total QBR. Louisville has the nation’s best offense, and Jackson is their conductor. Watson has struggled out of the gate in 2016; his completion percentage is way down (60.0 percent), and he’s found running lanes harder to come by this season (3.4 yard per carry). However, he played well last Thursday in a win over Georgia Tech, and everyone knows what he’s capable of following his brilliant sophomore campaign a season ago.
The winner of this game will have the inside track toward becoming the Atlantic Division champion, and it would be an amazing resume boost for the selection committee to take note of as well.
All of that said, who do you think will win Saturday night in prime time?
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Poll: A matchup of top 5 ACC teams will next place this weekend in Death Valley -- No. 3 Louisville at No. 5 Clemson. Who do you think will win, and have the inside track to an ACC championship?
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