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Alabama Football: Week eight key games for Crimson Tide fans

By Ronald Evans

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 11: The College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy is seen on the field before the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 11: The College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy is seen on the field before the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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WINSTON SALEM, NC – OCTOBER 06: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers waits to go onto the field ahead of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

North Carolina State vs. Clemson in Death Valley

This game gives NC State one of the biggest opportunities in their program’s history. A very impressive Wolfpack team currently sits undefeated. Two of their victories come from some of the best teams in this year’s ACC, Boston College and Virginia. This football team is by no means a CFB Playoff contender, but what they have accomplished isn’t just an accident. They are talented, poised, and aggressive.

The Textile Bowl is one of the most overlooked rivalries in college football, especially over the last few years. The Clemson Tiger’s are the new powerhouse of the ACC, so it’s expected that they are going to absolutely demolish the bottom feeders of the conference. That hasn’t necessarily been the case. The last three Textile Bowls have come down to the wire. Clemson was able to come away with the victory in 2015 after retaliating, but the 2016 and 2017 match-ups were decided very late by a touchdown. The 2016 game even went into overtime.

Clemson has already struggled once this year with an ACC opponent. Syracuse had them right where they wanted them. Clemson, of course, was able to come back and win by just four points. Now, we can’t forget that there was a lot of controversy going on at Clemson that week. Kelly Bryant had just announced his plan to transfer, and the new starting QB, Trevor Lawrence, was injured in the game.

Even with all of that going on, Clemson was able to come back and win the game. That may not be the case with NC State. Quite frankly, the Wolfpack is completely capable of giving a very healthy Clemson team a run for their money. But, Clemson is coming off a bye week and they are prepared. It was upset city, last week, and the Tigers are not going to let that happen to them. Their offense steps up when they really need it to, and I believe, once again, Clemson is going to rely on those big plays at the very end. The Tigers stay undefeated … for now.

Bama Hammer Contributor, Bryant Barger: Clemson 38 NC State 31

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