It’s one rivalry game after another this weekend, so you bet your heart it’s going to get spicy. See, for Clemson, this is a must-win. Dabo Swinney and Co. are on 9-2 right now. They are off the 12-team playoff list, but with this win, they can get in with ease, and for South Carolina? They will do everything in their power to stop Clemson from getting into that playoff bracket. Here is the thing, though: going into this showdown, both teams bring quite different styles into this. For Clemson, it will be relying on running the ball. For the Gamecocks? It will come down to stopping that run.

To break it all down, we got Greg McElroy’s take on this game. Back on ESPN, McElroy had the perfect take for both Clemson and South Carolina. “When he’s not pressured, he’s really good when he is pressured, he’s not very good,” McElroy mentioned. See, for the Tigers to win this, they have to create an opening for Cade Klubnik. Whenever this dude has had a chance to run the ball, he has not stopped. And this is also his biggest weakness. See, for Swinney to win this, they have to NOT do everything they did against Georgia. If they keep up the same game plan that they’ve had for their 9-win run, then this should be easy.

And this brings us to what the Gamecocks can do to prevent this. The defensive line has to act up. Do not get too aggressive because every time this South Carolina team has gone too aggressive, their front has fallen apart, and if this happens against Clemson, then off goes the quarterback on a full sprint.

3 players can switch it up and become the bane of Klubnik, though. Dylan Stewart, Kyle Kennard, and Tonka Hemingway are massive and the most important aspects of taking down Swinney’s offense.

Now, position both Stewart and Kennard on the outside and put Hemingway on the inside. That is all you need to make life difficult for Swinney and Klubnik. And if the Gamecocks win this showdown, then not only will this put Clemson out of the bracket, but it could also help a different team hit the 12-team list.

A gift for the Crimson Tide

Bama got walked over to Oklahoma, and it was not fun to watch. First time in over 10 years, Alabama ended a game with 3 points on the board, and it was depressing. The offense was tragic, and Nick Sheridan put everything at risk by trying to make Jalen Milroe a passer instead of focusing on his rushing capabilities and opening up pockets for him.

Now, why are we bringing these guys into the discussion? See, Bama is on the 13th spot on the CFP list. This week, they are going up against Auburn, and this will be Kalen DeBoer‘s first ever Iron Bowl. If they win this and Clemson loses to South Carolina, Bama could potentially take the 12th bracket.

Is this delusion or wishful thinking? Well, we gotta wait and watch. If Bama manages to get past their offensive woes and Milroe starts doing better, then it could be an easy game for DeBoer, but if Auburn pulls another Oklahoma trick and targets the rushing game and Tide has no counter? Expect another single-digit loss.