Auburn and Clemson: A Tale of Two Tigers

Auburn and Clemson. Two storied schools of tradition. Two schools of Agriculture. Two schools with national titles in football….and Two schools with the most redneck, delusional, and unrealistic fan bases in the history of NCAA football who play each other week three of this year’s college football campaign. While I will get into the extreme fan bases later on into the, let’s focus on these two schools up until week 5, and how their meeting in Clemson, SC on Saturday, September 17^th (ABC 12:00PM EST) will impact more than just a single win or loss.

Auburn Tigers

The defending national champions have their work cut out for them this year…most notably due to the loss of Cam Newton and Nick Fairley. Looking at their schedule below, you’ll easily be able to pick out where the tough part of their schedule lies: (my guesses)

9/3 UTAH STATE (W)

9/10 MISSISSIPPI STATE (L)

9/17 at Clemson (W)

9/24 FLORIDA ATLANTIC (W)

10/1 at South Carolina (L)

10/8 at Arkansas (L)

10/15 FLORIDA (L – although this could go either way)

10/22 at LSU (L)

10/29 OLE MISS (W)

11/5 open

11/12 at Georgia (L – although this could go either way)

11/19 SAMFORD (W)

11/26 ALABAMA (L)

Clemson is hands down the most important game on Auburn’s schedule. Many people will argue that MSU the week before could take that spot. However, dropping a game at home against a top 20ish school is not the end of the world. Not to mention, Dan Mullen has a pretty solid chance of contending in several games this year. Personally, the Gamblin Boss sees them going into The Plains and taking one. The major issue lies with dropping this game on the road to a middle of the pack ACC school who is all hyped up on Mountain Dew. It won’t sit well with fans from South Alabama. The biggest problem that everyone at Auburn has to deal with (from the University President to sidewalk casual fan) is PERCEPTION. Auburn must send out an image that “all is well”…not only within their football program, but also to fans of the SEC. Could you imagine the ranting and raving field day piss ant ACC fans will have if Clemson beats Auburn? We ALL know….those of use with legit heads on our shoulders and not Orange blinders on…that Auburn is a shell of its former self. BUT THAT WON’T MATTER! Jim Bob, Cooter, and Clem’s son will all be singing the praises that the “mighty tigers of the ACC were the first ones to take down the TIGERS OF THE PLAINS”. Heck, I can already hear the echoes of [packing tobacco into lip] “WE DID SOMETHING SOUTH CAROLINA COULDN’T DO. [/spit tobacco into can]

Do I honestly feel that Auburn will lose to Clemson? I don’t know. It’s a complete crap shoot.  Clemson is not anything to write home about, but every single person with a tractor and overalls within 30 miles of Death Valley will be there to cheer on the MIGHTY TIGERS. From Auburn’s stand point, I’d have to feel like a prize bull getting ready to enter into the ring with the Matador…and feeling the pre-fight stab weaken their power just as the orange cape is waved in our face.Will you have the energy to take them down?

Clemson Tigers

Clemson. The only school that can justify a coach with the first name of Dabo. The ACC as a whole has only two possible teams to carry their banner into the Orange Bowl this year, so it’s very difficult to think that other teams have a shot to run the table. Clemson just is not that good. Taj Boyd may in fact be the worst quarterback in the state of South Carolina since Dondrial Pinkins trotted out in the #5 for South Carolina.  Now I’m not going to sit here and clog up valuable blog space on how terrible he, or his QB coach is (see Car Care Bowl 2010…or ask the 4,928 fans in attendance) because this is about the schedule and importance of the Auburn game.

9/3 TROY (W)

9/10 WOFFORD (W)

9/17 AUBURN (L)

9/24 FLORIDA STATE (L)

10/1 at Virginia Tech (L)

10/8 at BOSTON COLLEGE (W)

10/15 at Maryland (W)

10/22 NORTH CAROLINA (W)

10/29 at Georgia Tech (L)

11/5 open

11/12 WAKE FOREST (W)

11/19 at NC State (L –but could go either way)

11/26 at South Carolina (L)

Let this entire schedule sink into your brain. Allow the smells of cupcakes enter into your nostrils. CLEMSON HAS NO REASON WHY THEY WIN LESS THAN 6 GAMES. I don’t care how rational you are…or how much you may hate those that ‘pay ten a year”. THE ACC IS AWFUL. Clemson could care less if they drop one to Auburn at home. No problem! Hell, even if they lose against Florida State in the former Bowden Family Toilet Bowl…they still get to play the likes of Maryland, Wake Forest, NC State, Boston College (WHO HAD THEIR TICKETS ON GROUPON LAST WEEK. GROUPON FOR GOD’S SAKE). This doesn’t even count wins against Troy and something called a “Wofford”. Clemson, no one cares what you do with this game. If you win, yes…you’ll be assured 7 or 8 wins. Lose, and so what? You’ll still make it to the Car Care bowl…or better yet, still be in contention to win the ACC with 7 losses.

In summary, Auburn has every ounce of pressure on them to win this game.  Mike Slive cares about this. Paul (or PAWWWL) Finebaum cares about this. The Pope should care about this. They cannot lose this game…under any circumstance. For God, country, and the SEC…the scoreboard must light up like a Christmas tree under the visitor’s side. If it happens, Clemson fans are going to go complete apeshit over a victory, and proclaim that the ACC IS BACK!  The defending national champions have been defeated!

The coming weeks will be very interesting, and I hope that this prediction will still stand:

Auburn 27 Clemson 20

-Gamblin Boss