Chick-Fil-A Bowl

Clemson players ruled ineligible for Chick-Fil-A Bowl
December 18th, 2007

Clemson, SC (Sports Network) - Clemson starting linebackers Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie, along with starting offensive tackle Christian Capote, have been ruled ineligible for the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Auburn on New Year's Eve.

All three were fifth-year seniors who will sit due to poor academic performance.

"I am disappointed that these young men will not be able to play in our bowl game with Auburn," said Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden. "They had every opportunity to retain their eligibility. The staff at Vickery Hall did everything it could to provide them with tutors and assist them with their studies. But, they are accountable for their academic performance. All three can still graduate from Clemson and I will do everything I can to encourage them to do so."

Watkins led the defense in tackles the past two seasons, recording 116 in 2006 and 118 this year. Billie, meanwhile, was third on the team with 79 tackles this season.

Capote started all 12 games at right tackle and had 71 knockdown blocks.

2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl Preview
by Jordan Adams

Clemson (9-3) vs. Auburn (8-4)

Conference match-up: ACC vs. SEC
Date: Dec. 31, 2007
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Spread: Clemson -2

This is a storied rivalry, especially considering both play in separate conferences. However, the 46th meeting in this all-Tigers collision might be one of the best yet. The first-ever matchup dates all the way back to 1899, and this time around it's the impenetrable force against the immovable object. Clemson boasts one of the nation's most balanced offenses, while Auburn's defense remains the team's strongest fixture. However, the biggest news coming into this matchup will be the talk of departed offensive coordinator Al Borges suddenly resigning due to the team's lack of success with the ball. He will not coach against Clemson, and the newly signed Tony Franklin will take over duties in Auburn's final game of the season.

Clemson can cover if: they keep Auburn's defense off-balanced. Clemson is armed with arguably the best rushing duo of electric tailbacks in the country in James Davis and C.J. Spiller; both are game-breakers and can be utilized in the passing game as well. But yards on the ground will not be enough. First year starter Cullen Harper must attack down the field and create a need for Auburn not to stack eight men in the box and jam the rushing game at the line of scrimmage. Clemson averages over 430 total yards and 34 points per game. Those numbers will be tough to achieve against a feisty Auburn D. However, considering the inconsistencies the SEC's Tigers have had, it might not take more than 20+ points to emerge victorious.

Auburn can cover if: it takes away one facet of Clemson's offense. If they allow the ACC's Tigers to cash in both on the ground and through the air, well, there is no way Brandon Cox and the inept Auburn offense can match more than 24 points without help from the special teams and defense forcing turnovers. So, that's probably what the Tigers defense will have to do: get Cullen Harper out of sync with Will Muschamp's blitz schemes and force him into some poor mistakes. If Auburn wins the turnover battle and can cash in on special teams, they will make it out with their ninth win of the season.

General notes: Both teams met in Atlanta for the 1998 Peach Bowl, with Auburn coming out with a 21-17 win. However, a Clemson win would be the school's first 10-win season in 17 years and it's only second time they have won nine games during the regular season since 1992. Clemson's head coach actually served as an assistant for Auburn from 1991-1996 before eventually finding his current job in 1999. The SEC rep has won 12 straight over Clemson. This will be only the teams second meeting since 1971.

Chick-fil-A Bowl pits Clemson against Auburn

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly known as the Peach Bowl, pits the Clemson Tigers of the ACC against the Auburn Tigers of the SEC at the Georgia Dome on New Year's Eve.

This game marks the first meeting between Clemson and Auburn since the 1998 Chick-fil-A Bowl, a game won by Auburn, 21-17. Clemson is making its 30th bowl appearance, and while the club is 15-14 overall in bowl games, it owns a disappointing 2-4 mark in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Tigers enter this clash with a 9-3 record, including a 5-3 mark against ACC competition. If they are able to knock off Auburn, it will mark the program's first 10-win season since 1990.

Auburn will be making its 34th bowl appearance and owns an 18-13-2 mark in the previous 33 contests. The Tigers are 4-3 in bowl games under current head coach Tommy Tuberville, and his team finished with an 8-4 mark during the regular season. They won three of their last four games, and three of the four losses this year have come by six or fewer points.

Auburn owns a 32-11-2 series lead over Clemson, and the Tigers have won the last 12 meetings.

The Clemson offense is led by First-Team All-ACC running back James Davis, First-Team All-ACC receiver Aaron Kelly and standout quarterback Cullen Harper, the top-rated passer in the league. Let's start with Harper, who has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,887 yards and 27 touchdowns with only six interceptions. He has started all 12 games and has a tremendous command of the offense. Kelly has recorded 84 catches for 1,045 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Davis has compiled 992 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 5.2 ypc. Another player to keep an eye on is fellow tailback C.J. Spiller, as he provides plenty of speed and elusiveness to complement the North/South bruising style of Davis. Spiller has rushed for 656 yards and two touchdowns while also finishing third on the team in receiving. He has scored twice as a receiver and twice on kickoff returns as well, proof of Spiller's versatility.

Nick Watkins has been an active defender for Clemson, as he leads the squad with 118 total tackles, 35 more than his closest teammate. Unfortunately, academic problems will reportedly keep Watkins out of action in this bowl game. In his absence, keep an eye on Phillip Merling, as the defensive end has tallied 16 TFLs, including six sacks. The Tigers have been strong on defense in most games this season, and opponents are only gaining 297.1 total ypg. Only 11 rushing scores and 11 passing touchdowns have been yielded in 12 games, so the defense deserves just as much credit for the 9-3 record as Harper and his offense. Foes are managing only 3.3 rushing yards per carry against Clemson, which is also holding the opposition to 10.0 yards per pass completion. The Tigers have generated an average of two takeaways per contest and will attempt to at least maintain that average against Auburn.

The Auburn Tigers are averaging 24.3 ppg and 327.8 total ypg, numbers that aren't going to scare a strong defensive team like Clemson. Auburn has scored 32 offensive touchdowns this season, 21 of which have been rushing scores. While the club is posting a solid average of 154.2 rushing ypg, the average of 3.7 yards per carry isn't nearly as impressive. Ben Tate has been the most effective ground gainer on the roster, as he has racked up 856 yards and seven touchdowns. The passing game was supposed to be an area of strength this season with senior quarterback Brandon Cox at the helm, but that just hasn't been the case. Cox has been painfully inconsistent, as he has completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 1,869 yards and nine touchdowns with only 12 interception. Rod Smith has made 48 catches for 660 yards and five touchdowns, as he is the most dangerous receiver on the roster.

Once again, Auburn boasts one of the top defensive units in the nation. The fact that the Tigers are only allowing 16.7 ppg and 298.3 total ypg is remarkable, especially considering the explosive offenses that the faced in SEC play during the regular season. They held five opponents to 10 or fewer points, and four of those foes were SEC teams. Auburn is surrendering 3.5 yards per rushing attempt and 10.3 yards per pass completion. With 14 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries, the squad has obviously done a good job of generating turnovers. Chris Evans leads Auburn with 63 total tackles, while Antonio Coleman checks in with 17 TFLs. Another player to keep an eye on is Pat Sims, a big defensive tackle who is one of the best players at his position in the SEC.

Game Preview for Clemson vs Auburn

GAME NOTES: The Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly known as the Peach Bowl, pits the Clemson Tigers of the ACC against the Auburn Tigers of the SEC at the Georgia Dome on New Year's Eve. This game marks the first meeting between Clemson and Auburn since the 1998 Chick-fil-A Bowl, a game won by Auburn, 21-17. Clemson is making its 30th bowl appearance, and while the club is 15-14 overall in bowl games, it owns a disappointing 2-4 mark in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Tigers enter this clash with a 9-3 record, including a 5-3 mark against ACC competition. If they are able to knock off Auburn, it will mark the program's first 10-win season since 1990. Auburn will be making its 34th bowl appearance and owns an 18-13-2 mark in the previous 33 contests. The Tigers are 4-3 in bowl games under current head coach Tommy Tuberville, and his team finished with an 8-4 mark during the regular season. They won three of their last four games, and three of the four losses this year have come by six or fewer points. Auburn owns a 32-11-2 series lead over Clemson, and the Tigers have won the last 12 meetings.

The Clemson offense is led by First-Team All-ACC running back James Davis, First-Team All-ACC receiver Aaron Kelly and standout quarterback Cullen Harper, the top-rated passer in the league. Let's start with Harper, who has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,887 yards and 27 touchdowns with only six interceptions. He has started all 12 games and has a tremendous command of the offense. Kelly has recorded 84 catches for 1,045 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Davis has compiled 992 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 5.2 ypc. Another player to keep an eye on is fellow tailback C.J. Spiller, as he provides plenty of speed and elusiveness to complement the North/South bruising style of Davis. Spiller has rushed for 656 yards and two touchdowns while also finishing third on the team in receiving. He has scored twice as a receiver and twice on kickoff returns as well, proof of Spiller's versatility.

Nick Watkins has been an active defender for Clemson, as he leads the squad with 118 total tackles, 35 more than his closest teammate. Unfortunately, academic problems will reportedly keep Watkins out of action in this bowl game. In his absence, keep an eye on Phillip Merling, as the defensive end has tallied 16 TFLs, including six sacks. The Tigers have been strong on defense in most games this season, and opponents are only gaining 297.1 total ypg. Only 11 rushing scores and 11 passing touchdowns have been yielded in 12 games, so the defense deserves just as much credit for the 9-3 record as Harper and his offense. Foes are managing only 3.3 rushing yards per carry against Clemson, which is also holding the opposition to 10.0 yards per pass completion. The Tigers have generated an average of two takeaways per contest and will attempt to at least maintain that average against Auburn.

The Auburn Tigers are averaging 24.3 ppg and 327.8 total ypg, numbers that aren't going to scare a strong defensive team like Clemson. Auburn has scored 32 offensive touchdowns this season, 21 of which have been rushing scores. While the club is posting a solid average of 154.2 rushing ypg, the average of 3.7 yards per carry isn't nearly as impressive. Ben Tate has been the most effective ground gainer on the roster, as he has racked up 856 yards and seven touchdowns. The passing game was supposed to be an area of strength this season with senior quarterback Brandon Cox at the helm, but that just hasn't been the case. Cox has been painfully inconsistent, as he has completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 1,869 yards and nine touchdowns with only 12 interception. Rod Smith has made 48 catches for 660 yards and five touchdowns, as he is the most dangerous receiver on the roster.

Once again, Auburn boasts one of the top defensive units in the nation. The fact that the Tigers are only allowing 16.7 ppg and 298.3 total ypg is remarkable, especially considering the explosive offenses that the faced in SEC play during the regular season. They held five opponents to 10 or fewer points, and four of those foes were SEC teams. Auburn is surrendering 3.5 yards per rushing attempt and 10.3 yards per pass completion. With 14 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries, the squad has obviously done a good job of generating turnovers. Chris Evans leads Auburn with 63 total tackles, while Antonio Coleman checks in with 17 TFLs. Another player to keep an eye on is Pat Sims, a big defensive tackle who is one of the best players at his position in the SEC.

Expect this game to be close from start to finish, and while both teams are strong on defense, Clemson is the better offensive team. Therefore, expect the squad to snap its 12-game losing skid against Auburn.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Clemson 24, Auburn 20

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Auburn Tigers vs. Clemson Tigers

- The fans at Georgia Dome will be treated to a Tiger fight between the Auburn Tigers and the Clemson Tigers in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. It's a pair of tough squads built on defense (both ranked in the Top 10 nationally in scoring defense). Clemson finished 9-3, while Auburn rallied from some unexpected early losses to finish 8-4.

Auburn rushed for 165 yards in a 17-10 win over Alabama last time out, covering the 6-point home spread. The 27 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 44.5.

Brandon Cox went 12-for-22 for 117 yards and a pick, while adding a touchdown on the ground for Auburn.

Clemson's Mark Buchholz kicked a 35-yard field goal with no time remaining in a 23-21 win at South Carolina last time out, failing to cover the 3-point road spread. The 44 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 54.

Cullen Harper went 29-for-39 for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Aaron Kelly caught nine passes for 134 yards for Clemson.

Team records:
Auburn: 8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS
Clemson: 9-3 SU, 6-5 ATS

Auburn most recently:
When playing in December are 3-4
When playing on turf are 6-2
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When playing outside the conference are 8-2

Clemson most recently:
When playing in December are 3-4
When playing on turf are 8-2
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When playing outside the conference are 8-2

A few trends to consider:
Auburn is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Clemson is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Clemson is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games

What bettors need to know: Auburn vs. Clemson
Covers.com

Ringing in the changes

Auburn’s offense is something of a mystery ahead of its Chick-fil-A Bowl game against Clemson. The Tigers fired offensive coordinator Al Borges after the season and replaced him with former Troy coordinator Tony Franklin. Despite only having a few weeks to prepare, it looks like Auburn will run their new coach’s offense.

"I guess I can talk about several of the players but I don't know hardly any of their names," Franklin told the media at his first press conference. "I'm probably the only guy ever at a press conference to have a roster of our team. It's been a whirlwind for me coming in.

"It's real unusual to walk in – and in a short period of time – try to get ready and help these guys as much as I can to get ready."

Borges ran a largely unsuccessful west coast scheme with Auburn, while Franklin uses a spread offense. It’s likely that the Tigers will run a mix of the two in the bowl game, but Franklin was careful not to give away too much information when pressed.

"I want them to continue to guess what it's going to be," Franklin said. "If Vic (Clemson defensive coordinator Vic Koenning) is listening, 99 percent of the offense is still Auburn. That's what I'd say."

The players, meanwhile, say they are excited to use the high-paced no-huddle spread offense that Franklin employs.

"This is what we hope for, the opportunity to get the ball in our hands with an offense like this," receiver Tim Hawthorne told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. "We thrive on this situation. With this spread offense, everyone is excited. We're eager to get out there for the bowl game and showcase it to the world really."

The Tigers’ attack ranked 102nd in the nation with just 327.8 yards per game this season.

Clemson confused

The arrival of Auburn’s new offensive coordinator has made it difficult for Clemson’s defense to prepare. Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning isn’t expecting his opponent’s no-huddle offense to be fully functional, but he does expect to see elements of it.

"We've been forced to prepare for more than two offenses, because you've got what Auburn has done all year, and you've got Tony Franklin's stuff, and you've got combinations of both," Koenning told the Alabama Press-Register.

Auburn has prepared for a variety of occurrences in closed practices this week, according to local papers.

Koenning may have a slight advantage if Auburn runs the new scheme. Both he and Franklin worked at Troy (although never together), and Franklin is convinced that his opposite number has used his contacts to get information.

"The advantage that Vic has is that he was at Troy before me, and he has good relationships with some of those guys," Franklin said. "Even though he's told me he hasn't talked to them, I know he has. I'm sure he's gotten some information, and I know he's gotten film."

Clemson boasts the eighth-ranked defense in the nation, allowing only 299 yards per game this season.

Fresh faces

To complicate matters for Clemson, its defense will be without two key players against Auburn. Linebackers Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie were both suspended for academic reasons after final exams, and will be replaced by two relative rookies.

Sophomore Kavell Coner will replace Watkins, while freshman Scotty Cooper will step in for Billie.

The loss to the Tigers’ defense cannot be overstated. Watkins led the team in tackles this season with 118, while Billie was third with 79. The two seniors were a major part of a defense that ranked 10th in scoring defense, 13th in passing defense and 20th in rushing defense.

“You just kind of play the hand you’re dealt,” head coach Tommy Bowden told The State newspaper when asked about the pair. “I’m not going to waste sleep over it. You work real hard to get here, and I’m sure not going to waste any sleep over that.”

Coner and Cooper have played in a combined 36 games in their careers so far, but have both made only one previous start.

Desperate for a sack

Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves is just one sack shy of the school’s career sacks record. He began the season just three shy of the record (26) and went on to tie it in October. He has since been unable to get the outright lead.

“Why is a sack so hard?” he asked, half joking, at a recent press conference. “I'm going to jump on a sack. If somebody gets a sack, I'll just jump in and get a half a sack, so it'll be 26½.”

His backup plan? To bribe opposing quarterback Cullen Harper, of course. “I'm going to talk to him,” he joked with reporters. “I'll say, ‘Cullen, man, I've got $500 if you give me this sack. Just one sack, man.’ I'll talk to him.”

Regardless of whether he breaks the record, Groves has had an impressive Auburn career. He has 117 career tackles, and was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection last season and a second-team pick this year.

Auburn managed a total of 19 sacks in 12 games this season.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl
VegasInsider.com

Chick-fil-A Bowl

Auburn (8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) vs. Clemson (9-3 SU, 6-5 ATS)

How they got there:

Clemson had a pair of four-game winning streaks and was in position to advance to the ACC Championship Game for the first time in school history. However, it lost a 20-17 decision to Boston College as 8 ½-point home favorites.

Tommy Bowden’s team posted a 4-3 record against teams in bowl games, beating Florida State, Central Michigan, Maryland and Wake Forest. Clemson also beat arch-rival South Carolina by a 23-21 count in the regular-season finale.

With the exception of a 45-20 loss at Georgia, Auburn had a great chance to win in the final minute of every game it played all season. Tommy Tuberville’s team lost 24-23 at LSU when Matt Flynn threw a touchdown pass with one second left. Auburn lost to South Florida in overtime and fell to Mississippi State after a failed fourth-and-goal attempt in the waning moments.

Road wins at Florida and at Arkansas were highlights, but it was a sixth consecutive Iron Bowl triumph that made Auburn fans rejoice the most.

What to expect:

There will be a raucous crowd at the Georgia Dome for this ACC-SEC clash in Atlanta, just a two-hour drive from both campuses. Clemson is in search of its first 10-win season since 1990, while Auburn is looking to set the tone for what should be a strong 2008 campaign.

Clemson’s back-up linebackers will be under the gun since Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie – two of CU’s top three tacklers – are suspended.

Players to Watch:

Auburn senior QB Brandon Cox has had an up-and-down career since inheriting the job from Jason Campbell, who led the War Eagles to a 13-0 during his senior season. Cox was awful in September but played better later in the year. Nevertheless, he still had a mediocre 9/13 touchdown-interception ratio.

Clemson came into the season with the best 1-2 punch of running backs not named Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. However, the QB position was a question mark and many pundits felt like freshman Willy Korn would be the starter by mid-season. Not the case, though, as Harper posted an outstanding 27/6 TD-INT ratio.

The aforementioned RBs are James Davis and C.J. Spiller, who combined for 1,648 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. WR Aaron Kelly is Harper’s favorite target, hauling in 84 catches for 1,045 yards and 11 TDs.

Bowl Records:

Clemson is 2-4 in six previous appearances for the bowl season in Atlanta. Auburn beat Clemson 21-17 in the 1997 game.

Auburn has won in four of its last five bowl games, including last year’s 17-14 victory over Nebraska at the Cotton Bowl.

Bowl History:

This is the 16th consecutive Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly known as the Peach Bowl) featuring an ACC school against an SEC squad. The ACC has won eight of the 15 games.

Inside the Line: Clemson -2, 47

Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Clemson as a 2½-point favorite and the number hasn’t moved much since. Gamblers that like Auburn to win outright can pass on the points and earn a plus 115 payout.

Expert Opinion: - Christian Alexander

“I was initially looking to back Clemson in this game,” Alexander told VI. “But the suspensions scared me away. Therefore, I’ve got a selection on the total. I certainly can’t trust Brandon Cox to orchestrate a spread cover.”