Fiesta Bowl Game of the Week: North Carolina State at Clemson
A look at this week’s game that likely will have the greatest impact on the road to the College Football Playoff semifinal game Dec. 31 in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
No. 10 North Carolina State (4-0) at No. 5 Clemson (4-0)
Time/TV: 4:30 p.m. Saturday/ABC
Line: Clemson -7
Weather watch: The ACC’s biggest Saturday in years could be disrupted, depending on the path Hurricane Ian takes. Along with this game, being called by some the biggest in NC State history, there is Florida State’s first game in four years in the top 25 of both polls, against Wake Forest.
Historic meeting: This is the first top-10 matchup in the 90-game series history, and the winner gets clear control of the ACC Atlantic Division as well as a tally mark on its College Football Playoff check sheet. ACC preseason player of the year Devin Leary has been good for the Wolfpack; the QB needs to be closer to great this week. Clemson comes off a dramatic OT win over Wake Forest and can hold a tiebreaker against both its prime competitors in the division.
Key matchup: Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei vs. NC State’s defense. Uiagalelei is a revamped passer this season, already throwing for more TDs in four games this year than he did in 2021. But the Wolfpack are one of the ACC’s top defenses: first in fewest points allowed per game, second against the rush and third against the pass.
The pick: The Tigers could have extra motivation — their two-OT loss to the Wolfpack last year ended an eight-game win streak in the series and all but knocked them out of the CFP race. Also, NC State coach Dave Doeren lit a postgame victory cigar, something Clemson’s players haven’t forgotten. Clemson 20-16.
Other games to watch:
No. 4 Michigan at Iowa: The Wolverines tore through the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten championship game last year, but Kinnick Stadium figures to be a challenging place for QB J.J. McCarthy to make his first road start. The Iowa defense has yet to allow more than 5 yards per play in a game and has scored three touchdowns … Michigan 20-13.
No. 15 Washington at UCLA (Friday): The surprising Huskies are preparing for the dreaded short-week road game. The Rose Bowl historically has not been a good spot for Washington. Its win there in 2018 snapped an eight-game losing streak in Pasadena … UCLA 31-28.
No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 16 Baylor: Cowboys QB Spencer Sanders totaled seven interceptions as OSU split two games with the Bears last season … Oklahoma State 23-21.
No. 22 Wake Forest at No. 23 Florida State: Florida State has ridden that blocked extra point against LSU and wins over Louisville and Boston College back into the rankings. Wake Forest needs a bounce-back after losing to Clemson … Wake Forest 34-33.
No. 2 Alabama at No. 20 Arkansas: Tide have won 15 straight in the series; only four have been one-possession games … Alabama 42-17.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fiesta Bowl Game of the Week: North Carolina State at Clemson
