Tigers Today: Clemson favored by double digits against Florida State

On3 imageby:Pete Nakos10/25/21

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Clemson favored by double digits against Florida State

Clemson hit rock bottom Saturday in Pittsburgh. Everything has gone down hill since the Tigers played Georgia close in Charlotte, and all the problems were on full display Saturday.

D.J. Uiagalelei looked pedestrian, throwing two interceptions, including a shovel pass picked off and returned for a touchdown. He was ultimately benched as Dabo Swinney tried to send a message to his sophomore quarterback.

The Tigers continue to be hit by injuries, too. Defensive end Justin Foster, receiver Frank Ladson, offensive lineman Matt Bockhorst and tight end Braden Galloway have all been ruled out for the season within the last 48 hours.

Even after stumbling in the opening weeks, winning the ACC championship seemed possible. That may even be a stretch now.

Clemson will have a chance to get back on track this weekend against Florida State. A 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff from Death Valley, the Tigers are once again a double-digit favorite according to the folks in Las Vegas. Per the Vegas Insider consensus, Clemson is a 10-point favorite and the total is set at 46 points.

In the last eight games, Clemson is 0-8 against the spread. The over is 8-4 in the last 12 games between the two teams, and the Tigers are 8-1 in their last nine home games against Florida State.

Justin Foster will miss rest of season due to injury

The injury bug continues to bite Clemson.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced during his Sunday teleconference that defensive end Justin Foster is out for the season.

Foster has been battling a back injury that will require surgery. He did not play in Saturday’s game at Pitt.

“He’s been battling a lower back, so we’ve done a couple of epidurals on him, and it’s just not really getting the job done,” Swinney said. “So it’s just at the point where he’s going to have to have some back surgery to alleviate the problem. That’s going to put him out for the rest of the year.”

What we learned as Tigers struggled on both sides of ball at Pitt

The Clemson offense was well aware that it couldn’t keep performing like it did the first half of the season if the Tigers were going to have any shot at upsetting Pitt at Heinz Field. 

Scoring fewer than 20 points in regulation, as Clemson had in every FBS game this season, wasn’t going to get it done against Kenny Pickett and company. 

But that’s what happened. And now Clemson is 4-3 in ACC with plenty of questions swirling. ClemsonSports.com senior writer Matt Connolly discussed what needs to change and more following the latest loss.

Dabo Swinney explains plan for Clemson quarterbacks after loss at Pitt

Dabo Swinney felt that Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was playing his best football of the season entering Saturday’s game at Pitt.

But it took less than three quarters for Uiagalelei to go from showing signs of improvement to the bench.

The sophomore tossed a shovel pass into the arms of Pitt linebacker SirVocea Dennis early in the third quarter on Saturday, and when the Clemson offense came out for its next possession, it was Taisun Phommachanh leading the unit.

ClemsonSports.com senior writer Matt Connolly broke down what Swinney said about the quarterback situation in his postgame press conference and what the remainder of the season could look like.

Counting down

  • Clemson at South Carolina: 34 days