The Duke Blue Devils may be bowl eligible for the first time since 1994, but the Clemson Tigers had this game put away before the first quarter was over. Tajh Boyd threw four touchdown passes (three to DeAndre Hopkins) in the first 15 minutes, and the Tigers didn't quit on their way to a 56-20 win in Durham.
Clemson vs. Duke final score: Tigers crush Blue Devils 56-20
Tajh Boyd’s six total touchdowns powered the Tigers past Duke, 56-20, in a game the Blue Devils just didn’t have enough ammunition to win.
Grant Halverson
Hopkins and Sammy Watkins both had big games for the Tigers passing game. Hopkins ended with 129 receiving yards, and Watkins had 98 and a touchdown. Martavis Bryant and Charone Peake also had touchdown receptions.
The Blue Devils just didn't have the firepower to keep up with the Tigers. Quarterback Sean Renfree connected on 23 of 39 attempts for 238 yards and a touchdown, but it simply wasn't good enough. Jamison Crowder did have a nice game, ending with 166 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Box Score Hero: It can’t be anyone but Boyd. He didn’t play the entire game, and ended with a line of 16-of-23 for 346 yards, six total touchdowns (five passing and one rushing), and another 71 rushing yards. He did throw three interceptions, but it didn’t really matter except to fantasy owners.
Rankings Ramifications: Clemson came into the game 13th in the BCS standings, and they may rise up one or two spots as a result of their performance.
But Did They Cover? Clemson were 12-point favorites, so they comfortably covered the spread.
For More On This Game: For more on the Tigers, head over to Shakin The Southland.
Next Week’s Schedule: The Tigers will host Maryland next Saturday, and the Blue Devils will face Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
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