Clemson took care of business against Maryland last week, coming out with a 40-27 victory. Three more winnable games are ahead for Dabo Swinney and crew -- Virginia, Georgia Tech and The Citadel could have Clemson at double-digit wins before a season-ending tilt with South Carolina.
How to watch Clemson vs. Virginia 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
The job is simple for Clemson. Just. Keep. Winning.
Streeter Lecka
Virginia lost last weekend at Georgia Tech, 35-25, despite forcing five turnovers. They closed to within three with three minutes to play, but were unable to complete the rally.
The numbers
Rankings and records: Clemson is eighth in the BCS standings and Coaches’ Poll, and ninth in the AP Poll. The Tigers are 37-8-1 all-time against the Cavaliers. At one point, they won 29 in a row.
Vegas: Clemson opened as a 20-point favorite, but that number has dropped to 17. The over/under opened at 54.5.
Weather: Partly cloudy for Saturday’s forecast. No chance of rain.
Three names to know
Mike London (Virginia head coach) - The Cavaliers have lost five in a row and London could be on the hot seat as a result -- Virginia missed a bowl at 4-8 last season. Under London, they are just 18-27 overall, with three bowl-less seasons.
David Watford (Virginia quarterback) - The sophomore has picked it up as of late, with three consecutive games of over 260 passing yards -- he had none in the season's first five games -- but it hasn't led to any wins yet. Can he keep it up against Clemson?
Sammy Watkins (Clemson wide receiver) - 813 yards and five touchdowns speak for themselves. The current ACC Receiver of the Week will be a focal point all game long.
Two things at stake
Clemson can gain little with a win -- its only chance to catch Florida State atop the Atlantic is if the Seminoles lose twice. Beating Virginia keeps it in contention for an at-large BCS bid, though.
Virginia’s bowl hopes hinge on a victory here. One more loss will eliminate the Cavaliers, and possibly get Mike London fired.
How to witness
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Jeannine Edwards)
Further reading
Shakin The Southland has your Clemson needs covered. Streaking The Lawn is where you want to go for Virginia.
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