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Clemson 7, VIRGINIA TECH 24 (final)

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Not sure I understand the line...isn't Va Tech falling apart? And Clemson looks top ten?

EDIT: I just looked up Va Tech and see that they won against Southern Miss by 30, so they stopped their two-game losing streak to good teams. So maybe they are all right. Still like the spread, though.
 
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si.com
Clemson's Davis may miss game

Star RB has a '50-50' chance to play Thursday vs. VT

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Clemson's latest injury might be the toughest for the Tigers to overcome.

Atlantic Coast Conference leading-rusher James Davis could miss Thursday night's game at Virginia Tech with a shoulder injury. Coach Tommy Bowden said Davis had only about a "50-50" chance to play this week after hurting a shoulder in the 10th-ranked Tigers 31-7 victory over Georgia Tech last Saturday.

There was already little time to celebrate the win over the Yellow Jackets, which pushed Clemson (7-1, 4-1 ACC) into the top 10 for the first time in six years. But the Tigers, who have had numerous key players go down already this season, may have to play without their top playmaker.
Davis was hurt in the first half, yet played into the fourth quarter and finished with a career-high 216 yards and two touchdowns. After the game, Davis characterized the injury as a stinger and said it wouldn't keep him from playing Virginia Tech.

Bowden wasn't so sure Tuesday.
Davis didn't take much contact Monday and, with a short week to prepare, Bowden wasn't sure he'd rush Davis and risk losing the sophomore for even more games.

"I'd say, whatever 50-50 is is what he'd be rated after yesterday's practice," Bowden said. "It'd probably be a game day decision whether he's going to play or not."

Davis leads the ACC with 961 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Atlanta prep star shredded his hometown school last Saturday night.
Bowden said the emotion of last week's game kept Davis going. After the game, the shoulder tightened up and put Davis' status in doubt.

If the Tigers were playing Saturday, Bowden wouldn't be so concerned about Davis this early in the week.
Clemson is scheduled to leave for Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

"I base that opinion of 50-50 on yesterday's performance," Bowden said. "In shoulder pads, can he take contact? If he can't take contact in the only day of pads before the game, there's major concern because of turnovers."

If Davis can't go, Clemson would start C.J. Spiller. The freshman had 116 yards rushing against Georgia Tech, scoring on a 50-yard run and a dazzling 50-yard catch and run when he let two defenders slide by before motoring down the sideline.

Behind Spiller is senior Reggie Merriweather, who had missed three games and only played briefly against Georgia Tech due to an ankle injury.
Clemson's offense was already set to face the Hokies without left guard Roman Fry, one of its steadiest and most talented blockers. Fry tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on the Tigers' first series. The injury has ended his college career and broken up the continuity of Clemson's offensive line, which had started the same five players each game so far this season.

The Tigers could get a boost Thursday night from receiver Chansi Stuckey, who Bowden said has a chance to play. Stuckey was the ACC's reception leader a year ago, but has missed the past three games with a broken foot.

"I think he's close to 100 percent," he said. "Maybe he does my job and witholds information at times. ... He looked good yesterday."

On defense, Clemson has also lost significant players in linebackers Anthony Waters and Tramaine Billie. Both were expected to start this season. Waters gave up a chance at the NFL draft last spring to play a final season with the Tigers.

So far, Clemson has dealt with each injury and barely missed a beat.
Against Georgia Tech, junior Chris McDuffie stepped in for Fry and the team still rushed for 321 yards.

If Davis can't play, Bowden has a good feeling about those who will.

"That's one thing a little more unique about this team," Bowden said. "It has suffered some significant injuries and still, somehow, has recovered, absorbed those, and continued on."
 
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BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The way Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer sees it, if one quarterback can pass and the other can mix in some running, he might as well use them both.


Beamer said Tuesday that he doesn't intend to replace starter Sean Glennon, but backup Ike Whitaker also will see some time when No. 10 Clemson comes to Lane Stadium on Thursday night.


Glennon, a sophomore who beat out Whitaker and Cory Holt for the starting job in the preseason, is a drop-back passer who has thrown for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has six interceptions and several fumbles, having been victimized often by an inexperienced offensive line.


That's where Whitaker's mobility might help. In limited action in the Hokies' 36-6 victory against Southern Mississippi on Saturday night, the freshman had 14 yards passing and 26 yards rushing.


"When he pulls the ball down, he's a threat as a runner," Beamer said.


Virginia Tech (5-2, 2-2) is looking for more ways to move the ball with Clemson (7-1, 4-1) coming to town.

"If you could effectively put those two guys together and run your offense, I think you've added to your offense, and added what teams have to defend," Beamer said.

Right now, tailback Branden Ore is doing nearly all of the running for Tech -- 88 percent of it, to be exact. He had a career-best 207 yards against Southern Miss.


Beamer said his plan to use Whitaker shouldn't be viewed as a slap at Glennon.


"Sean Glennon has played very, very well for this football team," Beamer said. "It's certainly not a shot at Sean. It's just that you've got Ike that has an ability over here, and you'd like to get that incorporated into the game plan."


Getting the formula right is tricky.


"If you get (Whitaker) in there and he makes a great play, then it's great," he said. "But if he gets in there and doesn't make a great play it's why did you ... mess up the rhythm?"


Fifth-ranked Florida has succeeded with its quarterback combo of Chris Leak and Tim Tebow, Beamer noted. When the Gators beat No. 9 LSU 23-10 on Saturday, starter Leak went 17-for-26 for 155 yards, but Tebow threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score.

"More times than not, though, it's probably gone the other way when you're trying to play two quarterbacks," he said.
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That always works.
 
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