Florida State plays its 800th game all-time Saturday at 6 on ABC vs. Clemson
No. 3 Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC) at No. 12 Florida State (5-2, 2-2), 6 p.m. MST (ABC) Line: Clemson by 4½. Series Record: Florida State leads 20-9. WHAT’S AT STAKE Clemson has won 21 straight regular-season games, but is 3-12 in games at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Tigers are in prime position for a spot in the College Football Playoff but are looking to avoid a late loss. The Seminoles find themselves in a rare position – a home underdog – and are looking to play spoiler after seeing their playoff hopes likely dashed with an Oct. 1 loss to North Carolina. KEY MATCHUP Clemson WR Mike Williams vs. Florida State CB Tarvarus McFadden. Williams, a junior, has had two games over 140 yards, including a 12-reception, 146-yard effort in the Oct. 15 overtime win over North Carolina State. McFadden, a sophomore, has five interceptions, which is tied for the national lead. The five picks, including two the past two games, are the most by a Seminoles’ player since Patrick Robinson had six in 2007. PLAYERS TO WATCH Clemson: QB Deshaun Watson. The junior has thrown for multiple touchdowns all but one game this season and has only one interception in his past 83 attempts. Florida State: RB Dalvin Cook. The junior is second in the ACC in yards rushing (900) and is averaging 227.5 total yards in his last four games with six touchdowns. FACTS & FIGURES This will be Florida State’s 800th all-time game. It has a 539-243-17 record. … FSU’s Jimbo Fisher is 15-9 against Top-25 opponents. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is 16-17 against ranked opponents but has won six of the past seven. … Clemson is 14-3 under Swinney when it has had seven or more days (excluding bowl games and season openers) to prepare for an opponent. Both teams had open dates last week. … Florida State’s Deondre Francois leads freshmen quarterbacks nationally in passing yards per game (268.0). … Clemson’s defense has allowed just two plays of 40 yards or more, which is the least in the nation.
