GAME NOTES: The 15th-ranked Clemson Tigers jump back into ACC action this weekend, as they travel to Raleigh, to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack from Carter-Finley Stadium. The Tigers boast a perfect 3-0 start to the season after topping Furman last weekend, 38-10. Tommy Bowden's team opened the year with an ACC battle, getting past father Bobby Bowden and Florida State by a score of 24-18. Tom O'Brien's first season in Raleigh hasn't gone according to plan, as his team dropped the first two games to UCF (25-23) and former team Boston College (37-17). The Wolfpack finally landed in the win column last weekend, topping Wofford, 38-17. The Tigers hold a huge lead (47-27-1) in an all-time series that dates back to 1899 and are 16-15 in games played in Raleigh. In addition, Clemson has captured the last three meetings.

Quarterback Cullen Harper was ultra-efficient against Furman, completing 16- of-19 passes, for 266 yards and three TDs, as Clemson made light work of the Palladins last weekend. Talented tailback James Davis made the most of his opportunities as well, rumbling for 58 yards on just nine carries, with one TD. The numbers on the season have been just as solid, with Clemson averaging nearly 400 yards per game (390.7), showing a nice mix of the run (125.3 ypg) and the pass (265.3 ypg). The ground game is spearheaded by the rushing duo of Davis and C.J. Spiller. The latter has gotten off to a slow start (3.3 ypc), but Davis has picked up the slack, averaging 6.7 yards per carry and scoring three of the team's four rushing TDs to date. The real surprise has been the play of Harper under center. He has completed a gaudy 72.5 percent of his passes, for 696 yards, with 10 TDs and no interceptions.

The Tigers have struggled this season against the run, yielding 175.7 yards per game, on 4.5 yards per carry. On the other hand, the team has thrived against the pass, allowing just 177.3 yards per game through the air. The loss of All-American rush end Gaines Adams to the NFL has been apparent, with Clemson recording just six sacks in the first three games. The linebacking corps is now the strength of the defense, with Nick Watkins, Cortney Vincent and Tramaine Billie all getting the job done. Watkins currently leads the team in tackles with 32 total stops. Vincent is third on the team with 19 total tackles, with Billie recording 16 stops. Defensive end Phillip Merling is now the player along the front line that gets the most attention. He is second on the team in tackles (21 stops) and paces the team in TFLs (four).

Tom O'Brien got his first win on the sidelines at NC State thanks to the rushing exploits of tailback Andre Brown. The team as a whole rumbled for 217 yards, with Brown churning out 133 yards and three TDs. Sophomore QB Harrison Beck was ineffective under center, completing just 16-of-32 passes, for 113 yards. O'Brien is going to need consistency from his passing game, if the Wolfpack are to have any success in the ACC this year. On the year, the numbers are better, with the team passing for 245.3 yards per game. Beck is learning on the job and has struggled at times, passing for 641 yards and two TDs. However, he has already thrown six interceptions and needs to cut down on those mistakes if he is to keep the job. Brown is clearly this team's best offensive weapon, as he is averaging a respectable 5.6 yards per carry. Brown has rushed for 269 yards in the first three games and has scored four of the team's six rushing TDs.

O'Brien had the luxury of a stingy defense in Chestnut Hill for years and was hoping for a similar unit in Raleigh this year. It hasn't exactly been the case, as NC State is allowing a generous 26.3 ppg. The real problem is this team's inability to stop the run, giving up 216.0 yards per game, on 4.7 yards per carry. The pass defense has been much better (125.7 ypg), but that could be largely due to the generous gains earned on the ground. The pass rush has been almost non-existent, with just four sacks in the first three games. Also, this unit has recorded just four turnovers, with one INT and three fumble recoveries. Senior linebacker Ernest Jones currently leads the defense in tackles with 25 stops. Fellow senior LB James Martin II is a close second with 21 tackles.

The Wolfpack have had troubles this season with stopping the run and will now be forced to halt one of the nation's top backfield duos in James Davis and C.J. Spiller. To make matters worse, Cullen Harper is on fire under center for Clemson and will probably find a way to earn a tough road win in Raleigh this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Clemson 24, NC State 18