It’s time to get really interesting with my speculations. The time of the year has come to ignore the wife on the weekends (sorry honey), fire up the grill and scream unsolicited coaching advise to your respective teams. Every week throughout the season, my Sideline Speculations will provide you readers with my predictions for the upcoming games. So pop open a cold one and get your game face on.

Oh joy. Oh gladness unspeakable. It’s football season.

N.C. State at South Carolina

Tonight’s Carolina showdown is essentially a battle between two squads filled with uncertainty.

South Carolina has question marks all over the offensive side of the ball, none of which are more glaring than the backfield, which will seek to replace quarterback Blake Mitchell and running back Cory Boyd with several different options, from Tommy Beecher, Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia to Taylor Rank, Brian Maddox and a less than healthy Mike Davis.

The Wolfpack has a less than formidable offensive line that will be even weaker due to the loss of their best lineman, guard Curtis Couch, and question marks of their own at quarterback. Russell Wilson impressed at times in the spring with good decisions on simple reads and with his mobility, and was named starter coming out of fall camp. The most potent weapon available to him would have been Jamelle Eugene, who emerged as an offensive threat at running back as the season wound down last year. But no longer – Eugene recently suffered an ankle injury. Andre Brown is now pegged as the starter at running back. But again – both of these teams have their fair share of question marks.

When South Carolina has the ball

While the Gamecocks’ offense may not be stellar this year with no proven quarterback, a rebuilt backfield and an offensive line that needs to improve over last year’s performance, the N.C. State game offers the men in the garnet and black a great opportunity to develop their talent.

N.C. State’s defensive line, while unspectacular, is at least athletic and capable of providing a decent pass rush with Willie Young coming off the edge at end and Alan-Michael Cash inside. It’s what is behind that front four that should have Wolfpack faithful concerned.

Their linebacker corps and secondary are very young, which should give the Gamecocks’ offensive personnel a wider margin for error, which they’ll probably need.

When N.C. State has the ball

What kind of continuity can we look for at quarterback? Will Russell Wilson be effective, or will last year’s mainstay, Daniel Evans get a look early on? Don’t expect to see blue chip recruit Mike Glennon in the mix in the first game of the year unless the game gets out of hand.

South Carolina’s defensive front should be plenty able to shut down State’s running game, which leaves either Wilson or Evans to try to throw against what should be a strong Carolina secondary.

What will happen

A sloppy, ugly but generally entertaining game. Carolina won’t set the field on fire with their offense, but their defense should force its share of three-and-outs against a hapless Wolfpack offense. Look for the Gamecocks to overcome sloppy offensive performance with a one or two well-executed drives to put the game out of reach in a low-scoring affair.

Prediction

South Carolina – 21

N.C. State – 13

Alabama vs. Clemson – In the Georgia Dome

I enjoy listening to his radio show on WCCP 104.9 and generally enjoy his blogs, and especially enjoyed reading Mickey Plyler’s arguments as to whether this game was a “big” game, or a “huge” one. I think it’s easy. This game isn’t big. It isn’t huge. It’s downright behemoth.

Forget the fact that a win here helps to justify Clemson’s lofty preseason rankings to not just its fans but its players. A victory over Alabama on Saturday also practically ensures this team will be supremely confident and unscathed when it rolls into its first real conference test at Wake Forest as possibly a top five team at 5-0. The confidence gained in a nationally televised win over a traditional power in a venue like the Georgia Dome would serve as the spring board for the rest of the season, and that includes ACC play. Don’t buy into the argument that because it isn’t a conference game, it doesn’t affect in-conference performance. It very well could. There’s nothing more deflating than a loss to open up the season. Especially when it’s broadcast to millions of people. Let there be no mistake – this game is extremely important.

When Alabama has the ball

Alabama boasts an impressive offensive line with All-American giant tackle Andre Smith and center Antoine Caldwell. Expect a brutal slugfest up front between ‘Bama’s offensive front and Clemson’s deep defensive line, led by Dorrell Scott and bandit end Ricky Sapp. Da’Quan Bowers and Kevin Alexander will both see their share of time at the other end position. The Crimson Tide has super freshmen Julio Jones starting at one receiver spot. Also look for senior tight-end Nick Walker as a potential weapon. Terry Grant and Glen Coffee are both capable running backs, with Grant being the more explosive of the two. Clemson’s linebackers will be baptized by fire against a different offensive scheme led by new coordinator Jim McElwain. Clemson’s experienced and talented secondary should have the upper hand against the Tide’s receivers. We’ll see how the inconsistent quarterback, John Parker Wilson does against a complicated zone-oriented defense.

When Clemson has the ball

While Alabama has a young phenom named Terrance Cody at noseguard, their defensive line still shouldn’t be enough to overwhelm even a relatively green Clemson offensive front. We all know about Clemson’s weapons: Aaron Kelly, Cullen Harper, James Davis, C.J. Spiller, Jacoby Ford, etc. We don’t know just how good the offensive line will be. I’m calling for some hiccups in this opener, but not enough to cost them the game. If Saban blitzes all day, while there will be some sacks and pressure, there will also be some huge plays derived from an exposed young Alabama secondary. Also keep in mind the Tide’s linebackers only have one proven performer in Rolando McClain starting Saturday.

What will happen

Clemson will have one, perhaps two plays of 40 yards or more and also periodically struggle with the ball due to offensive line miscues. Alabama will be able to sustain some long drives, but turnovers or stalled drives will kill scoring threats. Clemson’s defense does not generally give up many big plays, and this will be the case Saturday. Wilson, Grant and company will be impressive for four to five plays at a time, only to make crucial mistakes as they enter Clemson territory. Timely plays on offense, plus a bend-but-don’t-break defensive performance gives the Tigers the win in a close one.

Prediction

Clemson – 27

Alabama - 21