A position-by-position look at Saturday’s Clemson at Virginia game (noon, Raycom)

Quarterback

Believe it or not, Cullen Harper is ranked either first or second in several ACC passing categories and a lot of that is due to the improvement he has shown in the last four games. Virginia’s Marc Verica leads the ACC in completion percentage at 64.5 and has thrown for 1,800 yards in nine games.

Advantage: Clemson

Running back

As the ACC’s most prolific running back, C.J. Spiller might just play his way into ACC Player of the Year honors if he keeps putting up the numbers he has put up in the last three weeks. James Davis needs 268 yards and four touchdowns to become Clemson’s all-time leader in both. Virginia’s rushing numbers aren’t very good, but Cedric Peerman is one of the ACC’s best with 662 yards and seven TDs.

Advantage: Clemson

Wide receivers

Aaron Kelly is the ACC’s all-time reception leader and Jacoby Ford has become a go-to guy that is making the Clemson offense that much better, but Virginia has four guys with at least 25 receptions and nobody in the ACC uses the tight end better than the Cavs. Just ask tight end John Phillips, who has 46 catches this year to rank second on the team.

Advantage: Virginia

Offensive line

The Cavaliers are led by senior left tackle and pro prospect Eugene Monroe (6-6, 315) on an offensive line that has allowed just 12 sacks and only eight in the last eight games. Clemson’s offensive line will start the same lineup for the third straight week, which is one reason why the Tigers are starting to look better up front. Left guard Thomas Austin was voted by the coaches as the offensive player of the week for the Duke game.

Advantage: Virginia

Run defense

Virginia ranks next to last in the ACC in rushing yards allowed, but outside linebackers Clint Sintim and Denzel Burrell worry the Tigers, as does inside linebacker Anthony Appleby. Clemson’s defensive front had its best game against Duke and guys like Jarvis Jenkins and Brandon Thompson have made huge strides, plus the return of defensive tackle Dorell Scott this week will only help their efforts. Also having Rashaad Jackson in the lineup again has given the Tigers a leader they have desperately needed on defense.

Advantage: Clemson

Pass defense

Clemson ranks fourth nationally in yards allowed per pass and leads the ACC in passing defense at 163.5 yards per game. The Tigers recorded two interceptions against Duke last week and allowed just 85 passing yards to what was the league’s top passing team at the time. Virginia numbers are modest at best in the secondary, but corner Ras-i Dowling leads the squad with three interceptions.

Advantage: Clemson

Special teams

The Tigers have Spiller returning kicks and punts and he does it better than anyone, and Mark Buchholz have proven he is one of the ACC’s elite kickers. Jimmy Maners seems to be the man at punter. The Cavaliers, at least on paper, appear to be average or below average at best on special teams, while freshman Robert Randolph took over the kicking duties for senior Yannick Reyering, who has missed five of his 11 kicks.

Advantage: Clemson

Bottom line: There is a reason why the Tigers are a 2-point favorite on the road against a team that has the same 5-5 record. On paper, Clemson is far and away the better team and should leave Charlottesville with a victory, but this is a game the Tigers always find a way to lose. The good news for Clemson, however, is that Tommy Bowden was the coach when they lost those games. Can Dabo Swinney change the culture?

—Will Vandervort