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Clemson Tigers head football coach Terry Bowden has plenty of weight on his shoulders coming into the 2008 ACC football season as his Clemson Tigers football team are the oddsmakers pick to win the ACC title and be in contention for a BCS National Championship. Oddsmakers at online sports betting giant Bodog (Bodoglife.com) have installed Clemson as 11/10 odds favorite to win the ACC Atlantic Division, 2/1 favorite to win the ACC outright with a 22/1 odds chance of winning a BCS National Championship.

While the Tigers are everybody’s darling for this 2008 ACC season, they do have a few holes to fill, especially in the trenches on both offense and defense. If they hope to equal and or surpass last years numbers, nine wins and in the top 25 in both major polls, they will have to find the athletes to fill the gaps.

Clemson had one of the most balanced offenses in the nation in 2007, and was the only ACC team to rank among the top five teams in both rushing and passing. In fact, Clemson was second in the ACC and 24th in the nation in rushing, but also third in the conference in passing with a 242-yard average. Clemson led the ACC in scoring offense and ranked second in total offense.

"The offensive line and linebacker positions are areas of concern and areas we will address in August preseason work," said Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden, who is his 10th year at Clemson. "We have moved some players to help shore up those areas and there will be an opportunity for freshmen to gain significant playing time."

While Clemson does have some holes to fill, it also has great depth in some areas. Clemson and Tennessee are the only schools from one of the top six conferences with a returning 1000-yard rusher and 1000-yard receiver in James Davis and Aaron Kelly, respectively. Quarterback Cullen Harper led the ACC in passing efficiency, the first Clemson quarterback to do that in 25 years.

Other outstanding returning players on offense include game breaker C.J. Spiller, who has 1706 career rushing yards running in tandem with Davis, who has 3130 career yards, second best in Clemson history. Wide receiver Tyler Grisham ranked in the top 10 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in receiving last year and ranks 15th in Clemson history in career receptions, and Jacoby Ford averaged over 100 all-purpose yards per game in 2007 before he suffered a season ending injury. The offensive line is anchored by center Thomas Austin, who started 12 of the 13 games at center.

On defense, Clemson returns all four starters in the secondary, a unit that allowed just 188.5 passing yards per game, best in the ACC and 13th best in the nation. Clemson was the only ACC team ranked in the top 25 in the nation in pass defense.

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