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Clemson looks to bounce back, faces South Carolina

Nov 24, 2007 - 11:34 AM No. 21 Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5) 7:00 pm EST

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) -- After suffering a heartbreaking loss last week, No. 21 Clemson would love to extend South Carolina's late-season misery when the Palmetto State rivals clash on Saturday.

Clemson was less than two minutes away from reaching the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. But Boston College's Matt Ryan threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Rich Gunnell with 1:47 remaining, rallying the Eagles to a 20-17 victory last weekend.

Boston College snapped Clemson's four-game winning streak and clinched the ACC's Atlantic Division title.

Even in defeat, Cullen Harper had another effective game against the Eagles, completing 31-of-47 passes for 315 yards and a touchdown with an interception. The junior has thrown for 2,658 yards and 26 TDs with five interceptions on the season.

The Tigers (8-3) would like to take out their frustrations on South Carolina, which is experiencing a late-season collapse under the "Ol Ball Coach" - Steve Spurrier.

Since their 6-1 start, the Gamecocks (6-5) have dropped four straight games. They have sputtered defensively in their last two games, allowing 48 and 51 points, respectively, to Arkansas and Florida.

Clemson is looking to beat its intrastate rivals for the fifth time in six seasons.

South Carolina snapped a four-game losing streak in the series last year and is attempting to beat Clemson in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1969-70.

Clemson leads the series, 63-37-4.