Clemson vs FAU: Stats to know

The stats that will decide the Clemson-FAU matchup.

Clemson is the overwhelming favorite (-24.5) against Florida Atlantic out of the American Conference. The Tigers have the better team and home-field advantage, but the Owls, in their first season under head coach Tom Herman, have a number of players and schemes that could give Clemson headaches. Here are the key stats heading into the 8 p.m. kick.

• Third down could be a nightmare for Florida Atlantic where they are ranked 103rd, converting just 33.3% of the time, while the Tigers are ranked 21st in third-down defense with opponents only converting 27.2% of them.

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• The Tigers have to display their grit in the front seven with Florida Atlantic allowing a little over a sack a game. Expect defensive coordinator Wes Goodin to have a game plan to get after Owls quarterback Casey Thompson, making him uncomfortable to create havoc and chaos.
• Clemson's slow starts are an issue but it doesn’t seem to affect the numbers they are putting in the stat sheet. The Tigers are ranked 7th in the nation averaging 550.5 yards offensively so far this year. Florida Atlantic is in the lower half of the nation, ranked 73rd in total defense giving up 357.5 yards a game. Expect the Tigers to put points on the scoreboard fast and often in Memorial Stadium.

• Clemson is ranked 10th in the nation in rushing offense (241 yards a game) behind the tandem of running backs Will Shipley and Phil Mafah. The Owls are ranked 75th in rushing defense, allowing 131.5 rushing yards allowed per game. 
• Over Florida Atlantic’s last two seasons, they're 2-10 on the road. With a lot of new pieces from the transfer portal and a new head coach in Tom Herman, that trend will be hard to flip this Saturday.