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Title Contender: Clemson

Will Bowden's Tigers learn how to win close games?

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James Davis
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Clemson
2005 Record 8-4 (4-4 ACC)
Final AP Rank 21
Returning Starters 15 (8 offense, 7 defense)
Last National
Title		 1981
The Contenders
Auburn Michigan
Cal Nebraska
Clemson Notre Dame
Florida State Ohio State
Georgia Tech South Carolina
Iowa USC
Louisville Utah
Miami West Virginia

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By Stewart Mandel, SI.com

Why Clemson can win it all: The Tigers' four losses last year were by a combined 14 points. Their spread offense should be extremely fast and balanced with the return of standout freshman running back James Davis and receivers Chansi Stuckey and Rendrick Taylor. The defense, led by future pro DE Gaines Adams, should be among the toughest in the ACC.

What must fall into place: The Tigers need to start pulling out close games if head coach Tommy Bowden hopes to finally reach the championship level. Much is dependent on whether new quarterback Will Proctor, who saw some action last year, will be able to execute coordinator Rob Spence's offense. Cornerback is a bit of a question mark.

How it could go wrong: If the Tigers don't play well on the road, their title hopes will go down the drain. They visit Boston College and Florida State back-to-back in early September and Virginia Tech on a Thursday night in late October. Clemson's upperclassmen have experienced many disappointments in their careers and can't afford to get discouraged at the first sign of trouble.

Good omen: This year marks the 25th anniversary of Clemson's lone national-title team under coach Danny Ford -- and the Tigers went 6-5 the season before winning that one.
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