Clemson is one win away from being just the second repeat College Football Playoff participant in the three-year history of the new format, per our playoff expert Jerry Palm. All that stands in the way of the Tigers getting another shot at the Tide after last year's 45-40 national championship thriller is the ACC Championship Game and Virginia Tech, the ACC Coastal Division champions for the first time since 2011.

Storylines

Clemson: Margin for error, and a handful of winning streaks, were all erased when Pittsburgh kicker Chris Blewitt split the uprights to beat Clemson 43-42 in Death Valley. It was only Deshaun Watson's third loss ever as a starting quarterback (29-3), and it included three interceptions (one in the end zone that arguably kept Pitt in the game). Prior to that loss, Clemson had won 15 consecutive games against ACC opponents, 23 regular season games in a row, 21 straight at home and 45 straight home games against unranked teams, a streak that dates back to 2008.

Watson and the Tigers have responded by lighting up the scoreboard and providing eye-popping stats for award voters filling out their ballots. Clemson dominated the All-ACC lists that were released this week, but Saturday night is also one last chance for Watson to make a run at returning to New York City as a Heisman finalist. Dabo Swinney wants to talk about getting this Clemson program to the playoff in what has already become a sixth-straight 10-win season, but if the Tigers win you can bet he'll become the biggest spokesperson for Watson's Heisman candidacy, just like did a year ago.

Virginia Tech: For the first half-decade of the expanded ACC era, Virginia Tech fans were used to finishing the season with a mass pilgrimage to the ACC Championship Game. The Hokies represented the Coastal Division in five of the first seven ACC titles decided on the field (2005-11), winning the championship three times (2007-08, 2010). The five-year hiatus enveloped a slide in the ACC standings and heightened anxieties in Blacksburg until the arrival of Justin Fuente to replace Frank Beamer in one of the smoothest coaching transitions we've seen in the modern era of college football. Fuente, with longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster still on staff, has been tasked with returning the Hokies to annual ACC title contention. For Virginia Tech, this game is bigger than playing spoiler for Clemson or the College Football Playoff. This is about restocking the shelves in the trophy case.

Prediction

Clemson is about a touchdown better than Virginia Tech on neutral field on your average Saturday. But angry, light-the-scoreboard-up and punch-a-playoff-ticket Clemson might have a chance to do some damage in this spotlight game. The Tigers have leaned heavily on Wayne Gallman to put these easier games away recently and it makes me think there is another page(s) in the playbook we haven't seen. The Hokies' secondary has been improving throughout the year, but too many weapons will prove to be too much for them to handle if Watson can get in a rhythm. Pick: Tigers -10.5

No. 3 Clemson vs. Virginia Tech, 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, ABC
Line
Clemson -10.5