College Football Florida St at Clemson

Bobby Bowden looks to avoid a fourth loss in the last five "Bowden Bowls" when his 19th-ranked Florida State squad begins its 2007 campaign against Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division rival Clemson on Monday night.

These two ACC schools are off disappointing seasons and will face off trying to start fast in 2007. "Bowden Bowl" publicity is much like Lindsey Lohan, a tired act, and venerable Bobby Bowden turned his coaching staff upside down.

Most importantly enter offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher who will talent, just not like he had at LSU. The Seminoles defense will still be fast and hard hitting and try to carry 'Noles against arguably toughest schedule in the country.

Clemson has 50 lettermen returning, yet is still thin on game time experience. Only 11 starters are back, with just four on offense. Luckily one is running back James Davis who will key attack.

On defense, talented linebackers on a mission have two ways skills. Starting backers Nick Watson and returning Anthony Waters will be heat seeking missiles ready to create hits and force miscues.

Key Trend – Clemson is 6-1 ATS hosting Florida State.

If Clemson can win season opener, the schedule could allow Tigers to gel before heading into more difficult portion starting late September.

Florida State is 1-6 ATS when visiting Memorial Stadium in the Palmetto state.

The 2006 season was a relative disaster for Bobby Bowden, the all-time winningest coach in college football history with 366 victories.

The Seminoles posted just a 7-6 record - their worst since a 5-6 mark in 1976, his first season with the program. Florida State also went 3-5 in the ACC, a league they dominated not that long ago.

Embattled offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden, Bobby's son and Tommy's brother, resigned and was replaced by Jimbo Fisher, who had done wonders with Louisiana State's offense.

Last week, quarterback Drew Weatherford beat out fellow junior Xavier Lee to run Fisher's first Seminole offense.

Clemson got off to a 7-1 start last season before the team sputtered to a 1-4 finish, including a 28-20 loss to Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.

The end of the season certainly did not help the job stability for Tommy Bowden, who is 60-37 at the program since 1999.

Cullen Harper will make his first start at quarterback for Clemson. No Tigers signal-caller has beaten a top-20 team in his initial start.

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