The NCAA finally got the championship game it wanted.
Last year it was the # 3 Oregon playing #4 Ohio State with the #4 seed winning. But this year it truly does have the two best teams playing.
#1 Seed Clemson is trying to be the first team ever to go 15-0 and to see if the ACC can win two out of the last three championships.
#2 seed Alabama will be going for its 4th title in seven years under $aban. These two teams have been ranked 1 and 2 since the second week of the playoff rankings.
Last year it was the # 3 Oregon playing #4 Ohio State with the #4 seed winning. But this year it truly does have the two best teams playing.
#1 Seed Clemson is trying to be the first team ever to go 15-0 and to see if the ACC can win two out of the last three championships.
#2 seed Alabama will be going for its 4th title in seven years under $aban. These two teams have been ranked 1 and 2 since the second week of the playoff rankings.
Clemson's defense stymied the Sooners Clemson comes in on a roll. Going back to 2014, they are on a seventeen game winning streak. But the knock against the Tigers is - who did they play? I’ll give them credit for beating ND in a torrential downpour, at home by stuffing the last second 2 point conversion.
But what about the rest? The bowl teams they faced went 2-5 in the bowls. They nearly blew it against North Carolina in the ACC championship game who then went on to get blown out by Baylor. FSU was down this year.
OK, there’s the semifinal game blow out of Oklahoma 37-17 but the Sooners lost their top two running backs during the game. Credit the defense for containing Oklahoma but it’s the same defense that gave up 36 points to South Carolina and 41 points to NC State.
But what about the rest? The bowl teams they faced went 2-5 in the bowls. They nearly blew it against North Carolina in the ACC championship game who then went on to get blown out by Baylor. FSU was down this year.
OK, there’s the semifinal game blow out of Oklahoma 37-17 but the Sooners lost their top two running backs during the game. Credit the defense for containing Oklahoma but it’s the same defense that gave up 36 points to South Carolina and 41 points to NC State.
Bama turned it over 5 times in their only gaffe this year Bama is on a roll too. Sure, they had a slip up this year against Ole Miss – a game where the Tide turned it over 5 times. Yet, they had the ball in their hands with a chance to win at the end.
The Tide has won 13 in a row winning the last 9 of 10 by 13 points or more. And their opponents went 9-2 in the bowl games this year.
For Clemson to win QB Deshaun Watson will have to have the game of his life. Watson has rushed for 390 rushing yards in his past three games, and Alabama's supposed weakness over the past few years has been stopping scrambling QBs.
Alabama is masterful at shutting down opposing running backs, but Watson gives them another rusher to account for and makes the task that much harder.
The Tide has won 13 in a row winning the last 9 of 10 by 13 points or more. And their opponents went 9-2 in the bowl games this year.
For Clemson to win QB Deshaun Watson will have to have the game of his life. Watson has rushed for 390 rushing yards in his past three games, and Alabama's supposed weakness over the past few years has been stopping scrambling QBs.
Alabama is masterful at shutting down opposing running backs, but Watson gives them another rusher to account for and makes the task that much harder.
Mobile QBs have given Bama fits over the years Here are the Tide's 5 most memorable losses to mobile QBs over the last few years:
2011 vs. LSU - Jordan Jefferson 11 carries, 43 yards
2012 vs. Texas A&M - Johnny Manziel 18 carries, 92 yards
2013 at Auburn - Nick Marshall 17 carries, 99 yards, 1 touchdown
2014 at Ole Miss - Bo Wallace 11 carries, 32 yards
2015 vs. Ole Miss - Chad Kelly 8 carries, 21 yards, 1 touchdown
In Alabama’s 58 regular season wins recorded since the start of 2011, the Crimson Tide defense surrendered an average of just 78.8 rushing yards per game. But in those five defeats, Alabama permitted an average of 57.4 rushing yards per game to the opposing quarterbacks alone.
2011 vs. LSU - Jordan Jefferson 11 carries, 43 yards
2012 vs. Texas A&M - Johnny Manziel 18 carries, 92 yards
2013 at Auburn - Nick Marshall 17 carries, 99 yards, 1 touchdown
2014 at Ole Miss - Bo Wallace 11 carries, 32 yards
2015 vs. Ole Miss - Chad Kelly 8 carries, 21 yards, 1 touchdown
In Alabama’s 58 regular season wins recorded since the start of 2011, the Crimson Tide defense surrendered an average of just 78.8 rushing yards per game. But in those five defeats, Alabama permitted an average of 57.4 rushing yards per game to the opposing quarterbacks alone.
Watson is as good or better than those five Mobile quarterbacks open up the passing lanes against the Tide too. Alabama has recorded at least one interception in 47 of its last 68 regular season games with an average of 1.04 interceptions registered per game over the last five years. But in the five losses, Bama has just two interceptions for an 0.40 INTs per game.
Enter stage right - Clemson QB and Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson.
Watson, has rushed for over 100 yards in five of his last six contests. He absolutely torched the Oklahoma Sooners on the ground with 145 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries while taking just one sack.
And to prove the point about opening the passing lanes, Watson has tossed just five interceptions over his last eight outings and has completed a staggering 68.2 percent of his passes through 14 games this season.
Enter stage right - Clemson QB and Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson.
Watson, has rushed for over 100 yards in five of his last six contests. He absolutely torched the Oklahoma Sooners on the ground with 145 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries while taking just one sack.
And to prove the point about opening the passing lanes, Watson has tossed just five interceptions over his last eight outings and has completed a staggering 68.2 percent of his passes through 14 games this season.
Is Kirby focused on Watson or Georgia recruiting? If Clemson is to win, it will most likely be because of Watson.
Make no mistake, Bama is aware of this too. They know what has been said about their defense and mobile QBs. And Bama has a way of taking out your best weapon.
Yet, there is an inkling that gives Tiger fans hope. DC Kirby Smart has been appointed the next HC at Georgia. The Dawgs are killing it on the recruiting trail. Is Smart that good that he is focused on Watson while at the same time recruiting his butt off for Georgia? We will soon find out.
Make no mistake, Bama is aware of this too. They know what has been said about their defense and mobile QBs. And Bama has a way of taking out your best weapon.
Yet, there is an inkling that gives Tiger fans hope. DC Kirby Smart has been appointed the next HC at Georgia. The Dawgs are killing it on the recruiting trail. Is Smart that good that he is focused on Watson while at the same time recruiting his butt off for Georgia? We will soon find out.
Bama has the number 1 rush defense - by a wide margin Clemson maybe the 6th best defense but there are chinks in the armor. In a ranking of defending against explosive plays in the running game, the Tigers were 126th. They are the opposite of bend don’t break –they are be stingy with the occasional “Oh Oh”
Also, star DL Shaq Lawson ginked his knee in the Orange Bowl and missed almost the entire game. He is probable tonight but will he be at full strength?
Bama has the number one rushing defense and by a lot. It’s the best by 12 yards allowing 70.8 per game. Boston College is No. 2 giving up 82.8 yards per game and just six rushing scores – Clemson was held to a season low 112 yards and one score against the Eagles.
Clemson is also one of the country’s worst teams at managing field position. It ranks 96th and 100th in defensive and offensive starting field position, respectively. The Tide rank considerably higher and have key advantages on punt returns and kickoff coverage over the Tigers.
The turnover margin also favors the Tide. Clemson has a negative turnover margin on the season, whereas the Tide are plus 9.
Also, star DL Shaq Lawson ginked his knee in the Orange Bowl and missed almost the entire game. He is probable tonight but will he be at full strength?
Bama has the number one rushing defense and by a lot. It’s the best by 12 yards allowing 70.8 per game. Boston College is No. 2 giving up 82.8 yards per game and just six rushing scores – Clemson was held to a season low 112 yards and one score against the Eagles.
Clemson is also one of the country’s worst teams at managing field position. It ranks 96th and 100th in defensive and offensive starting field position, respectively. The Tide rank considerably higher and have key advantages on punt returns and kickoff coverage over the Tigers.
The turnover margin also favors the Tide. Clemson has a negative turnover margin on the season, whereas the Tide are plus 9.
State found out what a focused Bama team is capable of In the end this is Alabama’s game to lose. They are the more talented team – by a country mile. There are at most likely four first rounders and two second round draft choices playing for Nick. Lawson looks to be the only Clemson player to go in the first two rounds.
It’s all about if Alabama is focused. Last year they were talking more about how many players are going pro early. Not this year. They are dialed in. And when the Tide is dialed in they can name the score. Spartan fans can unfortunately attest to that.
The spread started at Alabama minus 4 but after the shellacking they gave the Spartans it quickly went to 6.5. The public still wanted more Tide action and the spread ended up at Bama -7.0. The sharps are all over any number below 7.0 but are fairly evenly split at 7.0. The public still favors Bama with 61% of the handle on the Tide.
What the sharps also like is the under. The over/under started at 53.5 but they quickly forced it down to 50.5 The public almost always takes the over. Its a more fun bet. But the smart money is on the under.
There are trends that favor each side. Alabama has covered in its last four meetings with ACC schools and is 5-2 against the spread in its last seven bowl games. Clemson has covered in four straight postseason games and is 5-2 ATS in its last seven non- conference contests.
This is the last college football game for nearly nine months. One last chance to bet. While I would love to see Nick take a beat down and quiet that f&cking annoying "SEC...SEC...." chant - my money is on the Tide. I'll lay a Mega Bet that they cover the 7.0 by crushing the Clemson running attack, dominating field position and winning the turnover margin.
I'll also go with the sharps and lay a Mega Bet on the under 50.5
It’s all about if Alabama is focused. Last year they were talking more about how many players are going pro early. Not this year. They are dialed in. And when the Tide is dialed in they can name the score. Spartan fans can unfortunately attest to that.
The spread started at Alabama minus 4 but after the shellacking they gave the Spartans it quickly went to 6.5. The public still wanted more Tide action and the spread ended up at Bama -7.0. The sharps are all over any number below 7.0 but are fairly evenly split at 7.0. The public still favors Bama with 61% of the handle on the Tide.
What the sharps also like is the under. The over/under started at 53.5 but they quickly forced it down to 50.5 The public almost always takes the over. Its a more fun bet. But the smart money is on the under.
There are trends that favor each side. Alabama has covered in its last four meetings with ACC schools and is 5-2 against the spread in its last seven bowl games. Clemson has covered in four straight postseason games and is 5-2 ATS in its last seven non- conference contests.
This is the last college football game for nearly nine months. One last chance to bet. While I would love to see Nick take a beat down and quiet that f&cking annoying "SEC...SEC...." chant - my money is on the Tide. I'll lay a Mega Bet that they cover the 7.0 by crushing the Clemson running attack, dominating field position and winning the turnover margin.
I'll also go with the sharps and lay a Mega Bet on the under 50.5
And the game will kickoff on a sad note. Rock legend David Bowie passed away last night after fighting cancer for 18 months. Bowie had an uncanny knack for reinventing himself from an unknown David Jones to David Bowie to Ziggy Stardust, with a detour as the Thin White Duke. He synthesized music and fashion like no one else has or can.
So many great songs from Rebel Rebel to Heroes to Let's Dance. But my favorite is still Space Oddity
So many great songs from Rebel Rebel to Heroes to Let's Dance. But my favorite is still Space Oddity
May God's love be with you David
