
Clemson +4.5 vs LSU - This one should be a dandy. When the CFP teams were announced you knew there were three good teams and a clunker. Turned out to be right. LSU blasted Oklahoma while OSU and Clemson played a great game. This one looks to be even better.
Clemson has the experience on the big stage, playing in the national championship game for the fourth time in five years. Clemson is on an amazing 29 game winning streak and a shot at a third national title in the last four seasons. How great has this run been? Take out the losses to Alabama, and Clemson is 69-2 going back to the end of the 2015 season.
But the No. 3 seed and defending national champion will play the underdog role to top-ranked LSU. This is LSU’s first appearance in the national championship since losing to Alabama in the BCS Championship at the end of the 2011 season. Since then, the program has been fine, but it hasn’t been anywhere close to the national title neighborhood it lived in a decade ago. If you can win 64 games in a seven-year span from 2012 to 2018 and be disappointing, I guess they were disappointing, considering the program won two national titles between 2002 and 2007 and played for three in ten years.
Clemson has the experience on the big stage, playing in the national championship game for the fourth time in five years. Clemson is on an amazing 29 game winning streak and a shot at a third national title in the last four seasons. How great has this run been? Take out the losses to Alabama, and Clemson is 69-2 going back to the end of the 2015 season.
But the No. 3 seed and defending national champion will play the underdog role to top-ranked LSU. This is LSU’s first appearance in the national championship since losing to Alabama in the BCS Championship at the end of the 2011 season. Since then, the program has been fine, but it hasn’t been anywhere close to the national title neighborhood it lived in a decade ago. If you can win 64 games in a seven-year span from 2012 to 2018 and be disappointing, I guess they were disappointing, considering the program won two national titles between 2002 and 2007 and played for three in ten years.

LSU comes in deservedly ranked #1, but the No. 1 seed has not won the national title in the first five years of the College Football Playoff. Top seeds have twice bowed out in the semifinals and are 0-3 in the title game. Clemson’s two titles in the past three years came when they were the No. 2 seed.
The adage that defense wins championships has not held up well in the College Football Playoff era, and it isn’t likely to make a comeback this year. LSU boasts the most explosive offense in the nation with Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow (5,208 passing yards, 55 touchdowns, six interceptions) leading the way.
The key reason for the Burrow exploding onto the season this year was the hiring of Joe Brady from the Saints to work with play-caller Steve Ensminger. Brady brought spread concepts from the NFL to Baton Rouge. The results have been an overwhelming success. LSU enters the national championship averaging 48.9 points a game, 7.9 yards a play, and ranks first nationally in total yards per contest (564.1).
The adage that defense wins championships has not held up well in the College Football Playoff era, and it isn’t likely to make a comeback this year. LSU boasts the most explosive offense in the nation with Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow (5,208 passing yards, 55 touchdowns, six interceptions) leading the way.
The key reason for the Burrow exploding onto the season this year was the hiring of Joe Brady from the Saints to work with play-caller Steve Ensminger. Brady brought spread concepts from the NFL to Baton Rouge. The results have been an overwhelming success. LSU enters the national championship averaging 48.9 points a game, 7.9 yards a play, and ranks first nationally in total yards per contest (564.1).

His work with Burrow has been nothing short of amazing. If Burrow connects for three touchdown passes against Clemson — something he has done in 12 of LSU's 14 games this season, including each of the last six — he'll tie the FBS record of 58 touchdown passes in a single season. If Burrow throws four (something he's done eight times already this season) he'll break former Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan's 2006 record.
And it’s more than just Burrow. LSU is the first team in college football history to produce a 5,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher, and two 1,000-yard receivers.
But for all the talk about LSU and Burrow during this magical season, no one was talking about Clemson. They schedule was too soft. They haven’t beaten anyone was the chant. Clemson took it in stride, waiting, watching for their opportunity. The chip on the shoulder growing ever bigger. The opportunity finally came against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl with Lawrence rising to the occasion and leading his offense on a clutch, game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
And it’s more than just Burrow. LSU is the first team in college football history to produce a 5,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher, and two 1,000-yard receivers.
But for all the talk about LSU and Burrow during this magical season, no one was talking about Clemson. They schedule was too soft. They haven’t beaten anyone was the chant. Clemson took it in stride, waiting, watching for their opportunity. The chip on the shoulder growing ever bigger. The opportunity finally came against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl with Lawrence rising to the occasion and leading his offense on a clutch, game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

He even tucked and carried the ball 16 times for 107 yards and one touchdown. There were moments when he was lowering his helmet and shoulder pads to purposely make contact with defenders in a maniacal attempt to grind out as many yards as possible. Lawrence is every bit as special and magical as Burrow. If he were able to come out this year, he would be the overall #1 pick, not Burrow.
There was a lot of chatter early in the season about Lawrence going through a sophomore slump. Lawrence was intercepted on eight of the first 168 pass attempts of the 2019. Since then he has thrown 202 passes without being picked off — a span that includes seven full games. Lawrence's streak is the longest in Clemson history and the longest active streak among FBS quarterbacks.
Clemson has the defense that should finally be able to put some heat on Burrow. It’s the same defense that had nine tackles for a loss and forced Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields into throwing two interceptions. LSU’s defense has steadily improved, but they’ve also shown some cracks this season, particularly in their head-to-head meeting with Alabama. Lawrence will make the world wish they remembered.
I’m taking Clemson and the points. But I’m rooting for LSU to win my prop bet I made during the GO JUMBO trip.
There was a lot of chatter early in the season about Lawrence going through a sophomore slump. Lawrence was intercepted on eight of the first 168 pass attempts of the 2019. Since then he has thrown 202 passes without being picked off — a span that includes seven full games. Lawrence's streak is the longest in Clemson history and the longest active streak among FBS quarterbacks.
Clemson has the defense that should finally be able to put some heat on Burrow. It’s the same defense that had nine tackles for a loss and forced Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields into throwing two interceptions. LSU’s defense has steadily improved, but they’ve also shown some cracks this season, particularly in their head-to-head meeting with Alabama. Lawrence will make the world wish they remembered.
I’m taking Clemson and the points. But I’m rooting for LSU to win my prop bet I made during the GO JUMBO trip.
Since it’s College Football’s version of the Super Bowl there are plenty of Prop Bets to make too.
I like Trevor Lawrence under 294.5 yards passing looks enticing. He failed to go over that mark vs. Ohio State in the semifinal, and he has gone for 295 or more passing yards in just three of his games so far this season, including the South Carolina game when he was right at 295.
Looking at the first team to score, I like Clemson at +107 (versus LSU at -143). Both teams are hghpowered and could score on the first drive. Clemson has reliable kicker which could win the bet.
And there’s one more interesting play – LSU under 36.5 points +103. Clemson’s defense is for real and there’s value is on the under.
I like Trevor Lawrence under 294.5 yards passing looks enticing. He failed to go over that mark vs. Ohio State in the semifinal, and he has gone for 295 or more passing yards in just three of his games so far this season, including the South Carolina game when he was right at 295.
Looking at the first team to score, I like Clemson at +107 (versus LSU at -143). Both teams are hghpowered and could score on the first drive. Clemson has reliable kicker which could win the bet.
And there’s one more interesting play – LSU under 36.5 points +103. Clemson’s defense is for real and there’s value is on the under.