Fresh off my Clemson outright pick over Louisville in men's ncaab, I am going with the mojo and picking the Tigers for the National championship game. I am not a homer. I have picked against the Tigers many times. That being said:
Clemson +7 **********
Clemson moneyline +225 ***
Clemson under 51 ***
My reasoning is this...there is no arguing Bama's talent especially in front 7; however, Clemson has recipe to beat them. Mobile, smart qb (Bama struggled vs Clemson reject Chad Kelly and Tennessee's poorman Deshaun--Dobbs. The uptempo will help at least a little against their rotation as well. I think Clemson has a better chance to make Bama one dimensional than vice verse because of this. Venables can key in on Henry and hopefully limit him to a less than 5 ypc average--maybe 25 carries for 115 yds or so. Coker will then have to beat a pretty good secondary. He probably will once or twice. But also he will get picked off once or twice. Clemson's OC's will spread it out and do something Morris would never do, commit to the power spread. They'll run all night long (not big gains, but just west coast style 3-5 yds at a time to move the chains), but also use the quick wr screens and pitches to Scott as part of the running game. I give Bama all the respect in the world, and their d is better vs spreads than they used to. And if Lawson can't give us 30-40 quality snaps, that will be tough. But I think Deshaun goes 20-32 for 250 yds and runs 17-20 times for 75-100 yds and accounts for 2-3 Tds. Hopefully te legget plays the game of his life. But I really see a back and forth affair. It being like 20-17 or 20-20 in the fourth and Deshaun leading the Tigers to a game winning drive late. Final 23-20, 24-21, 27-22 something like that. We'll see.
Good luck! Go Tigers!!!!
Clemson +7 **********
Clemson moneyline +225 ***
Clemson under 51 ***
My reasoning is this...there is no arguing Bama's talent especially in front 7; however, Clemson has recipe to beat them. Mobile, smart qb (Bama struggled vs Clemson reject Chad Kelly and Tennessee's poorman Deshaun--Dobbs. The uptempo will help at least a little against their rotation as well. I think Clemson has a better chance to make Bama one dimensional than vice verse because of this. Venables can key in on Henry and hopefully limit him to a less than 5 ypc average--maybe 25 carries for 115 yds or so. Coker will then have to beat a pretty good secondary. He probably will once or twice. But also he will get picked off once or twice. Clemson's OC's will spread it out and do something Morris would never do, commit to the power spread. They'll run all night long (not big gains, but just west coast style 3-5 yds at a time to move the chains), but also use the quick wr screens and pitches to Scott as part of the running game. I give Bama all the respect in the world, and their d is better vs spreads than they used to. And if Lawson can't give us 30-40 quality snaps, that will be tough. But I think Deshaun goes 20-32 for 250 yds and runs 17-20 times for 75-100 yds and accounts for 2-3 Tds. Hopefully te legget plays the game of his life. But I really see a back and forth affair. It being like 20-17 or 20-20 in the fourth and Deshaun leading the Tigers to a game winning drive late. Final 23-20, 24-21, 27-22 something like that. We'll see.
Good luck! Go Tigers!!!!
