The Clemson Tigers are the nation’s top-ranked team, the top seed in the College Football Playoff, and at 14-0 Clemson is the only undefeated FBS program in the country. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is an Alabama alumnus who played on the Tide’s 1992 national championship team.
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They’ll be living and dying with every play as their team fights tooth and nail to stand alone atop the college football world.
Ford coached such standout Clemson players as Jerry Butler, Steve Fuller, Terry Kinard, Jeff Bryant, Jeff Davis, the Perry brothers (The Refrigerator and Michael Dean), Levon Kirkland and Ed McDaniel.
These are the three biggest keys to success for Clemson in this game.
It’s already started a little bit, the fact that a quarterback like Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is the “kryptonite” for Alabama’s defense. Viewers can watch the game on ESPN at 6 p.m. Central time.
If going up against the Crimson Tide’s offensive weapons wasn’t enough to make the Tigers stand-up and pay attention the defense that Alabama will have on the field Monday night is certain too. But if it’s unable to do so… look out for the Tigers.
Clemson showed the sort of balance it will need to cope with Alabama’s stifling defense, rushing for 312 yards and passing for 218.
“It’d mean we’re the best ever, that’s what it would mean”, Swinney said to reporters. Defensive assistant Chris Rumph left Swinney’s staff for Alabama. Clemson has covered in four straight postseason games and is 5-2 ATS in its last seven non-conference contests. That group was led by Timmy Jernigan, Mario Edwards, Lamarcus Joyner and Christian Jones (with future stars DeMarcus Walker, Ronald Darby and Jalen Ramsey seeing significant time as well). If not, Clemson very well could earn its second national title (1981). Alabama has A’Shawn Robinson. Gallman is among the nation’s best running backs, ranking 15th with 1,482 yards on the ground.
The Las Vegas line is established to generate wagering, not to predict that one team will win by X number of points. Swinney said this should send a message to Cain: that the Tigers can win without him if he doesn’t get his act together.
To stop this Alabama offense, it all starts up front.
Clemson Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) and defensive lineman Christian Wilkins (42) react after a sack against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium.
And in 2015, Ridley contributes to a budding Crimson Tide juggernaut that shook off a September home loss to an SEC West foe (Ole Miss) … before summarily crushing the next 10 opponents – including Michigan State in last week’s College Football Playoff semifinal (Cotton Bowl) – by an average margin of 23.2 points.
“They have the best offensive line we’ve seen”, Swinney continued. Raised in Alabama. Alabama was all he knew growing up. Alabama’s defense has thrived because the Tide rarely have to commit more than four rushers. “I told our team, ‘We ain’t favored to win the game, but we ain’t no damn underdog'”.
Spread attacks have been successful against Alabama in the past.
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If Clemson wins, Congressman Sewell has agreed to treat Congressman Duncan’s office to ribs from the famous Dreamland Bar-B-Que in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and will pose for a photo on the U.S. Capitol steps dressed in Clemson apparel. Alabama’s defensive line is so adept at eating blocks that linebackers like Reggie Ragland and Reuben Foster often dive into holes untouched to blow up plays.
