Take that Deshaun Watson.
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Ask Hopkins about his alma mater Clemson’s chances against Alabama in the national championship game and he’ll give a breakdown of the undefeated Tigers.
“We’re expecting everybody to play”, Swinney told ESPN’s Samantha Ponder. They’ll run read option with Watson as a major threat to run and Wayne Gallman as a punishing force. Five plays later, Henry scored with 9:35 left in the half.
From Clemson to Columbia, Tiger fans are set for their shot at the National title.
Watson threw for two scores to freshman receiver Hunter Renfrow.
It also helps to have lock down corners like Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cyrus Jones on the outside backstopped by safeties like Eddie Jackson and Geno Matias-Smith.
The Tide didn’t lose again as Coker grew more comfortable in an offense that features Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry. At no point has the spread risen to 7.5.
As a kid, throwing the ball around the backyard of his family’s home in Mobile, Ala., Jake Coker dreamed of exactly what he will be trying to do Monday night.
ESPN is offering 14 different ways to follow tonight’s broadcast, including standard play-by-play on the main ESPN network, a broadcast with partisan announcers for each school on ESPNU, a feed with just the sound from inside the stadium on ESPN Classic, and one channel online that will show images from the eight end-zone pylons for the entire game. Part of the lack of buzz may be tied to the idea that Alabama is expected to cruise to another championship against an overmatched opponent in Clemson. But this strategy opened up the passing game, and Alabama took advantage. The Tide has won 13 NCAA national titles, including 2009, 2011 and 2012, led by Head Coach Nick Saban. He was on the Tide team that won a national championship in 1992, upsetting Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Clemson’s isn’t too shabby either, giving up 20.2 per game, 18th in the country. Alexander has six pass break ups, but zero interceptions – mostly because quarterbacks don’t test him much.
The AP poll began in 1936.
“He’s answered every challenge when people have done a good job of minimizing the run game a little bit”.
Odds: Alabama -7; Over/under 50.5. It is enclosed. It has 77 public restrooms, 47 concession stands and two high resolution video scoreboards measuring 27′ x 96′ and 59′ x 164′. Some fans reported driving to other cities or making multiple stops to get to the game. Henry is load to bring down, and Clemson’s defense will need to gang tackle to try and slow him down.
Even the man for whom the Heisman Trophy, college football’s top honor, is named has Clemson connections. All-American defensive end Shaq Lawson lined up for early stretching, shaking hands with assistants.
Like Lawson, Alexander downplayed any potential hamstring issues at media day for the game on Saturday morning. This time, that’s Calvin Ridley of Alabama. The rushing yards and touchdowns are SEC records.
Watson ran for a career-best 145 yards in Clemson’s 37-17 Orange Bowl semifinal victory against Oklahoma.
This is not a huge surprise, but the weather outside the stadium is sunny with temperatures in the 60s – at least 90 minutes or so before the opening kickoff.
Away from some commentary, we are in year two of the College Football Playoff. Over the past few days, it’s been chilly and rainy.
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Saban has said that past year during the lead up to Alabama’s playoff loss to Ohio State the draft declaration date and evaluation process wasn’t conducive to preparing a team to play.
