Clemson’s current football players are not the only ones confident about the team’s prospects heading into the national championship game.
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Now Swinney faces not only his alma mater but a wily head coach in Nick Saban, who’s led three Crimson Tide teams to national titles since 2007. Clearly Clemson is good in all facets of the game.
A national title drought that spanned from Florida State’s 1999 crown all the way until the Seminoles won it again in 2013 didn’t help the conference’s reputation.
Each and every one of those losses came against a team that plays into Alabama’s lone defensive weakness – their struggles against uptempo spread offenses with mobile quarterbacks. He’s also – by far – the most hard for it to stop. Watson has thrown for 3699 yards, thrown only 12 picks, and ran for 1032 yards.
And that made all the difference 34 years ago, much like it will now. The Tide won in 2008, 2009 and 2012. But if it’s unable to do so… look out for the Tigers. And when presented with all the arguments for why Alabama poses the ultimate stumbling block, Kearse points to Watson as the equalizer. Clemson moved the ball well against Oklahoma, but that success had to come a little easier thanks to defensive tackle Charles Walker (concussion) getting ruled out before the game and Jordan Evans going down with an injury during the contest. Holmes showed the most versatility out of the three running backs, catching ten passes out of the backfield for an additional 92 yards.
He even coached at Alabama as an assistant. 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).
Clemson has had 10 straight games of 500 yards or more on offense, powering to an undefeated season, an ACC title and the chance to try for the program’s first national title since 1981.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love some smashmouth football and that’s what Saban has brought back to the Crimson Tide. They (Alabama) represent the best and there’s really no way you can argue with that.
But there’s more. Alabama is loaded on defense with All-Americans A’Shawn Robinson and Reggie Ragland and on offense with All-American center Ryan Kelly and freshman sensation Calvin Ridley at receiver. In my opinion, that is the only way Clemson wins this game.
Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker (25) celebrates with teammates after making an interception against the Michigan State Spartans in the fourth quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Below is a roundup of stats to know while analyzing the Alabama vs. Clemson spread, lines and other betting options.
That discipline, added to a hunger to finish, is among the reasons why players say staying locked in and focused is easy.
Clemson’s offensive line was one of the best units in the country, ranking ninth in adjusted line yards and sixth in adjusted sack rate. But Clemson’s offensive line and defensive front might both be the best the Tide have faced this year.
According to Bill Connelly’s S&P+ Ratings, a ratings system derived from the play-by-play data of this season’s FBS college football games, the Tigers rank 13th against the run, putting themselves 19.6 percent above average in terms of points per game allowed adjusted for strength of schedule.
Spread attacks have been successful against Alabama in the past.
The biggest highlight of this year for Clemson has been quarterback Deshaun Watson, who finished in a close third in the Heisman race.
Alabama’s been here – often.
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TENNESSEE: Larry Scott, who served as Miami’s interim head coach for the final six games this season, has agreed in principle to become Tennessee’s tight ends coach.
