CFP National Championship Bama-Clemson Act III

[Chip Douglass]

Quote: Originally Posted by Caulfield

Can't blame you there. I know Clemson got a nice little team this year but that doesnt mean this game will compelling for anyone but Tide fans. Of course, nobody probably wanted to watch Goliath kill David either

Quote: Originally Posted by BigDofBA

I don’t see how take any team other than Bama. You have to have a dynamic QB and a great defense. The kid at Clemson is really good but he is still a freshman. Saban is the GOAT. Give me Bama 31-20.

A worse Clemson team (imo) beat a 14-0 Bama team for the title 2 years ago.

This game is actually close to an objective toss-up. Clemson was awesome this year.

[Sportsforever]

Dabo has said this is his best Clemson team and I believe him...and surprisingly enough, I don't think this is close to Saban's best Alabama team. Sure, the offense is the best it's ever been, but the defense isn't as good as his best defenses have been and the special teams/discipline (penalties/mistakes) are some of the worst he's had.

I'm picking Clemson...they are the more complete team, IMO.

[Jr.]

This is gonna be a fun one. I think the teams are about as evenly matched as ever. Tua is gonna have his hands full with Clemson's defense, and this will be the best defense Trevor Lawrence has seen by far.

Tua is gonna have to get the ball out and avoid taking hits so he can stay in the game. I don't think this is a game Jalen can win if he has to play.

[SPTO]

I hate both teams but i'm impressed by Trevor Lawrence. The kid has an NFL ready arm and if he can keep improving between the ears he could be a real great QB at the next level in a few years.

Anywho, i'm tired of Bama and Saban so uh, Go Clemson.

[WaitTilNextYear]

I picked Clemson and would be more confident if Dexter Lawrence were playing. We'll see, I guess. Should be a good game.

[BigDofBA]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chip Douglass

A worse Clemson team (imo) beat a 14-0 Bama team for the title 2 years ago. This game is actually close to an objective toss-up. Clemson was awesome this year.

That Clemson team had DeShaun Watson....

This Bama team is also 14-0 except their offense is much, much better.

[Chip Douglass]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigDofBA

That Clemson team had DeShaun Watson.... This Bama team is also 14-0 except their offense is much, much better.

Their defense is also much worse than 2016 Alabama's imo: 11.4 PPG allowed for '16 Bama versus 16.2 PPG allowed for '18 Alabama. And per Sagarin, the 2016 team played a tougher schedule (#1 in the country that year, in fact, versus #23 for 2018).

That Bama team had 8 players drafted in the 1st round in the 2017 and 2018 drafts, 6 from the defense. Like the 2018 team, they had one win under single digits entering the championship game. They were *dominant*. I won't stake a claim on who's the better team, but if 2016 was worse, they're not worse by much.

[KSUowls]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigDofBA

That Clemson team had DeShaun Watson.... This Bama team is also 14-0 except their offense is much, much better.

Exactly this.

Both teams are better/worse in various areas, but this is the key one. Watson was a junior and a beast. He also was going up against an Alabama team that really didn't have a great QB under center. The teams are much closer in talent than they were 3 and 2 years ago, but this time around the clear advantage at the most important position is in favor of Alabama.