Alabama and Clemson. The 2 elite dynasties in College Football that have been to the very top and have had a stranglehold of the #1 spot for many, many weeks. This matchup will be like 2 heavyweight boxers duking it out and it might need all 12 rounds before we decide a winner. In just a mere 3 days, we’ll see if the game delivers just like it did in the 2015 and 2016 season. Here at RedCups, we’ll have a more in-depth preview coming very soon. But for now, we’ll hear some input from our writers and their thoughts as well as a prediction to the game.
Lucas Ortiz:
45-28 Alabama. I think the key in this game will be Alabama’s defensive line. Bama has one of the best defensive lines in the nation. They’ll be able to work on Clemson and give Lawrence a few big hits and rattle him as well as plug holes in the running game to limit Travis Etienne.
Evan Norris:
34-24 Alabama. I would normally lean to Clemson in such a game with the stats they have. Clemson yields a better offense and better defense statistically than the Crimson Tide. However, I don’t think Clemson got the game they wanted or needed with Notre Dame. The Irish provided little to no challenge for the Tigers. Many would say this is good, but it simply isn’t. Notre Dame wasn’t the team people were expecting them to be and were only in the playoff because of their record. This takes us to Alabama, who played perhaps the best offense this season in the Saban era. They did well against explosive receivers and a mobile quarterback. The only difference that Alabama will need to adjust to is Travis Etienne, but I don’t think Alabama’s defensive line will be fazed. Alabama takes control of this game and the series.
Graham Braunstein
27-21 Clemson. Clemson comes in hot and makes a statement defensively against the Tide. Trevor Lawrence has his best game of the year and Dabo gets his 2nd Natty in a back and forth rather defensive affair.
Collin Easley
48-42 Alabama. I think it will be an entertaining game with Lawrence and Tua both competing against top notch defenses. I think Lawrence will show his freshman stripes having not played a defense like Alabama and still being rather young. Tua will know what to expect with the experience of playin in a title game so I think that will give Bama a small edge in this game. It will also come down to the little things like turnovers or penalties. I think this game will go down to the wire, but Saban and Tua find a way to get it done.
Andrew Tineo:
34-24 Alabama. Alabama and OU featured a game where OU started out extremely slow, but after being down 28-0, outscored Alabama 34-17. Alabama gave up 24 points to Oklahoma in the 2nd half and Kyler Murray had 400 total yards. Trevor Lawrence isn’t no Kyler Murray, but Alabama’s defense might come out of the gates a little slow if they start out the game like they played that 2nd half. For Clemson, it’s a shot in the foot that DT Dexter Lawrence won’t be playing in this game due to testing positive for PED’s. Clemson is still dominant along the D-Line, but Alabama is also elite on the offensive line. Josh Jacobs will continue his tear as he rushes for 100+ yards and 2 touchdowns as the other end of 2nd and 26 (Devonta Smith) will have a big time performance and Saban adds another one to the collection. Clemson will still be near the top, but Alabama proves that they still reign supreme among everyone else.
Image Credit: https://fbschedules.com/alabama-clemson-2019-college-football-national-championship/
