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| Photo creds to fbschedules.com |
Clemson
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| Photo creds to www.sportingnews.com |
The Tigers started the season ranked #12 in both the AP and Coaches Poll. Dabo Swinney's band was picked to by many to finish atop the ACC, although I had them finishing second to Florida State in the Atlantic Division (whoops). Clemson suffered what looked to be a massive blow on opening day when stud receiver Mike Williams was lost for the season with a neck injury. Luckily for DeShaun Watson, the loss of Williams has been well accounted for, as Artavis Scott, Charone Peake, Deon Cain ( who is suspsended), Jordan Leggett and Hunter Renfrow make up a deep and balanced core of pass catching options. After an opening day demolition of Wofford and a similar beating on App. State the following week, the Tigers were tested for the first time in 2015 when they traveled to Papa John's Stadium to take on Louisville in their ACC opener. It was a tight game throughout, but the Tigers held on for a 20-17 win. After a bye week, Notre Dame came to Death Valley, and this was when America took notice that Clemson could be a playoff team. After dominating ND on the scoreboard for 45 minutes, the Tiger defense held off a furious Irish march when safety Jayron Kearse forced a fumble at the Clemson 4-yard line. Notre Dame scored a meaningless TD in the final seconds, and Clemson held on for a 24-22 victory. After the ND victory, the Tigers shot up to #6 in both the coaches and AP polls. After taking care of Georgia Tech and Boston College at home, and performing a 59-0 waxing of the U in Miami, Clemson was #3 in the AP poll. It was also around this time that Watson began to be seriously looked at as a Heisman contender. An eventful 56-41 win at NC State brought up the second of the four ranked opponents that the Tigers would conquer when Florida State came into Death Valley. It was a tight contest, but the recipe of Watson and Defense got Clemson by with a 23-13 triumph, essentially clinching the ACC Atlantic. By this time, the Tigers were #1 in the land. Dabo's boys proceeded to pull away at Syracuse, take out Wake Forest, and survive a scare from pathetic rivals South Carolina. So they found themselves in the ACC Title game against a red-hot UNC team that was on an 11 game win streak. The Tigers survived a late comeback march and were aided by a controversial (and incorrect) offsides call on what would have been a perfectly executed onside kick attempt from the Tar Heels. Once again, Watson was the star, and Tigers were on their way to Miami for a hot date with the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl, which was also the CFB Playoff semifinal.
After going into the locker down 17-16, Clemson turned it on in the second half, winning the game by a 37-17 margin that did not accurately tell how close the game was. And that, children, is how the 2015 Clemson Tigers made it to the championship game.
Now, here was Alabama's road.
Alabama
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| Photo Creds to www.pintrest.com
Bama is Bama, and before this season, as always, they were thought of to be in the hunt for a National Title. Bama's hopes and dreams took a hit when they were upset at home by Ole Miss, 43-37. The loss was a painful one, but it also marked a turning point. Before the game, nobody was sure if Jake Coker was to be trusted to quarterback Bama to the promised land. But after reliving Cooper Bateman and nearly leading the Tide back from a large deficit, Coker won over the team. It was Roll Tide from here on out, as the Tide won their next 11 games. 10 of the 11 victories were by a 10+ point margin, and 6 of them were against ranked opponents (Texas A&M, Michigan State, Geroiga, LSU, Mississippi State and Florida, in no particular order). Bama finished the regular season with a 11-1 record, setting up a date with the Michigan State Spartans in the Cotton Bowl (aka, CFB Playoff semi-final). 38-0 is all that needs to be said about that game.
Now that you have an idea of how these two teams got to the dance, here is how they match up against each other.
Offense
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| Photo creds to thetandd.com |
Both of these teams are have one player on offense that shines about the rest, with Clemson's being Deshuan Watson and Alabama's being Heisman trophy winner Derrick Henry. What gives Clemson the edge is A. Watsons Versitility and B. His supporting cast. I think Clemson's core of receivers are stronger than Alabama's, and you better be watching for Wayne Gallman. Gallman is a tank at runnigback, and I have a feeling in my small gut that should Clemson win, Gallmen will be the game's most valuable player.
Edge: Clemson
Special Teams
Defense
Both of these teams have among the best defensive units in the land, but I'm giving the edge to the elephants due to how deep and talented their front 7 is. Reggie Raglad, Jonathan Allen, Denzel Devall and A'Shawn Robinsion are just some of the talented names on the Alabama defense, and Watson should be wary of each and every one of them. Nick Saben's teams have always been defense uber alles, and this year is no exception
Cyrus Jones is a beast at returning kicks, while Clemson's kicker Ammon Lakip has only had the job for 3 weeks. If this game comes down to special teams, Bama is taking it.
Edge: Alabama
Defense
| Cyrus Jones can make big plays. Photo creds to www.baltimoresun.com |
Edge: Alabama
Final Prediction
These are the two best teams in College Football, but with all due respect to Dabo, Nick Saben will reign supreme. Alabama is on an incredible roll even by their standards, and I think they are a better team than Clemson right now. Saben is the best at preparing, and that will be evident when DeShaun Watson finally makes a mistake in a key situation. Both defenses will come to play, but Bama will make one or two more big plays than Clemson, and that will be the difference. Jake Coker will be cool, while Deshaun Watson will make a rare mistake in a tight situation. Roll Tide.
Alabama 24, Clemson 14
Alabama Crimson Tide, 2015 National Champions
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