College Football Championship 2016: Alabama vs. Clemson Odds, Projected Winner
The College Football Playoff title game will see No. 1 Clemson attempt to win its second national championship against second-ranked Alabama on Monday at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Head coach Nick Saban's SEC champions will be going for their fourth national title during his tenure. With that type of track record, it's no wonder Odds Shark lists the Crimson Tide as 5.5-point favorites.
Let's take a look at the basic game information below, along with a preview and projected winner for the grand finale of the second annual CFP.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
| Monday, Jan. 11 | No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 2 Alabama | Alabama -5.5 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN | WatchESPN |
Alabama vs. Clemson Preview, Projected Winner
The units and players likely to garner the most attention in this matchup may not matter as much to the outcome as their counterparts will.
Sound confusing? Think of it this way: Heisman Trophy finalists in Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson and hardware-winning Alabama running back Derrick Henry will dominate the pre-CFP title clash conversation.
Next in the pregame narrative is bound to be an NFL-caliber Crimson Tide defensive front headlined by potential first-round draft picks A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed, to name only a couple.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller alluded to just how loaded Alabama is on the front seven:
"#Alabama's three DL are ranked in my top 25 overall. Add in Reggie Ragland and they have four defenders in top 25. Just ridiculous.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 1, 2016"
But those stars will be expected to produce. Who wins this game may well boil down to the unsung heroes who rise to the occasion on the biggest college football stage imaginable.
An underrated subplot to Clemson's 37-17 Orange Bowl triumph over Oklahoma was how well its defense played up front without All-American defensive end Shaq Lawson for the second half. Lawson suffered an MCL sprain early on and tried to play through it before being pulled.
"I think the prognosis is good at this point," said Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney of Lawson's status, per ESPN.com's Heather Dinich. "but he's got to get out there and run around a little bit today and kind of go from there, but I'm very optimistic he'll be able to play."
Even if he does suit up versus the Tide, Lawson isn't going to be 100 percent. A big question is whether the Tigers can play well enough in the trenches to handle Henry's punishing runs and apply pressure to Alabama QB Jake Coker.
The savvy signal-caller picked up the slack for Henry in a 38-0 Cotton Bowl romp over Michigan State. If Coker plays as he did against the Spartans, Clemson may not even keep this game close.
That's why Tigers RB Wayne Gallman looms so large. The sophomore quietly racked up 150 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Orange Bowl, as he and Watson opened up running lanes for each other and gashed a hapless Sooners defense.
Keeping the Tide's massive defensive line on the field for as long as possible is critical to Clemson's cause. Gallman at least provides hope for the Tigers that they can accomplish such an objective.
Unfortunately, the limitations Lawson figures to have—if he indeed does play—are the tipping point in what should be a close contest. Look for Saban and the Tide to eventually roll, pull away late and take college football's top prize back to Tuscaloosa yet again.
Projected Score: Alabama 27, Clemson 20
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
