Alabama vs. Clemson

[CAA Flagship]

Who do you think will win?
Who do you want to win?

[GannonFan]

Would love Clemson to win but I think they get smoked in this game. 'Bama by at least two touchdowns.

[CAA Flagship]

Would love Clemson to win but I think they get smoked in this game. 'Bama by at least two touchdowns.

Yup. That's where I'm at, too.

[Ibanez]

Would love Clemson to win but I think they get smoked in this game. 'Bama by at least two touchdowns.

Yup.


Either way, we win because Ohio State won't be playing.

[ASUG8]

This really comes down to which coach I dislike more.

Clemson has been Clemsoning since the Danny Ford days in the early 80's. I don't like either coach, but probably Saban less. As insufferable as the Clemson fans can be at times, I'll pull for them since I have some friends here that are grads.

[SuperHornet]

While I really don't care who wins this bogus exhibition game, I'm leaning toward Clemson.

The LEGIT title game will be a better game IMO....

[AshevilleApp]

Thinking Alabama and hoping Clemson.

[Pwns]

Saban's defenses have problems against versatile quarterbacks who can evade pressure and and make plays running the ball. See the games against Chad Kelly, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, etc. Alabama can smother most any pro-style offense but can't do anything when up against a college offense with a good QB.

I think Clemson has a decent chance.

[AshevilleApp]

Saban's defenses have problems against versatile quarterbacks who can evade pressure and and make plays running the ball. See the games against Chad Kelly, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, etc. Alabama can smother most any pro-style offense but can't do anything when up against a college offense with a good QB.

I think Clemson has a decent chance.

I hope so. MSU proved that you aren't likely to beat them with a power running and down field passing offense. Yet.

[UNI88]

Would love Clemson to win but I think they get smoked in this game. 'Bama by at least two touchdowns.

Yup.

Either way, we win because Ohio State won't be playing.

That's exactly how I felt last year when Alabama wasn't playing.

[89Hen]

Yup.

Either way, we win because Ohio State won't be playing.

That's exactly how I felt last year when Alabama wasn't playing.

[Ivytalk]

Went with the conventional wisdom.

Take Alabama minus the points.

[CID1990]

Saban's defenses have problems against versatile quarterbacks who can evade pressure and and make plays running the ball. See the games against Chad Kelly, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, etc. Alabama can smother most any pro-style offense but can't do anything when up against a college offense with a good QB.

I think Clemson has a decent chance.

I'm not much of a Clem's Son fan either

But if them beating Alabama will cause strife like when Auburn beat them on that FG block play thingy a couple years ago... I say

GO CLEMPSON

[clenz]

While I really don't care who wins this bogus exhibition game, I'm leaning toward Clemson.

The LEGIT title game will be a better game IMO....

What makes this a bogus exhibition, and not for a national title?

Why is the FCS the LEGIT title game. Does the JUCO, D2, D3, and NAIA games not count as legit title games?

[JohnStOnge]

While I really don't care who wins this bogus exhibition game, I'm leaning toward Clemson.

The LEGIT title game will be a better game IMO....

What makes this a bogus exhibition, and not for a national title?

Why is the FCS the LEGIT title game. Does the JUCO, D2, D3, and NAIA games not count as legit title games?

I think a "legit" championship game for this level of football would be the culmination of a playoff tourament in which the champion of each FBS conference had an automatic bid. So you'd probably have to end up with a playoff field about the size that it is in FCS to balance things out. And yes I know there would be conference champions that have absolutely no shot. But I still think you have to have a system where teams control their own destiny to the greatest extent possible.

At the very least any legit tournament should have the champions of the Big 5 conferences. Last year was a problem because the Big 12 champ was left out. This year there's an issue because the Pac 12 champ was left out.

I also think that basically if we want a legit playoff in the top level of college football it needs to be an NCAA tournament. I know that's never going to happen but that's the way it should be. As has been said many times it's ridiculous that there are NCAA tournaments for everything from volleyball to Lacrosse including D-III, D-II, and FCS football and no NCAA tournament for the most popular college sport/level.

[JohnStOnge]

On the question at hand I would bet on Alabama straight up but I am hopeful for the reason someone else mentioned. I think Clemson does have the type of offense and the types of skill players on offense that have caused Alabama problems. I don't think Alabama is fast on defense by SEC standards. It's a big, strong defense. There's a cliche that Alabama can have issues if you force its big strong players up front to play in space and I think it's an accurate cliche. I think Clemson has a chance to do that.

I think Alabama might have even more problems with an offense like Baylor's IF Baylor's got a healthy quarterback. But I think Clemson will have to do for now.

[JohnStOnge]

Either way, we win because Ohio State won't be playing.

I feel the opposite. I'm hacked off at Ohio State because their face plant against Michigan State meant we weren't going to get a team that could match Alabama talent wise in the final four. And I am very confident that, regardless of how Ohio State went through the motions and kind of under performed during the season, they could've at least matched Alabama talent wise and maybe even had a talent edge over the Tide.

Saturday while I was watching Ohio State toy with Notre Dame I Googled around to see different projections on how many Ohio State players would go in the draft. I found one at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2467 ... ally-great" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; saying Ohio State could produce the greatest draft class ever. Here's one that says they could have the most players drafted in the history of seven round drafts: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/spo ... e-program/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can also remember seeing one that projected 14 picks with 3 in the first 15 of the first round and 12 in the first two rounds. Saw another with 6 Buckeyes projected to go in the first round.

I would LOVE to have seen Alabama, which is used to having a big talent edge over the teams it plays, have to go up against somebody "their own size" with respect to that issue. And I don't think motivation and/or being juiced up to play would've been any problem for Ohio State's players if the opponent would've been Alabama and Urban Meyer had six weeks to prepare them to do it. Unfortunately Ohio State's lethargic, under achieving play during the regular season left us with a total mismatch and gifted Alabama with a semifinal opponent that just didn't have the bodies to match up with the Tide.

[GannonFan]

Either way, we win because Ohio State won't be playing.

I feel the opposite. I'm hacked off at Ohio State because their face plant against Michigan State meant we weren't going to get a team that could match Alabama talent wise in the final four. And I am very confident that, regardless of how Ohio State went through the motions and kind of under performed during the season, they could've at least matched Alabama talent wise and maybe even had a talent edge over the Tide.

Saturday while I was watching Ohio State toy with Notre Dame I Googled around to see different projections on how many Ohio State players would go in the draft. I found one at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2467 ... ally-great" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; saying Ohio State could produce the greatest draft class ever. Here's one that says they could have the most players drafted in the history of seven round drafts: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/spo ... e-program/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can also remember seeing one that projected 14 picks with 3 in the first 15 of the first round and 12 in the first two rounds. Saw another with 6 Buckeyes projected to go in the first round.

I would LOVE to have seen Alabama, which is used to having a big talent edge over the teams it plays, have to go up against somebody "their own size" with respect to that issue. And I don't think motivation and/or being juiced up to play would've been any problem for Ohio State's players if the opponent would've been Alabama and Urban Meyer had six weeks to prepare them to do it. Unfortunately Ohio State's lethargic, under achieving play during the regular season left us with a total mismatch and gifted Alabama with a semifinal opponent that just didn't have the bodies to match up with the Tide.

I agree actually, I think Ohio State was the best team in the Big Ten this year and they would've really presented problems for Alabama, just like they did last year. However, that gaffe of a game against Michigan St did them in and they only have themselves to blame for their lackluster play during most of the regular season. And yes, I think the Tide pummels Clemson in the game ahead.

[JohnStOnge]

BTW I will admit that I am basing this entirely on watching Clemson play Oklahoma but I am encouraged by how good Clemson's defensive front looked. They just completely blew Oklahoma's offensive front up even given they lost one of their best players to injury early in the game. I am hopeful that they will give Alabama's offensive front some real problems.

Look, Oklahoma went into that game averaging 235 yards per game rushing and over 5 yards per rush. Clemson held them to 67 yards rushing and 2 yards pre rush. They also had Oklahoma's quarterback running for his life all night. Clemson looked to me like they have some real Manimals up front on defense. At least in that game they did.

[Ibanez]

While I really don't care who wins this bogus exhibition game, I'm leaning toward Clemson.

The LEGIT title game will be a better game IMO....

You're an idiot.

[BDKJMU]

Bama is gonna roll..

[Ibanez]

Good game so far, Alabama isn't the clear leader.

[Grizalltheway]

Good game so far, Alabama isn't the clear leader.

Well it is tied so... good call.

[JohnStOnge]

That was good. Clemson lines up in a power formation and punches it into the end zone. I think that's a good psychological boost. Hope they can keep it up and end up at least one point ahead.

I love that on that down in that situation they said, "we're coming right at you" and punched it in.

[Ibanez]

Good game so far, Alabama isn't the clear leader.

Well it is tied so... good call.

I didn't by the score. I meant one team isn't clearly dominating. Though it seems that Clemson is making its way. Up by 3 and we all know they are a 2nd half team. They aren't letting Henry run over them.