Breaking down Alabama-Clemson reveals scoreboard danger

Breaking down Alabama vs. Clemson:

When Alabama has the ball

It isn’t a secret what Clemson plans to do. The Tigers leave their cornerbacks mostly unprotected, looking to stop the run and short passing patterns, and pressure the quarterback with their elite front seven. It worked wonders against Ohio State and J.T. Barrett — Clemson became the first team to shut out the Buckeyes in 24 years. But Alabama has more weapons, and while true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts stru✃ggled in the Peach Bowl against Washington, he has the big arm to make Brent Venables’ defense pay, and downfield options such as Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart. Bo Scarbrough will challenge Clemson’s formidable🧔 rushing defense, the kind of big and fast back Alabama seems to produce annually. In last year’s title game, tight end O.J. Howard hammered the Tigers, catching five passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. They won’t forget about him again.

Edge: Alabama

When Clemson has the ball

Alabama’s defense hasn’t forgotten last year’s performance, described by middle linebacker Rueben Foster as “embarrassing.” Deshaun Watson and Co. rolled up 550 yards of total o🐈ffense, nearly stealing the national championship from the Crimson Tide, and they’re back with even more weapons. Wide receivers Mike Williams (injury) and Deon Cain (suspension) didn’t play a year ago. Watson has a litany of playmakers to choose from. Six different receivers caught at least 33 passes this season, but the Tigers didn’t face a defense like this, a fast, nasty and determined unit that led the sport in scoring defense (11.4 points per game), rushing defense (62.0 yards per game), and total defe🍃nse (244.0 yards per game), and was second in sacks (50).

Edge: Clemson

Special Teams

Without two key special teams plays — a recovered onside kick and kickoff return for a touchdown, both in the fourth quarter — Alabama doesn’t win last year’s title game. When Alabama punts, which is rare, it has a weapon in J.K. Scott, who was third in the nation averaging 47.4 yards per punt. Both teams have playmakers on the💞 punt return, Ray-Ray McCloud for Clemson, Trevon Diggs for Alabama, and the two kickers — Alabama’s Adam Griffith and Clemson’s Greg Huegel — are relatively reliable, combining to miss 12 kicks in 46 attempts.

Edge: Even

Coaching

The head coaches are as different as their respective programs’ histories. There is the buttoned-up Nick Saban, serious, reserved, and looking to win his sixth ♌national championship, and fifth at Alabama in eight years. Then there is Dabo Swinney𝓀, media-friendly, funny and loose-lipped, and hoping to break through and snap Clemson’s title drought that dates to 1981. Their philosophies are different, but they are both winners. Saban obviously has the experience edge, but Swinney has led Clemson to back-to-back national-championship games, proving he belongs among the coaching elite in the game today.

Edge: Alabama

Three players who could decide the game

Everyone is focused on Watson and Hurts, dual-threat quarterbacks who will be m🦋ajor factors in which team advances to the national championship game, but here ar💫e three other key players who could end up affecting the outcome:

Calvin Ridley, Alabama WR

He didn’t have the blockbuster season some predicted, catching 67 passes for 733 yards and seven touchdowns, but the sophomore is the speed merchant who could ruin Clemson’s overaggressive defense. He thrives against one-on-one coverage, and the Tigers will make sure to stop the run, leavin🎃g little safety help over the top.

Jonathan Allen, Alabama DT

The 6-foot-3, 291-pound senior wrecks games, an absolute monster in the🌌 trenches, having produced 9.5 sacks, 62 tackles and 64 quarterback pressures. The Bronko Nagurski Award winner — given to the nation’s best defensive player — Allen is an athletic marvel, so fast for his size and yet to strong, and the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

Mike Williams, Clemson WR

The game-changing 6-foot-3 wide receiver has waited a year for this, for an opportunity to see if he would’ve made a difference in the national championship game. Now he gets his chance, after by far the best season of his Clemson career, catching 90 passes for 1,26♕7 yards and 10 touchdowns

Prediction

There is a recency bias, a fixation on the last game each team has played that has somehow made everyone forget who was the far superior team all season. Clemson won’t play an A-plus game again, Alabama won’t play a C game again. Watson will throw two interceptions — he has thrown 17 this year — and one will get returned to the house. Hurts will improve from his Washington performance, making plays with his arm and feet. The Crimson Tide defense will make amends for last year’s gashing, limiting Watson and Co., and Scarbrou𓆉gh breaks a big run late. Roll Tide🦂.

Alabama 38, Clemson 27