More likely to win the national title this year...

#3
#3
Well I’m not sure. But I’d be leaning towards Clemson. I don’t think Alabama has had much good luck this off season and that NC game was a big embarrassment to them.

Not sure if they will be any better this year. Still miles above most of their opponents. But against Clemson? Who knows.
 
#7
#7
I'm sure this comment will end up looking foolish, but I'm wondering if people are a little too high on Clemson in the preseason. Let me preface this by saying they absolutely should be preseason #1 and it would be a shock if they didn't make the CFP. Having said that, there seems to be an implicit assumption by some that Clemson is going to win the title, or at least get to the title game and face Alabama again.

Trevor Lawrence is a great player, but remember our last memory of him was the game of his life against a great defense, by far his best performance of the season. Not every game is going to go that exact same way. Also, a somewhat under the radar fact about their defense last year was that the pass defense was simply "pretty good," not elite or as good as it was when they won the title in 2016. The strength of their D last year was the defensive line, and while it is being replaced with talented recruits they lost all 4 starters to the NFL.

I don't think it'd be the most shocking thing in the world if Clemson cruised into the CFP but lost to an Oklahoma or Georgia in the semifinal. It's very hard to repeat as a champ; even Saban has only done it once.
 
#10
#10
Clemson beats Ohio State, Alabama beats Oklahoma. And we get another year of Clemson/Alabama. I'll go with Clemson for the repeat.
 
#11
#11
VolsSportsFan said:
Kansas.
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Since you're willing to throw away money, may I suggest either stay at the Bellagio or Caesar's.
welcome1.gif
 
#13
#13
solivols said:
Clemson beats Ohio State, Alabama beats Oklahoma. And we get another year of Clemson/Alabama. I'll go with Clemson for the repeat.
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Wow. I have almost the exact same thing only I took Bama to beat Texas and then Bama to beat Clemson after Clemson dispatches of Ohio St again. I think UGA finishes 5th this year after losing to Bama. Now if the Big 12 winner or Big 10 winner ends up with 2 losses and UGA only has the Bama loss then UGA gets in.
 
#14
#14
05_never_again said:
I'm sure this comment will end up looking foolish, but I'm wondering if people are a little too high on Clemson in the preseason. Let me preface this by saying they absolutely should be preseason #1 and it would be a shock if they didn't make the CFP. Having said that, there seems to be an implicit assumption by some that Clemson is going to win the title, or at least get to the title game and face Alabama again.

Trevor Lawrence is a great player, but remember our last memory of him was the game of his life against a great defense, by far his best performance of the season. Not every game is going to go that exact same way. Also, a somewhat under the radar fact about their defense last year was that the pass defense was simply "pretty good," not elite or as good as it was when they won the title in 2016. The strength of their D last year was the defensive line, and while it is being replaced with talented recruits they lost all 4 starters to the NFL.

I don't think it'd be the most shocking thing in the world if Clemson cruised into the CFP but lost to an Oklahoma or Georgia in the semifinal. It's very hard to repeat as a champ; even Saban has only done it once.
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I can’t disagree with the thinking. In fact it was Kelly Bryant that bailed them out at A&M last year. Lawrence played like crap that game. The ACC is so soft that they won’t be challenged there but I could see them losing in the semifinal even though I have them losing to Bama in the championship.
 
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#15
#15
hUTch2002 said:
Wow. I have almost the exact same thing only I took Bama to beat Texas and then Bama to beat Clemson after Clemson dispatches of Ohio St again. I think UGA finishes 5th this year after losing to Bama. Now if the Big 12 winner or Big 10 winner ends up with 2 losses and UGA only has the Bama loss then UGA gets in.
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It seems that's the state of college football at the moment. You have ~5 elite teams, and then the rest. Makes sense right now that the Big 12 would be decided between Texas and OU, but you know E$PN is already salivating at the thought of a Tua/Hurts match up.
 
#16
#16
If I were a betting man, I would take Bama/Clemson

Where can I lay the cash down at?? :D
 
#17
#17
At this point, I would take the field. I think the injuries to Bama's LB core is really going to hurt their D when they face teams that have equal talent and I am not sold on Clemson's front seven. Clemson doesn't have the D-line they had and they won't face any decent teams outside of A&M so they may have trouble in the playoffs. I think Oklahoma could be a sleeper if they can find a way to get Hurts to be an above average passer. With my Dawgs, they have the talent all over the field (yes including WR) and the O-line to dominate just about any D-line in the country. Depth at QB is a big concern of mine but as long as Fromm stays healthy, the offense should be legit. I think we will all have a much better idea of the top 4 teams after week 4.
 
#18
#18
hUTch2002 said:
I can’t disagree with the thinking. In fact it was Kelly Bryant that bailed them out at A&M last year. Lawrence played like crap that game. The ACC is so soft that they won’t be challenged there but I could see them losing in the semifinal even though I have them losing to Bama in the championship.
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Lawrence wasn't quite ready to be the starter at that point - yes, they don't win that game without Bryant, who had a great game against A&M.

The biggest thing I see people doing with Lawrence and Clemson this year is they're looking at his performance in the CFP title game and assuming that is going to be replicated in each game this season. This "greatest NFL prospect ever" stuff...that might end up being true, but it is largely based off his performance in a single game last year. Don't get me wrong - he did absolutely torch what was thought to be a great defense in a huge game, but it was also one game.
 
#19
#19
05_never_again said:
Lawrence wasn't quite ready to be the starter at that point - yes, they don't win that game without Bryant, who had a great game against A&M.

The biggest thing I see people doing with Lawrence and Clemson this year is they're looking at his performance in the CFP title game and assuming that is going to be replicated in each game this season. This "greatest NFL prospect ever" stuff...that might end up being true, but it is largely based off his performance in a single game last year. Don't get me wrong - he did absolutely torch what was thought to be a great defense in a huge game, but it was also one game.
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I tend to agree. I also think too many people forget how talented and dominate their D-line was and all 4 of their starters are gone. Yeah they have talent to step in but nothing to the level they had last year.
 
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#20
#20
The loss of Moses is a killer. However, Bama's secondary should be much better than last year. Bama lost their top 6 DBs following 2017, then Diggs went down for the season in game 3. There was simply way too little experience back there, and Savion Smith simply isn't Trevon Diggs.

That said, Bama has to find a way to mask that hole at ILB. Hopefully the pass rush stays strong (remember the name DJ Dale). It will probably help a lot if Bama continues to score a lot of points.
 
#21
#21
bamawriter said:
The loss of Moses is a killer. However, Bama's secondary should be much better than last year. Bama lost their top 6 DBs following 2017, then Diggs went down for the season in game 3. There was simply way too little experience back there, and Savion Smith simply isn't Trevon Diggs.

That said, Bama has to find a way to mask that hole at ILB. Hopefully the pass rush stays strong (remember the name DJ Dale). It will probably help a lot if Bama continues to score a lot of points.
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You're so deep that the loss of Moses likely won't hurt unless you're facing a great offense plus your offense isn't scoring. When you look at your regular season opponents, A&M should have a good offense but their defense is likely a year + away. LSU and Auburn should have great defenses, but offensive consistency is a question mark, especially with Auburn. I don't know if any regular season opponents are well-rounded enough to truly expose the loss of Moses.

In all likelihood, whoever you face in the SECCG/CFP will still be the only teams that likely threaten you.
 
#25
#25
Clemson will win their 2nd straight National Title by beating Alabama again. Nick Saban will retire as head coach of Alabama after losing to Clemson for the 2nd straight National Championship Game.
 
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