Forecaster Frank CFP National Championship Game Pick
2018 CFP National Championship Game, Santa Clara
Alabama 31 Clemson 20
For the third time in four years Alabama and Clemson are meeting in the National Championship Game, this time it is with extra at stake as the winner, will be the first FBS team to go 15-0. In their previous meetings, it was Alabama winning in 2016 and Clemson winning in a thriller on a last-second pass from Deshaun Watson to Hunter Renfrow. In the 2016 game, Clemson had entered at 14-0 the following year the Tide entered 14-0, with both teams 14-0 this time around. The teams also met in the Sugar Bowl as Semifinal last season, with Alabama getting the win. The teams have been at the top of the NCAA the past four years and were clearly on a collision course from the start of the season on Labor Day Weekend. Both teams easily won their semifinals, with the Tigers dominating Notre Dame 30-3 in the Cotton Bowl, while the Tide rolled past Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl 45-34.
Clemson Coach Dabo Swiney was a member of the 1992 Alabama National Championship team had stayed on as a Graduate Assistant and served as an assistant coach until 2000. He joined Clemson’s staff three years later, becoming the head coach in 2008. If he is to win a second National Championship, he will reach legendary status. Nick Saban meanwhile is seeking history another National Championship will be seven breaking the tie he has with Alabama’s other legend Paul “Bear” Bryant for the coach with the most titles in FBS.
Clemson is the best defense that Alabama has faced all season. They are perhaps the best defense in all of college football. However, they will once again be without Dexter Lawrence who was suspended before the Cotton Bowl due to a positive drug test. Alabama meanwhile has the best offense that the Tigers have faced, as they are especially solid on the line, with Jonah Williams leading the way as a top pro prospect expected to be selected in the top five in the NFL Draft.
Both teams have outstanding quarterbacks, with Tua Tagovailoa finishing second in the Heisman voting for Alabama, while Trevor Lawrence a true Freshman has fans in Clemson thinking about a dynasty. Both are outstanding pro prospects who will be back next year, meaning these teams are likely to meet again next year. Holy Warriors-Cavaliers batman. Tagovailoa has already one championship under his belting, leading Alabama’s comeback last year against Georgia. He was a freshman; the Tigers are hoping Lawrence can pull the same magic but against an experienced team like the Crimson Tide that is going to be extra hard. Alabama has dominated the last decade since Nick Saban arrived Tuscaloosa, winning five titles in the last decade, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017. The 2018 team may be the best squad he has yet, and despite Clemson being a worthy competitor it is hard to imagine the Tide being stopped from winning again.
