For the first time in the history of modern college football, a team can finish 15-0. The Clemson Tigers have won 17 consecutive games and 23 of their last 24 dating back to last year.
However, it all won't mean a heck of a lot if they don't beat the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 11.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Alabama Crimson Tide -7
Clemson Tigers +7 Over/Under 53
ODDS ANALYSIS
The oddsmakers likely got this spread just about right. They opened up Alabama at -7 alongside a total of 53, and in the first 48 hours of betting lines being open, that's right about where things sit. There's a slight lean on Clemson, pushing the line down to 6.5, but in the college game, that isn't necessarily a massive move.
WHEN THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE HAVE THE BALL
Had you told us that Derrick Henry would only have 20 carries for 75 yards in the national semifinal, we would've told you that the Crimson Tide's season would be over with. However, Michigan State actually had no answer for the Alabama passing game, and we have to wonder if that's going to be a factor here in the championship game, too.
Jake Coker threw for 286 yards and two TDs, and he had a field day working the ball to Calvin Ridley, who had eight catches, 138 yards and two scores.
The Crimson Tide love stretching the field with their receivers, and Lane Kiffin isn't afraid to run the ball six straight times with his hammer, Henry to draw the safeties into the box, only to throw over the top of them. That's what happened on the touchdown that effectively ended the Cotton Bowl, a 50-yard bomb to Ridley right after a punt return for a touchdown and a turnover to take a 17-0 game and make it 38-0.
Don't be fooled if Alabama gets off to a slow start. The Tide averaged just 5.8 points per game in first quarters this year but 28.6 in the second through fourth quarters. Live bettors have historically done really well betting on the Tide early and capitalizing as the game wears on.
WHEN THE CLEMSON TIGERS HAVE THE BALL
Clemson is more or less the opposite team of Alabama from a scoring standpoint. The Tigers tend to get out of early leads and don't look back from there. That wasn't the case in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma, as Clemson used a fake punt in the second quarter to jumpstart the offense for the rest of the game.
Still, the Tigers are outscoring teams 10.8-4.5 in the first quarters of games this year, but let's not forget that the Crimson Tide are allowing just 1.4 points per game in the opening quarter, including shutting out Michigan State on New Year's Eve in the opening stanza.
After Michigan State had a total of 29 yards on 26 carries, it's tough to imagine Wayne Gallman and Deshaun Watson getting anything going with their legs. That said, both rushed for over 100 yards against both North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game and Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
This is probably going to be the key of the entire game for live betting purposes. Though Watson can certainly throw the ball, Clemson's success is based on the ground. If there just aren't any holes to run in, the Tigers are in a lot of trouble in live betting.
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Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The war between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers will take place Monday, January 11, 2016, at 8:30 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.
