Clemson vs. Alabama Betting Preview 01/09/17 – NCAAF Championship Game

Betting Preview

In a rematch of last year’s Championship Game Clemson will play Alabama and have a chance to redeem itself after last year’s 45-40 defeat.

The Tigers are led by quarterback Deshaun Watson who finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Clemson got here with the 31-0 destruction of Ohio State last week where Watson passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. He had an amazing year leading a powerful offense that averaged 39.5 points a game and scored over 40 points in seven games. He threw for over 4100 yards while passing for over 300 yards in six games and throwing at least three touchdown passes in seven. Their defense was a force as well allowing 18.4 points and 314 total yards a game.

Alabama comes in undefeated and is looking for it’s 27th straight win. They are led by freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts who threw 22 touchdowns and was the second leading rusher on the team with over 800 yards and 12 rushing scores but passed for 189 yards total in Alabama’s last two games. This prompted Coach Saban to replace offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin with Steve Sarkasian as Kiffin took a job as head coach elsewhere.

It’s Alabama’s defense that will determine the winner of the game. They were first in the nation in yards allowed per game, rushing yards allowed and points allowed (11.8 points a game) while scoring 11 defensive touchdowns.

The oddsmakers have made the Tide a 6.5 point favorite and set the total at 50.5. According to Covers.com Consensus Analysis 60% of the public couldn’t resist Clemson as the dog and are backing the Tigers while 61% are ignoring the defenses and are behind the over.

The total went over in five of Clemson’s last seven games overall while it went under in five of Alabama’s last seven games.

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Previous Meetings

01/11/16: Clemson 40 @ Alabama 45
08/30/08: Alabama 34 @ Clemson 10

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