We are down to the final two teams and the last game of the 2015-16 Football Season. Alabama shut out Michigan State 38-0 while Clemson beat Oklahoma outright by a comfortable 20 points margin to set up a #1 vs #2 matchup in the National Championship Game on Monday, January 11th from Glendale, Arizona.
Clemson was a four-point underdog against the Sooners, and despite having the #1 overall ranking and an unbeaten record, the Tigers are once again an underdog against the Crimson Tide. The pph sportsbook list Alabama as a big 7-point favorite – up quite a bit from the opening number. The Over/Under has dropped a few points and currently sits at 50.5 points.
Clemson was able to stay unbeaten throughout the regular season, however they did have more than a few close calls along the way. Tigers were out-gained in total yardage in a close win against Notre Dame, and failed to cover the spread in each of their last four contests leading up to the ACC Championship Game. They also benefitted from playing in what is widely considered to be the weakest of the Power 5 Conferences.
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Alabama suffered an early loss at home against Ole’ Miss – a game that saw the Crimson Tide commit five turnovers in the six-point home defeat. Alabama hasn’t lost since, ands playing much better now than they were at the start of the year. The SEC overall has not been great this year, however, with nobody outside of Alabama ranked in the Top 11 and only four other SEC schools ranked in the Top 25.
Both teams rely heavily on their rushing game in terms of offense, with Clemson putting up 276 rushing yards per game. Sportsbook pay per head providers also said that and Alabama going for 228 rushing yards per game. Tigers have a better passing threat than Alabama, however the Crimson Tide are better equipped to stop the run. It’s that matchup with their rush defense along with the stronger schedule that has the Crimson Tide listed as a touchdown favorite.
Last year, the Ohio State Buckeyes won the first CFP Playoffs when they crushed Oregon 42-20. That was the seventh time in the last nine years the winner of the National Championship Game was decided by double-digits. If history holds true, then Alabama would be the obvious choice to back this Monday. But Clemson looked really good last weekend in that Oklahoma win and they have the passing game that can take advantage of Alabama’s overrated secondary, and seven points is a significant number.
However you decide to play this game, good luck to you and we’ll return next summer with our 2016 College Football Preview.
