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Clemson vs Alabama: How to bet on National Championship Game

By Brad Rowland

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; The Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide line up during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; The Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide line up during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here’s how you should be betting on the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers.

Momma, we made it.

The 2016 college football season comes to an end (in 2017!) on Monday evening, as the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers face off for the national title. Throughout the season, we have picked games against the spread in this space and, prior to bowl season, there was some success to be enjoyed. Sadly, the bowls have not been terribly kind and, with that, let’s check in on where we are to date.

  • Bowls: 12-17-1
  • Season: 84-83-2

In case you are math challenged, the fact our record stands just one game over .500 with the national title game still to come places a bit of added emphasis on what will happen in Tampa. I want no part of a sub-.500 mark on the year and don’t plan to lead you astray. Let’s get to the two picks for the festivities.

Alabama and Clemson UNDER 51 points

Alabama’s defense is preposterous. This is well-known. What isn’t as publicized is that Clemson’s defense is also very, very good.

The Tigers currently rank sixth nationally in S&P+ on the defensive side while the Crimson Tide predictably rank at the very top of the college football heap. Does that sound like a recipe for an under to you? It certainly does for me.

Clemson’s defensive line won’t enjoy the same level of utter dominance that it did against Ohio State’s porous offensive front, but the Tigers will present some challenges for Alabama. In fact, the Tide have struggled, at least relatively, in recent weeks on the offensive side and there is some level of uncertainty in the switch from Lane Kiffin to Steve Sarkisian.

This may not be an easy cover, but I feel confident this game is played somewhere in the low to mid 20’s. Give me the under.

Alabama (-6.5) over Clemson

I don’t love this and I’ll be the first to admit it. Underdogs are always my default, but given that this line has ticked under a full touchdown and Clemson is enjoying a lot of attention (more than 60 percent of action), it feels on brand for me.

Alabama is, unequivocally, the best team in the country for me and they’ve proved me wrong when I take underdogs against them all season long. The Tide are 10-3 against the spread while being a favorite of seven points or more in every game. In short, none of that is going to dissuade me from laying the points in this spot.

Next: 5 x-factors in National Championship Game

I respect Deshaun Watson, that Clemson receiving corps and what I think is a very good defensive line. Make no mistake, the Tigers can win this game. Am I going to pick them to cover less than a touchdown spread? No, I am not.

Good luck, everybody, and thanks for tuning in throughout the season.

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