8-team simulated College Football Playoff: Who wins?
No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Alabama
This looks familiar, right? Clemson and Alabama played in the last two National Championship Games, splitting the series. So, it only makes sense if they play for a third time, settling the score in the unofficial Best-of-3 series.
These Tigers are different from January, however. Deshaun Watson departed for the NFL, which left Kelly Bryant as the starting quarterback. He’s not what the Houston Texans’ quarterback was for the program but still provides efficient, dual-threat ability.
What’s the same, is the defense. That goes for both Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban’s teams, who were among the best in the country. Could this be a grittier-than-usual matchup, since these offensives don’t offer the explosiveness of previous seasons?
As noted, the last time anyone saw the Crimson Tide, it wasn’t their best performance. Jalen Hurts struggled and Auburn found success on offense, more than anyone usually does. Will this continue to carry over after beating Ohio State (another ground-and-pound battle)?
This one should be a low-scoring affair that pits two similar teams. However, for the second consecutive meeting, it’s Clemson that wins. Even with a diminished passing attack, it’s hard to look past what Hurts did against a quality defense. Bryant may not play well, either, but there are more weapons for him to work with, and a defense that just shut down Miami, Auburn and Louisville.