8-team simulated College Football Playoff: Who wins?
National Championship Game
No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 2 Oklahoma
Despite the eight-team layout, you can chalk up this bracket. It’s No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 2 Oklahoma in the National Championship Game. This will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.
It’s a battle of a good Clemson offense and great defense vs. Oklahoma’s elite offense and shaky defense, earning a No. 57 ranking in Yards Allowed Per Game. So, this should make for an interesting matchup or two.
No one has stopped the Sooner offense in 2017. Not even in the loss to Iowa State. It’s been all Baker Mayfield from start to finish, likely earning a spot in New York City for the Heisman ceremony. This will be a well-deserved opportunity that precedes the title game.
Can the Tiger defense stop Mayfield? It limited Lamar Jackson and Jarrett Stidham to either paltry numbers or marks that weren’t close to their season-high. Neither is anything close to what the senior quarterback brings to the table, however. Along with a quiet-but-good rushing game that’s worth monitoring.
However, can the Sooner defense stop anyone? Just weeks ago, it allowed 52 points to Oklahoma State. TCU was limited in both games but with injuries to the running backs and a quarterback that wasn’t up to par with Mayfield.
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If the OU defense halts the Clemson running game and makes Kelly Bryant throw the ball over 30 times, it makes this a potential blowout and something that has a good chance of happening. That means a National Championship win for Boomer Sooner, who takes it home in Lincoln Riley’s first season as head coach.