CFP Playoff: 2019 National Championship Odds And Prediction

ATLANTA, GA – December 6: The National Championship trophy is displayed prior to the College Football Playoff Semifinal Head Coaches News Conference on December 6, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

2019 National Championship Odds And Prediction

After 39 bowl games and one that wasn’t for the first time in history, we have arrived on the doorstep of the National Championship. I want to thank all of you for following along this year and for all of your feedback. I will still have the results thread after the national championship game, then we are done with college football for another eight months.

More from College Football Odds

I did pretty well on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. My bowl picks are looking better this year than last year. I needed it after my poor finish to the regular season. I had a solid regular season, but this should keep me well over .500!

Just in case you missed any:
Autonation Cure Bowl
Progressive New Mexico Bowl
Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
DXL Frisco Bowl
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Jared Birmingham Bowl
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Dollar General Bowl
So-Fi Hawaii Bowl
ServPro First Responder Bowl
Quick Lane Bowl
Cheez-It Bowl
Walk On’s Independence Bowl
NewEra Pinstripe Bowl
Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Camping World Bowl
Valero Alamo Bowl
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
Belk Bowl
Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Goodyear Cotton Bowl
Capital One Orange Bowl
Northrup-Grumman Military Bowl
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Redbox Bowl
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Outback Bowl
Playstation Fiesta Bowl
VBRO Citrus Bowl
Northwestern Mutual Rose Bowl
Allstate Sugar Bowl

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers passes in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

(2)Clemson vs. (1)Alabama(-5.5) at Santa Clara, CA(4):

Clemson 14-0, 9-0(1st ACC):

Wins: vs. Furman(48-7), at Texas A&M(28-26), vs. Georgia Southern(38-7), at Georgia Tech(49-21), vs. Syracuse(27-23), at Wake Forest(63-3), vs. North Carolina State(41-7), at Florida State(59-10), vs. Louisville(77-16), at Boston College(27-7), vs. Duke(35-6), vs. South Carolina(56-35), vs. Pittsburgh(42-10), vs. Notre Dame(30-3)

Losses: NONE

Record vs. bowl teams: 11-0

Notre Dame was able to keep it close for a while, but Clemson blew them off the field in the second quarter. I honestly didn’t think the gap between Clemson and the Irish was that large. That showing in the Cotton Bowl has driven this line down.

Alabama 14-0, 9-0(1st SEC):

Wins: vs. Louisville(51-14), vs. Arkansas State(57-7), at Mississippi(62-7), vs. Texas A&M(45-23), vs .Louisiana(56-14), at Arkansas(65-31), vs. Missouri(39-10), at Tennessee(58-21), at LSU(29-0), vs. Mississippi State(24-0), vs. The Citadel(50-17), vs. Auburn(52-21), vs. Georgia(35-28), vs. Oklahoma(45-34)

Losses: NONE

Record vs. bowl teams: 10-0

The Orange Bowl wasn’t anywhere near as close as the score indicates. Even Alabama can get bored when they are up 28-0 in the first quarter. Kyler Murray had three good quarters, but he dug a hell of a hole not being able to move the ball in the first period against this defense.

Prediction:

I mentioned that Clemson’s showing in the Cotton Bowl has kept this line down. Remember before the playoff started when Alabama would be a double digit favorite against anyone on a neutral field? Clemson pretty much cut that in half.

I don’t really buy it though. Alabama’s performance was just as dominant. They just faced a team that has a really good offense and didn’t give up. This isn’t a slight on Alabama’s defense. You are going to see the same elite unit on the field. Can Trevor Lawrence hold up to that intense pressure that got to Murray in the first quarter? I have my doubts.

Alabama has looked like they are head and shoulders above the field all season. I don’t think that has changed. Bama by at least a touchdown.

Pick: Alabama

ESPN Capital One Bowl Mania picks. dark. Next

Stay tuned for the rest of the bowl picks against the spread, and our DFS picks for the NBA, NFL, and even some NHL action! We have something for everyone!