LSU vs. Clemson: 5 bold predictions for CFP National Championship Game

Bold predictions for the National Championship Game between LSU and Clemson, including Joe Burrow breaking the record for touchdowns in a season.

The Tigers will definitely win the National Championship Game.

Okay, I can go a lot bolder with predictions for the LSU-Clemson title bout on Monday night. LSU will either win their first national championship since 2007 or Clemson will win their third title in the last four years and enter the conversation as one of the best modern dynasties in college football.

5. Joe Burrow will throw two interceptions

The Heisman Trophy winner might be one win away from putting an exclamation mark on the best single-season in college football history. Joe Burrow could break the FBS record for touchdowns in a season and completion percentage. He’s going to get his vs. Clemson who leads the nation in points allowed per game and pass defense, but Brent Venables’ group is gonna get theirs too.

Burrow has only thrown six interceptions this year to a staggering 55 touchdowns, but the Clemson defense has 19 interceptions, third-most in the nation. Clemson picks off a pass about every 20 pass attempts, and they’ve done so against some of the best at limiting their turnovers.

Clemson had two interceptions in last year’s National Championship Game against Tua Tagovailoa in a season that only saw him throw six total interceptions on 355 attempts. In the Fiesta Bowl against Justin Fields and Ohio State, Clemson picked him off twice, doubling the interception total he had all season.

Two Heisman finalists who rarely throw interceptions couldn’t help but be forced into throwing them vs. the Clemson defense. Somehow they find a way and that’ll continue vs. Burrow.

4. Joe Burrow breaks single-season touchdown record

Well, Burrow might have a pair of interceptions, but he’s also going to throw at least four touchdowns to set a record for most touchdowns in a single season in FBS history. Burrow enters the game with 55 touchdowns, which is three shy of the mark set by Hawaii’s Colt Brennan in 2006 when he threw 58. Brennan set the mark in 14 games while Burrow would set the mark in 15. Don’t even think about putting an asterisk on this record though.

3. Trevor Lawrence loses first college game

Success isn’t supposed to come this easy, or look this easy, but Trevor Lawrence’s first two years at Clemson has been otherworldly. He would have been the top pick in the NFL Draft last year after his record-setting freshman season. And he’s a mortal lock to be the top pick in the 2021 Draft when he’s finally draft-eligible. Heck, he might end up being the best quarterback prospect in the history of the game by the time he leaves Clemson.

But he won’t leave Clemson without a blemish.

Lawrence hasn’t lost a game since his Cartersville High School team lost in the second round of the Georgia state playoffs to Blessed Trinity on Nov. 17, 2017. That’s the last time Lawrence lost a game, until meeting LSU on Monday night in New Orleans. It might be the last time he loses in college because I fully expect Clemson to run the table next year and get back to the College Football Playoff.

2. LSU fails to cover the spread

I have LSU winning the game but I don’t think they’ll cover the six-point spread. This is going to be a close game all the way down to the final play. We’ve been fortunate to have competitive championship games, with the exception of last year’s demolition of Alabama by Clemson. If this game does get sideways, it’ll be LSU winning in blowout fashion. But I tend to think this game will be a close one for four quarters with LSU making enough plays late to secure the win. It won’t be a win for bettors laying the points because Clemson is 11-3 against the spread this year, so even if I think they lose, I think they’ll make it another instant classic.

1. Ed Oregeron is America’s Sweetheart, Dabo Swinney the new villain

Dabo Swinney used to be the underdog who was beloved by everyone. He was the cheerleader on the sideline with great catchphrases like “Bring your own guts!” and is great at playing the underdog card. But he’s won so much that he’s kinda turned into the bad guy. Whether it was his comments about wanting to coach in the NFL if college players get paid to endlessly playing the disrespect card, he went from lovable to replacing Nick Saban as the guy you love to hate.

Meanwhile, Coach O is the big guy with a smile as big as his barrel chest and a Cajun accent of a guy who sounds like he was gargling Quikrete. With every LSU win and every postgame “Go Tigers”, the popularity of Coach O grew in power. The culmination being the locker room celebration after winning at Alabama when he shouted, “Roll Tide what? F*** you!”

Part of me wants LSU to win to see a jubiliant Coach O afterward.

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