Clemson and Alabama square off in the College Football Playoff for a third straight year. This time their encounter comes in the Sugar Bowl semifinal.
Yet another College Football Playoff is upon us, and that means that it is time to reprise the growing rivalry between Clemson and Alabama on the football field. The past two seasons, the Tigers met the Crimson Tide in the national championship game.
Alabama won the first round in 2016. Clemson responded with a late victory in 2017. Now they will face one another a round earlier in the playoff bracket. After two straight title games against one another, Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban bring their two teams to New Orleans for a semifinal duel at the Sugar Bowl.
Only one of these two teams will reach a third straight national championship game. Clemson has emerged solidly from the departure of quarterback Deshaun Watson to the NFL to put themselves back into the hunt for the FBS crown. Alabama has likewise continued to churn along, recovering from a late loss in the Iron Bowl to make it in as the only non-champion in the Playoff field.
Will we see another high-scoring thriller between the Tigers and the Tide, or will defense prevail in the rubber match? Here’s how to watch Clemson-Alabama III in their College Football Playoff semifinal showdown at the Sugar Bowl:
Date: Monday, Jan. 1
Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
Location: New Orleans, La.
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
Clemson’s success is predicated on how well new quarterback Kelly Bryant plays against Alabama on New Year’s Day. After taking over the spot vacated by Watson, Bryant put up solid numbers as the Tigers rolled to another ACC championship. Clemson’s only loss came when Bryant was hobbled and concussed, and he proved a steadying influence when he was on the gridiron.
Clemson’s top-shelf defense also needs to contain the Alabama running game. The goal for the Tigers when they don’t have the ball will be to make Jalen Hurts beat them with his arm. His biggest damage came on the ground rather than through the air when the two teams met 12 months ago. Hurts is a far better runner than a passer, so getting good push up front is critical for the Tigers.
Alabama, conversely, needs Hurts to break out and have a commanding game on Monday. The sophomore never topped 250 passing yards in a single game this season. It was a pedestrian season for a quarterback with national championship pretensions. Hurts needs to put up a career-best game in his next game if the Tide are going to have a shot at getting to another national title game.
The Alabama defense needs to shut down not just Bryant but also Travis Etienne and Tavien Feaster out of the backfield. For Nick Saban’s team, the key this year will be shutting down the scoring. A turnover or two would go a long way toward deflating the scoreboard a bit.
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of Sportsbook Review
Point Spread: Alabama -3
Over/Under: 47
Prediction
The game will be another close encounter between Clemson and Alabama. But unlike the past two contests between the two powerhouses, this one will provide a platform for the two defenses to shine. Clemson and Alabama are going to take turns shutting down one another’s offenses.
Because the game will be so tight, it will provide an opportunity for the better quarterback to put his stamp on the game. And despite the fact that Hurts has more big-game experience, Bryant will stake his claim to being the better quarterback of the two. Look for Bryant to throw for close to 300 yards while adding another 75 or more yards running the ball.
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Turnovers will prove pivotal. Both teams will cough up the ball at least twice, and they will also have a tough time when fourth down rolls around. Though the offenses will sputter a bit, it almost makes the game even more intriguing. In the end, Dabo Swinney’s team will pull out the rubber match to keep their national title defense alive into the championship round.
Final Score: Clemson 21, Alabama 17