No. 1 Clemson and No. 4 Alabama will square off for the third straight season on Monday night in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, but unlike its two predecessors, the third edition of the trilogy is in a national semifinal, not the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The Tigers (12-1, 7-1 ACC) topped Miami to win their third straight ACC championship, with the only blemish on their resume being a stunning loss at Syracuse on Friday, Oct. 13. Under the direction of dual-threat quarterback Kelly Bryant, the Tigers offense hasn't missed a beat after the departure of Deshaun Watson, and the defensive front is one of the best in the sport.
The Crimson Tide (11-1, 7-1 SEC) fell to Auburn in the Iron Bowl their last time out in a game that prevented them from winning the SEC West for the fourth straight season. But even without a division title in the trophy case, coach Nick Saban has built one of the most feared programs in the country.
Alabama is a three-point favorite over Clemson in the second of two national semifinals on New Year's Day.
Viewing information
Date: Monday, Jan. 1, 2018 | Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome -- New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN | Live stream: Watch ESPN, Watch ESPN apps
Storylines
Clemson: Bryant has been incredible for the Tigers, completing 67.4 percent of his passes, tossing 13 touchdowns, rushing for 646 yards and scoring 11 more times on the ground. He has weapons galore, including a balanced rushing attack that features Travis Etienne (744 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns), Tavien Feaster (659 yards, seven touchdowns) and a loaded receiving corps that features deep threat Deon Cain and the ultra-reliable Hunter Renfrow -- who caught the game-winning touchdown of the national title game with one second to play last January. The biggest strength of this year's Tigers is a defensive front that is giving up just 4.29 yards per play (fourth nationally), is averaging eight tackles for loss per game (ninth nationally) and is No. 5 in the nation in third down defense (27.8 percent).
Alabama: The Crimson Tide are led by a multi-dimensional rushing attack that features quarterback Jalen Hurts, (768 yards, eight touchdowns), and running backs Damien Harris (906 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Bo Scarbrough (548 yards, eight touchdowns). Calvin Ridley has been great as a junior, hauling in 896 yards and scoring three touchdowns while being the primary focus of every secondary he's faced. The front seven should get outside linebackers Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis back, along with middle linebacker Mack Wilson. But true freshman Dylan Moses, who had double digit tackles in each of their final two games in place of an injured Shaun Dion Hamilton, will be out with a foot injury.
Prediction
Of the three matchups between these two teams on the game's biggest stages, this is the best matchup for the Tigers. The reason is very simple -- the Crimson Tide offense hasn't been able to evolve much under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Daboll because of the absence of a downfield threat opposite Ridley and an offensive line that is not all that it is sometimes cracked up to be. That plays into the teeth of the Tigers strength -- that defensive front. The Tigers will put the Tide in third and medium (or worse) consistently, which has been their biggest Achilles heel in 2017. They've converted 41.5 percent of their third down opportunities this year (No. 50 nationally), and 31.43 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 (No. 64). Give me the Tigers to not only cover, but win by 10 or more points. Pick: Tigers (+2.5)
So what side do you need to be all over in the Sugar Bowl? Visit SportsLine now to get a strong pick for Clemson vs. Alabama from Vegas legend Kenny White, who's on a 15-7 run in college football against the spread picks.
