It seems that Clemson football is on a collision course that’s heading straight towards Alabama. Can anyone derail that track?
The Clemson football team has pretty much proven that it is one of the two best teams in the nation here in 2018.
The Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide seem to be on their way to playing a fourth game in as many years in the College Football Playoff.
The programs split the first two games- both National Championship matchups- in 2015 and 2016 and then Alabama won the third matchup last season in a playoff semifinal.
The winner of this matchup has decided the last three National Champions and it seems as if that will be the case this year, as well.
Can anyone derail that track?
Barring injuries, the short answer that question is “no.”
I just don’t see any team deep enough or talented enough to beat Clemson or Alabama. The best chances? I’d say a team like Oklahoma or Georgia.
Personally, I don’t see Notre Dame or Michigan challenging Clemson or Alabama. Notre Dame just isn’t good enough. Michigan has a very good defense, but that’s the type of style of game that Alabama wants to play. Clemson certainly isn’t afraid of Big Ten teams either. Right, Ohio State?
For a team to beat either Alabama or Clemson this season, they’re going to need a solid passing game. They’re going to need to be able to move the ball offensively and play solidly on the defensive side of the ball.
The “weak spot” of both defenses- if there is one- is in the secondary.
I think Georgia and Oklahoma fit that bill the best, but I’m concerned that the Sooners just aren’t good enough defensively to stop either Bama or Clemson. I’m concerned that Georgia isn’t good enough on offense to keep up with the Tide or the Tigers.
In the end, I think the only team that can beat Alabama is Clemson. As long as the Tigers continue to focus and they don’t beat themselves, we’re going to see a date between Clemson and the Crimson Tide here soon, most likely in January.