Clemson Football: CFB Playoff couldn’t have made it easier for LSU
As we prepare for Clemson football to enter the CFB Playoff, it’s pretty clear that the committee couldn’t have made the road easier for LSU.
We’ve all known for quite some time now that Clemson football wasn’t going to get the benefit of the doubt.
The Tigers drew the shortest stick among the three remaining undefeated teams- LSU and Ohio State being the other two- and now they’ll have the most difficult road to the National Championship.
For those Clemson football fans wondering what we’re talking about? Well, just about everything the Tigers would’ve preferred didn’t happen. In the same light, just about everything the LSU Tigers would’ve wanted to happen absolutely did happen.
As we saw the final CFB Playoff rankings Sunday afternoon, it came at no surprise of who the top-four teams were. The only real question was who would play Clemson football in the first-round and who would get the easier test of Oklahoma.
Well, LSU beat out Ohio State for the No. 1 spot, giving the Tigers a matchup with the Sooners.
Not only did LSU get Oklahoma in the first-round, the Tigers got the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl as their host spot. As a result, they will get the weakest of the potential three opponents and will get to play the Sooners in the venue (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) that they just blew out the Georgia Bulldogs in during the SEC Championship game.
Clemson, on the other hand, will have to make a trip out west- which is extremely inconvenient for the fans- to play an Ohio State team with a large and passionate alumni base in the Glendale area. Because of that, it should be expected that the Buckeyes have an advantage in fan attendance when the game is played three Saturdays from now.
Not only will Clemson play Ohio State over in Arizona, if the Tigers win and face LSU, they’ll have to do so in New Orleans- basically in LSU’s backyard.
The committee couldn’t have teed it up any better for LSU. They get the venue advantage in both cases (semifinal and national championship) and the opponent advantage in Oklahoma.
Next. 5 reasons Clemson will repeat as National Champions. dark
Clemson will have to beat both Ohio State and LSU in likely token away games, but that won’t bother Dabo Swinney. The Tigers have an opportunity to make history and they’re playing the best football in the nation right now. Look for Clemson football to come out with a chip on its shoulder a few weeks from now and give its best shot at getting to New Orleans and competing for a second National Title.