Though Clemson football is listed as an underdog by Vegas, the Tigers are actually slight favorites according to the ESPN Football Power Index (FPI).
The Clemson football team has just one more obstacle in its way of winning back-to-back National Championships.
The Tigers will take on the No. 1-ranked LSU Tigers in New Orleans for an opportunity to win the National Championship and improve their overall program winning streak to 30 games.
Though Clemson football hasn’t lost a game in two seasons, the Tigers are actually listed as 5.5-point underdogs, courtesy of the Action Network, as they enter the game against LSU.
Though Vegas favors LSU, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gives a slight edge to Clemson.
According to the ESPN FPI, Clemson has a 55.9 percent of winning the game.
Clemson is currently ranked No. 2 in the FPI rankings while LSU comes in at No. 3. Ohio State was ranked No. 1.
Early Thoughts:
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this game has to do with LSU’s passing game against Brent Venables and Clemson’s secondary.
The Tigers have had one of the best passing defenses in the country this season while LSU has had the most prolific passing game in America, led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.
I’m interested to see how Venables game plans to attack Burrow and what the Tigers do to try to confuse him as a passer. Though Burrow has been spectacular this season, he has not faced a defense with the talent and depth that he’ll face when the two teams step on the field on January 13.
The Clemson football offense will need to put up some points and control time of possession to help keep that prolific LSU offense off the field and wear down that Bayou Bengal defense, which doesn’t quite have the depth of the Clemson defense.