The college football playoff final four is upon us and the four teams are: 1-Alabama, 2-Clemson, 3-Notre Dame, 4-Oklahoma. Alabama and Nick Saban will look to be crowned national champions again after just getting by Georgia in a 35-28 comeback win for the Crimson Tide after Georgia looked to be in control of the game.
Before he got injured, Heisman trophy candidate, Tua Tagovailoa, got somewhat exposed against the Georgia Bulldogs. He threw 10/25 for just 164 yards, got intercepted twice and completed a late third quarter touchdown.
Coming full circle, Jalen Hurts came in for Tua when it was just last year against the same team that Tua went in to save the game from a struggling Jalen, and boy did he step up. Down 14 points in the fourth quarter Hurts came in and threw 7/9 passes for 82 yards, while rushing for 28 yards and scoring two touchdowns.
Georgia had a chance to beat the best team in the country for a second time and for the second time, they choked. This leaves us with what I predicted.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma and Clemson vs. Georgia. I said it last week. Unfortunately we will have a Alabama/Clemson CFP final in which ‘Bama will probably win.
While I like the fact that Alabama’s always great defense will face the number one offense in the country there is no way the Sooners have a chance.
I do think that their offense can score points, a lot of them. Their defense is one of the worst in the country. They’re tied for last out of 130 schools in passing yards allowed per game with 291 and rank 96th in points allowed per game. Oklahoma’s offense, I predict, will have an OK day and score 20 to 30 points.
But against ‘Bama’s offense their defense is going to lose them the game by allowing something like 40 to 50 points, no matter who the starting quarterback will be.
Then there’s Clemson and Notre Dame battling it out and I think this will be a competitive matchup. But with the offensive firepower that Clemson has and the experience of becoming national champions, I believe in a lower scoring game (say in the 20s) that Clemson will edge out the Fighting Irish and then play ‘Bama, only to lose to them.
I really hope I’m wrong, trust me. I would love to see ‘Bama lose to any of these three teams, but with the legacy and experience of Nick Saban I don’t see how someone can beat Alabama this year.
Last week was their worst game of the year and they still won the game.
Thanks Georgia.