Despite being undefeated and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Clemson Tigers are considered underdogs against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the national championship game. But what else is new?
Many college football experts and Las Vegas oddsmakers expected the Tigers to lose to No. 4 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, but they breezed past the Sooners with relative ease in the semifinal matchup.
You might say coach Dabo Swinney and Co. are fans of proving people wrong and, if they follow these three keys to victory Monday night in Glendale, Ariz., they will do it once again. And this time they will have the trophy to prove it.
DESHAUN WATSON’S GREATNESS CONTINUES
If the Tigers beat the Crimson Tide, then it almost certainly will be because their best offensive player stepped up in the spotlight.
Watson, Clemson’s quarterback, has had an incredible season, highlighted by his trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist. The sophomore has thrown for 3,699 yards, completed 68.2 percent of his passes and owns a passer rating of 155.9. He also has thrown for 31 touchdowns and only been intercepted 12 times. And if that wasn’t enough, he also has 1,032 yards with 12 touchdowns on the ground.
But it’s safe to say Watson hasn’t seen a defense like Alabama’s yet. The Crimson Tide are coming off a 38-0 win over Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, and they finished the season third in total team defense among 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
If Watson can figure out a way to use his speed and keep the Tigers at the tempo they want to be at, that might just be enough for them to win the national championship.
SHAQ LAWSON COMES BACK HEALTHY
Lawson is a force on the defensive end, and he likely will be a big factor for the Tigers if he plays.
Lawson’s status for Monday’s game is questionable after he missed most of Clemson’s win over Oklahoma with a knee injury. However, he said there’s a “very good chance” he’ll play in the national championship. He will be a key in this game either way.
Even though he likely won’t be 100 percent healthy, Lawson has the ability to be a difference maker. He has 10 1/2 sacks on the season, and he will be one of Clemson’s first lines of defense against Heisman winner Derrick Henry.
RUN GAME IS ESTABLISHED
No matter how key Watson is, he can’t do it alone. Luckily for him, though, running back Wayne Gallman has been just as much of a force on the ground on the other side of the ball. Gallman tore apart Oklahoma’s defense en route to 150 yards with two touchdowns, and he now has 1,482 yards with 12 touchdowns on the season.
Of course, running the ball against Alabama is much easier said than done. The Crimson Tide have the best rush defense in FBS this season, allowing just 74 yards per game. It’s unfair to expect Gallman to be as effective as he was in the Orange Bowl, but if he can open things up a bit for Watson and take some pressure off him, then the Tigers should be in good shape.
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
