National Championship Prediction - Tigers vs. Crimson Tide

It's here. Again.

College football's National Championship awaits. An unprecedented rematch pits the No. 2 Clemson Tigers (13-1) against the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (14-0). The script is flipped from a year ago when Clemson entered unbeaten and No. 1 with the Tide ranked second at 13-1. Alabama won 45-40.

It's a different year and both teams have proven to be on top of their games going into Monday. Here are a few last-minute notes:

• Alabama has not lost in a National Championship Game under Nick Saban.
• Clemson is 27-2 in the past two seasons; Alabama is 28-1. The Tide are on a 26-game winning streak.
• Alabama has 76 wins since the start of the 2011 season. That leads the nation. Clemson is second with 69 wins.
• The Tigers and Tide have combined to play in seven of the nine CFB Playoff games since its implementation, including each of the past six games and both National Championships.
• Clemson and Alabama have won the previous four semifinal games by an average of 26.5 points, including a shutout by each team.
• In fact, the two teams have given up a total of 24 points (17 by Clemson, 7 by Alabama) in those semifinal games.

There's no arguing these two programs have put themselves on a pedestal the past two years. Alabama and Clemson. Clemson and Alabama. No matter how you say it, you know it's big-time football.

The keys to the game are:
-Can Clemson exploit a weakness in the Alabama secondary?
-Will the Tigers offensive line give Deshaun Watson enough time to do so?
-How different will the play-calling be from Steve Sarkisian?
-Is Clemson equipped to go toe-to-toe with Alabama for four grueling quarters?
-What momentum swing will we see in this year's game?

There are a few differences from a year ago when the Tigers and Tide dueled in the desert. Clemson was dealing with injuries, especially on defense. Mackensie Alexander was hampered by a bum hamstring and left early in the game. Both Shaq Lawson and Ben Boulware were practically playing with one arm. Plus, two key ingredients were missing from Clemson's high-flying offense: Mike Williams and Deon Cain.

This year, the Tigers are fully healthy. Williams and Cain are part of the equation.

And last I checked, Watson is still at the helm.

The Tigers hope to put Alabama to bed and celebrate
the school's second National Championship.
(Photo courtesy Reuters)

It is difficult for me to pick against Clemson, y'all know that. I went against them when Louisville came to town. I was wrong. I'm just having a hard time getting over the fact that this is Alabama, the gold standard in college football. This Tide team might be the best ever, at least if you listen to the pundits.

I have concerns with their offense against a salty and laser-focused Clemson defense. I also have concerns that Alabama hasn't seen anything close to what the Tigers have to offer.

Deshaun Watson is the best player on the field for the final time as a college quarterback. And he leaves behind a legacy capped with a National Championship.

Score Prediction: Clemson 23, Alabama 17

-BtW