#25 Alabama
vs
#6 Clemson
in Atlanta, GA
(Saturday, 7pm, ABC)
vs
#6 Clemson
in Atlanta, GA
(Saturday, 7pm, ABC)
When Alabama has the ball
One of the most intriguing matchups in this game will be Alabama left tackle Andre Smith against Clemson’s rush ends Ricky Sapp and DaQuan Bowers. Sapp and the freshman Bowers will probably be one of the best pass rush duos in the nation this year, but Smith is an All American and more than capable of holding his own.
Defensive tackle Dorrell Scott will be the Clemson lineman making the most noise in this game. Bama center Antoine Caldwell is a good one, but with all the attention on the ends, Scott will spend some time in the backfield.
John Parker Wilson was wildly inconsistent in 2007. He showed flashes of being a very good quarterback though, so I expect the senior to play well in stretches, even against the solid Clemson secondary. There’s no doubt he’ll take advantage of freshman man-child Julio Jones early and often. Jones has great size and speed and will step right in for D.J. Hall in the offense and provide a dangerous deep threat for Wilson.
The mismatch here might be running back Terry Grant. Bama likes to use Grant a lot in the passing game, and Clemson is breaking in all new linebackers. There’s no shortage of athleticism, but don’t be surprised to see Wilson hit Grant for a big play on busted coverage underneath.
When Clemson has the ball
One thing you can count on is that James Davis and C.J. Spiller will get the ball. They’ll get it early and they’ll get it often. Alabama runs a 3-4 defense, but there might not be enough linebackers in uniform to actually execute it. Three projected starters are out: Prince Hall and Jimmy Johns are both suspended, but even worse, Ezekial Knight has a heart condition and may have to give up football altogether.
The linebacking corps will eventually shape up and become a strong point for Nick Saban, but James Davis should carve out 100 yards rushing in this game.
Whereas the Bama O-Line vs the Clemson D-Line was strength on strength, the Clemson O-Line vs the Bama D-Line will be weakness on weakness. The Clemson offensive line was pretty bad in 2007 so the Tide might be able to put some pressure on quarterback Cullen Harper. If Brandon Deaderick can live up to his potential and come through with a pass rush, Rashad Johnson and Kareem Jackson will be able to lock down in the secondary pretty well. Top receiver Aaron Kelly is back, but the Clemson passing attack isn’t as potent as they sometimes appear to be in the stat columns.
Final Verdict
In what should be a close, well played defensive battle, I like Clemson’s running game to grind out the clock and keep the chains moving against a thin Alabama front. I also think Clemson’s defense is too fast and too good to allow the Crimson Tide to score enough points to win.
J.Pike’s Pick: Clemson 23, Alabama 17
Thanks to the Helmet Project for the team helmet logos.
One of the most intriguing matchups in this game will be Alabama left tackle Andre Smith against Clemson’s rush ends Ricky Sapp and DaQuan Bowers. Sapp and the freshman Bowers will probably be one of the best pass rush duos in the nation this year, but Smith is an All American and more than capable of holding his own.
Defensive tackle Dorrell Scott will be the Clemson lineman making the most noise in this game. Bama center Antoine Caldwell is a good one, but with all the attention on the ends, Scott will spend some time in the backfield.
John Parker Wilson was wildly inconsistent in 2007. He showed flashes of being a very good quarterback though, so I expect the senior to play well in stretches, even against the solid Clemson secondary. There’s no doubt he’ll take advantage of freshman man-child Julio Jones early and often. Jones has great size and speed and will step right in for D.J. Hall in the offense and provide a dangerous deep threat for Wilson.
The mismatch here might be running back Terry Grant. Bama likes to use Grant a lot in the passing game, and Clemson is breaking in all new linebackers. There’s no shortage of athleticism, but don’t be surprised to see Wilson hit Grant for a big play on busted coverage underneath.
When Clemson has the ball
One thing you can count on is that James Davis and C.J. Spiller will get the ball. They’ll get it early and they’ll get it often. Alabama runs a 3-4 defense, but there might not be enough linebackers in uniform to actually execute it. Three projected starters are out: Prince Hall and Jimmy Johns are both suspended, but even worse, Ezekial Knight has a heart condition and may have to give up football altogether.
The linebacking corps will eventually shape up and become a strong point for Nick Saban, but James Davis should carve out 100 yards rushing in this game.
Whereas the Bama O-Line vs the Clemson D-Line was strength on strength, the Clemson O-Line vs the Bama D-Line will be weakness on weakness. The Clemson offensive line was pretty bad in 2007 so the Tide might be able to put some pressure on quarterback Cullen Harper. If Brandon Deaderick can live up to his potential and come through with a pass rush, Rashad Johnson and Kareem Jackson will be able to lock down in the secondary pretty well. Top receiver Aaron Kelly is back, but the Clemson passing attack isn’t as potent as they sometimes appear to be in the stat columns.
Final Verdict
In what should be a close, well played defensive battle, I like Clemson’s running game to grind out the clock and keep the chains moving against a thin Alabama front. I also think Clemson’s defense is too fast and too good to allow the Crimson Tide to score enough points to win.
J.Pike’s Pick: Clemson 23, Alabama 17
Thanks to the Helmet Project for the team helmet logos.
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