LSU vs Clemson Preview

By: Brandon Carr

The 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship Game is quickly approaching. The battle between the number one ranked LSU Tigers and the third ranked Clemson Tigers will be a game to remember. The LSU Tigers are 5.5 point favorites to win the biggest game of the year with the over-under being at 69.5 points. The game is Monday January 13th at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The start time is 8:00pm on ESPN.

LSU

LSU has been the talk of this college football season starting with the emergence of quarterback Joe Burrow who won the heisman trophy this year with a staggering 5,208 passing yards, 55 touchdowns, and an FBS record 77.6% completion percentage. The way Burrow has turned around this LSU program has been very impressive. There was a reason why head coach Ed Orgereron wanted Burrow to transfer to LSU and why he made every effort to recruit him to the Tigers. The weapons that Joe Burrow has on this offense can’t be slept on. The trio of Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Terrace Marshall Jr. have all been near unstoppable this year when taking the field together; making Joe Burrow’s life a lot easier. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been a key player in this LSU offense because of what he provides the offense with his efficient running and catching out of the backfield. Joe Burrow’s biggest weapon however is Joe Brady. Brady was an offensive assistant last year for the New Orleans Saints and he has really taken the LSU passing offense to a historic level.    

When talking about LSU you can’t forget about their great secondary. It starts with the cornerback duo of Kristian Fulton and Derek Stingley Jr. Kristian Fulton is a projected first round pick in the NFL draft this year and was PFF’s highest graded SEC cornerback of the season. Derek Stingley is one of the best young cornerbacks in college football. He is only a freshman and has earned himself first team all SEC honors. But the best player in this secondary may be safety Grant Delpit. Delpit this season was first team all SEC and was the winner of the Jim Thorpe award which recognizes the top defensive back in college football.

This LSU team is very loaded on both sides of the ball however they will have their hands full with Clemson.

CLEMSON

The defending national champions are still amongst the best teams in college football. It starts with their quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence this season started off slow but he picked up his play and looks as deadly as he did in last year’s college football playoff. Lawrence has not thrown an interception since October against Louisville and has thrown 201 consecutive passes without one. Since the last time Trevor Lawrence has thrown an interception he has thrown for 1,897 yards and 22 touchdowns. Lawrence has the necessary weapons to complement his talent. Receivers Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins are both big bodied receivers that have made Trevor Lawrence’s job easier this season. But the guy who makes this Clemson offense electric is running back Travis Etienne. Etienne is one of the nation’s most explosive running backs and has lived up to that name. His 1,536 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, and his whopping 8 yards per carry give Clemson a dynamic player out of their backfield who is capable of breaking off a big play on any given touch. 

For Clemson’s defense, it revolves around linebacker, Isaiah Simmons. Simmons was a safety before converting to linebacker in 2017. Since then, Simmons has turned himself into one of the best linebackers in the nation. Simmons this year was the winner of the Butkus award which recognizes the nation’s top linebacker. He is the leader of this Clemson defense that lost a lot of key players to the NFL draft last year but they are amongst the best defenses in college football with them being number one in fewest points given up on the season second in fewest yards given up. Clemson’s defense will face its toughest challenge of the season against LSU.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Joe Burrow vs. Trevor Lawrence: This is the talk of this matchup. Two of the nation’s best quarterbacks dueling it out on the biggest stage in college football. The team that wins this game will rely on who’s quarterback can get them to that point. Joe Burrow has had an unworldly type of season with LSU who has and is on his way to breaking multiple FBS records. Trevor Lawrence has been known as one of the best quarterbacks in college football for two years and has never lost a game in his collegiate career with a 25-0 record, yet he’s the underdog once again. Both of these quarterbacks have something to prove in this game and both will bring their A-game to this contest. But who will outdo the other? That will be the biggest reason of determining the outcome of this game.

Clemson’s Pass Defense vs LSU Pass Offense: Clemson has had one of the best defenses in the nation this season they have been among the top in rankings in terms of yards given up and points given up. Most importantly they have given up the least passing yards per game. They happen to play the best passing offense in college football. This is a battle of two heavyweights. Clemson has not seen a passing offense as explosive as LSU’s has been this season. Will Clemson’s secondary be able to hang with these LSU receivers?

Both Team’s Pass Rush and Both Team’s Offensive Line: What is not being talked about enough is that Clemson has had the better pass rush and the better offensive line this season than LSU has. In terms of FBS rankings, Clemson is 12th in total sacks and LSU is 32nd in total sacks. Clemson has the advantage in pass rush over LSU. However, that number is not as staggering as this number. Clemson has given up the 11th fewest sacks and LSU has given up the 94th fewest sacks in college football. That is a huge advantage for Clemson. Will Clemson be able to take advantage of this? That could determine the outcome of this game. No matter how good the LSU defensive backs can be if their front seven can’t get to Trevor Lawrence it will be hard to cover the Clemson receivers for a long period of time.

WHO WINS?

Both of these teams have had huge storylines heading into this game. LSU has had a season of the ages. From Joe Burrow going from a transfer quarterback to the heisman trophy winner and potential number one overall pick of the draft, transforming LSU to one of the most prolific passing offenses in college football history with Joe Brady. To LSU playing this game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome at home, this team has a chance to write the perfect ending to this storybook season. Clemson has a chip on its shoulder, they have a chance to repeat as national champions as the underdog once again. Dabo Swinney and Clemson would be talked about as the new dynasty in college football. Both teams have chances to make history. But only one can come out on top.

Prediction: 26-24 Clemson.