[h=1]How to bet projected College Football Playoff games[/h]Chris Fallica, Will Harris and Phil Steele
The first unveiling of the College Football Playoff bracket on Tuesday night featured a projected matchup of Clemson (No. 1) vs. Alabama (No. 4), and LSU (No. 2) vs. defending champion Ohio State (No. 3).
ESPN Chalk's Chris Fallica, Will Harris and Phil Steele got together to break down the potential matchups from a betting perspective.
[h=2]No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (-3) vs. No. 1Clemson Tigers[/h]Chris Fallica says: "If there is one thing which has given the Alabama defense fits, it's a mobile QB -- we saw that with Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs earlier this year. With a fully healthy Deshaun Watson, the Tigers will use the QB run as a weapon to negate the Tide's front seven and avoid obvious passing situations in which Eddie Jackson and Minkah Fitzpatrick can make game-changing plays. The Tide's offensive line hasn't been its usual dominant self this year and now faces its defensive peer in Clemson. Brent Venables' crew will make life very difficult for Jacob Coker, leading the Tigers to the national title game."
ATS pick: Clemson
Game score: Clemson 23, Alabama 14
Phil Steele says: "Clemson has the dangerous mobile QB that has given the Tide's defense trouble in years past. I still feel Alabama is one the best teams in the country with the strongest defense. This would be Nick Saban's fifth championship or playoff game and Dabo Swinney's first."
ATS pick: Alabama
Game score: Alabama 27, Clemson 20
Will Harris says: "There haven't been many years that Clemson could line up with Alabama and claim to have the best player on the field, but that might be the case now. DeShaun Watson is everything he's cracked up to be and then some, and Clemson wouldn't be here without him. And the overall talent level is now on par with that of the SEC's upper division. The oddsmakers say this is a fair fight, and the Tigers' rising talent level supports that claim.
"In the first year sans Chad Morris, the Clemson offense has relied on the inside run much more heavily than in the past. Clemson's offensive and defensive lines have exceeded expectations this year, and Wayne Gallman is a tough, physical back. This bunch matches up with an SEC champion-type team better than ever before. But Clemson is still probably a little short in the trenches (partly due to an outdated strength and conditioning program). Alabama's defensive line has a significant advantage against the tailback run game, and given the ongoing development of the Tide's secondary, a one-dimensional attack is not going to be enough, even under Watson's direction. Nor is the Clemson linebacking corps quite as developed as it needs to be to keep a back like Derrick Henry from moving the chains.
"Apart from shortcomings in the smashmouth game, Clemson has the problem of not having been here before. Most championship organizations contend for championships before winning one, just as most golfers who win majors have previously contended in majors. This effect is compounded by the overall youth that Clemson's putting on the field this year. Right now Dabo Swinney and the Tigers look like an outfit that can get to the show, but not win it all."
ATS pick: Alabama
Game score: Alabama 31, Clemson 21
[h=2](No. 3) Ohio State Buckeyes (-5.5) vs. LSU Tigers (No. 2)[/h]Chis Fallica says: "How many more times do we have to answer the question about whether Ohio State can handle the SEC and its speed? The Buckeyes are built like an SEC team. I can't wait to see Leonard Fournette and Ezekiel Elliottdo battle. The difference here is J.T. Barrett, who has bounced back from off-the-field issues and is in position to lead Ohio State to the CFP for the second straight year. Barrett's ability to run and pass will give the LSU defense problems. And LSU isn't a team built to come from behind. I expect Ohio State to start fast and put pressure on the LSU offense from the start, winning in convincing fashion."
ATS pick: Ohio State
Game score: Ohio State 34, LSU 24
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</article>Phil Steele says: "I am going under the assumption that J.T. Barrett is back and fully established as the starting QB. Urban Meyer is a perfect 4-0 in playoff and national title games. Both teams have a great RB and solid offensive line. Both teams have premier defenses. These two teams are very close, and while I have the Buckeyes as the stronger team, I would take the 5.5 points."
ATS pick: LSU
Game score: Ohio State 30, LSU 27
Will Harris says: "Both sides would figure to move the ball in this game despite the presence of quality defenses. Ohio State sees a lot of downhill running games in the Big Ten, but nothing quite like Leonard Fournette and the road-graders that LSU has up front. This looks like a toss-up, but we do like the Tigers' chances to stay out of third-and-long and hold the ball for enough prolonged drives to wear the Buckeyes down at the end."
ATS pick: LSU
Game score: LSU 30, Ohio State 28
The first unveiling of the College Football Playoff bracket on Tuesday night featured a projected matchup of Clemson (No. 1) vs. Alabama (No. 4), and LSU (No. 2) vs. defending champion Ohio State (No. 3).
ESPN Chalk's Chris Fallica, Will Harris and Phil Steele got together to break down the potential matchups from a betting perspective.
[h=2]No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (-3) vs. No. 1Clemson Tigers[/h]Chris Fallica says: "If there is one thing which has given the Alabama defense fits, it's a mobile QB -- we saw that with Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs earlier this year. With a fully healthy Deshaun Watson, the Tigers will use the QB run as a weapon to negate the Tide's front seven and avoid obvious passing situations in which Eddie Jackson and Minkah Fitzpatrick can make game-changing plays. The Tide's offensive line hasn't been its usual dominant self this year and now faces its defensive peer in Clemson. Brent Venables' crew will make life very difficult for Jacob Coker, leading the Tigers to the national title game."
ATS pick: Clemson
Game score: Clemson 23, Alabama 14
Phil Steele says: "Clemson has the dangerous mobile QB that has given the Tide's defense trouble in years past. I still feel Alabama is one the best teams in the country with the strongest defense. This would be Nick Saban's fifth championship or playoff game and Dabo Swinney's first."
ATS pick: Alabama
Game score: Alabama 27, Clemson 20
Will Harris says: "There haven't been many years that Clemson could line up with Alabama and claim to have the best player on the field, but that might be the case now. DeShaun Watson is everything he's cracked up to be and then some, and Clemson wouldn't be here without him. And the overall talent level is now on par with that of the SEC's upper division. The oddsmakers say this is a fair fight, and the Tigers' rising talent level supports that claim.
"In the first year sans Chad Morris, the Clemson offense has relied on the inside run much more heavily than in the past. Clemson's offensive and defensive lines have exceeded expectations this year, and Wayne Gallman is a tough, physical back. This bunch matches up with an SEC champion-type team better than ever before. But Clemson is still probably a little short in the trenches (partly due to an outdated strength and conditioning program). Alabama's defensive line has a significant advantage against the tailback run game, and given the ongoing development of the Tide's secondary, a one-dimensional attack is not going to be enough, even under Watson's direction. Nor is the Clemson linebacking corps quite as developed as it needs to be to keep a back like Derrick Henry from moving the chains.
"Apart from shortcomings in the smashmouth game, Clemson has the problem of not having been here before. Most championship organizations contend for championships before winning one, just as most golfers who win majors have previously contended in majors. This effect is compounded by the overall youth that Clemson's putting on the field this year. Right now Dabo Swinney and the Tigers look like an outfit that can get to the show, but not win it all."
ATS pick: Alabama
Game score: Alabama 31, Clemson 21
[h=2](No. 3) Ohio State Buckeyes (-5.5) vs. LSU Tigers (No. 2)[/h]Chis Fallica says: "How many more times do we have to answer the question about whether Ohio State can handle the SEC and its speed? The Buckeyes are built like an SEC team. I can't wait to see Leonard Fournette and Ezekiel Elliottdo battle. The difference here is J.T. Barrett, who has bounced back from off-the-field issues and is in position to lead Ohio State to the CFP for the second straight year. Barrett's ability to run and pass will give the LSU defense problems. And LSU isn't a team built to come from behind. I expect Ohio State to start fast and put pressure on the LSU offense from the start, winning in convincing fashion."
ATS pick: Ohio State
Game score: Ohio State 34, LSU 24
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</article>Phil Steele says: "I am going under the assumption that J.T. Barrett is back and fully established as the starting QB. Urban Meyer is a perfect 4-0 in playoff and national title games. Both teams have a great RB and solid offensive line. Both teams have premier defenses. These two teams are very close, and while I have the Buckeyes as the stronger team, I would take the 5.5 points."
ATS pick: LSU
Game score: Ohio State 30, LSU 27
Will Harris says: "Both sides would figure to move the ball in this game despite the presence of quality defenses. Ohio State sees a lot of downhill running games in the Big Ten, but nothing quite like Leonard Fournette and the road-graders that LSU has up front. This looks like a toss-up, but we do like the Tigers' chances to stay out of third-and-long and hold the ball for enough prolonged drives to wear the Buckeyes down at the end."
ATS pick: LSU
Game score: LSU 30, Ohio State 28
