The TCI staff of Hale McGranahan, Will Vandervort, Robert MacRae, and Ed McGranahan go Around the Horn to answer some of the questions surrounding Clemson athletics and college football.
How do the four college football playoff teams rank as far as chances to win the national championship?
Robert MacRae – The winner of the Orange Bowl will win the national championship in my opinion. Clemson is the better team, although you might now know that if you listen to some of the national media. Clemson has the best chance followed by Oklahoma. The Alabama game with the Spartans should be a good one, but I’ll go with Alabama to win and put them third. That leaves Michigan State bringing up the rear.
Hale McGranahan – To me, Bama has the best chance of moving on to the finals. The other side of the four is a much more even matchup — I think you could make a case for Clemson or Oklahoma. However, I think the winner of Clemson-Oklahoma will beat Bama, so I guess my answer is Clemson.
Will Vandervort: That is a tough question. I like Clemson’s chances. I think they are the most balanced team–offensively and defensively–in the field. Plus Deshaun Watson is the most dynamic player in the field and he gives Clemson a great chance. I really like Michigan State, too. The Spartans are playing as well as Alabama on defense and on offense they have an NFL caliber quarterback who can make plays when his team needs him to make one. He will be called upon a lot against Alabama’s defense in the Cotton Bowl. If Alabama had a good quarterback, I think they would have a chance to win the whole thing. The Crimson Tide have the best defense, but the offense is not very good. They will not be able to ride Derrick Henry in these two games because the defenses they will play or could play will take Henry out of the game and force Jake Coker to win the game, which I believe he cannot do. Oklahoma is interesting. They are so much better on offense with Baker Mayfield at quarterback and the running game has two elite backs in the backfield. But the defense is still a question mark, especially on the back end, it causes me to wonder how far they can go.
Ed McGranahan – Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Michigan State
William Qualkinbush – Clemson is the only unbeaten team in the country. Oklahoma might be the hottest team in the country. Michigan State had the best finish of any team in the country. Alabama is the most battle-tested program in the field. All of this is to say that each team has some strengths that are either perceived or real that separate them from the field. I think Michigan State has come leaps and bounds since September, but that matchup with Alabama is just about as unfavorable as can be. I’m interested to see if the Sooners are for real, given that they earned a good portion of their playoff credentials against teams dealing with major midseason injuries at the quarterback position. I’ll give Clemson the slightest nod because the biggest issue the Tigers have faced lately–a worn-out defense–should be alleviated by the time December 31st rolls around. I’d take Oklahoma second, Alabama third, and Michigan State fourth, just because of the initial matchup.
If you are not already a Clemson Insider register today for free and enjoy all of the insider information on TheClemsonInsider.com.