NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship Game Expert Picks and Predictions – January 7 2019

For the third time since the inception of the College Football Playoff system, the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide are going to face off in the national title game. It’s Trevor Lawrence vs. Tua Tagovailoa. It’s Dabo Swinney vs. Nick Saban. It’s the ACC’s top dog vs. the SEC powerhouse. There can only be one winner, and we’re about to find which team will that be. At press, the sportsbook favors Alabama by 6-points, but let’s take a look at what some key experts have to say about the game so that you can make a more informed pick.

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Expert Picks and Predictions for the Clemson Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide 2019 NCAA Football National Championship Game

Joe Tansey – Bleacher Report

Expert | Pick
Joe Tansey | Clemson

Let’s begin with Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey, who didn’t waste much time going against the flow. In his preview of the upcoming national championship game, Tansey selected the slight underdog Clemson to take home the crown via a 37-34 win. It probably wasn’t an easy decision for Tansey to say that Clemson would take down their SEC powerhouse opponent, but much of his confidence in the Tigers is largely due to Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who’s been sensational since taking over as the team’s starting quarterback in the middle of the season. In Clemson’s 30-2 annihilation of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Cotton Bowl, Lawrence went 27 of 39 for 327 passing yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions, highlighting both his precision and efficiency.

Daniel Wilco – NCAA

Expert | Pick
Daniel Wilco | Alabama

Over at the NCAA’s website, Daniel Wilco reveals his prediction – that Alabama will trounce Dabo Swinney and company, 35-23. It’s not breaking news that someone picked Alabama. After all, it is Alabama, the defending national champions and the winner of two such titles since the NCAA shifted to the CFP format in 2014. Wilco points out Alabama’s offense that can get unstoppable once it gets into groove, as a big reason why the Crimson will go back to Tuscaloosa with another title. It’s been a constant narrative throughout that the season that Alabama will blow out their opponents and take the fight out the opposing teams right out of the game. In fact, Alabama is No. 1 in the nation with 16.4 first-quarter points per game. Against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl, Alabama went off for 21 unanswered points in the opening period. Granted that the Sooners have one of the leakiest defenses in the nation, Alabama has done it too many times against more superior defenses to doubt its ability to do it again opposite any type of stop unit.

Bill Bender – Sporting News

Expert | Pick
Bill Bender | Alabama

For Bill Bender, this game is going to go down the wire. It’s going to be decided in the last possession of the contest and Alabama is going to win it, 34-31. For Bender, it’s all about the play of Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and what he’ll do during the most crucial junctures of the contest. Although Lawrence has proven himself as a fantastic quarterback, it’s Tagovailoa who has actual experience of leading his team in the biggest stage of college football when he paced Alabama in last year’s win against the Georgia Bulldogs in the national championship game. Tagovailoa will face intense pressure from Clemson’s defense that ranks No. 1 in the nation in sacks, but the quarterback’s fast instinct, accuracy, and stout pass protection that allowed the second fewest sacks among SEC teams should be enough to counter Clemson’s pass rush.

Ryan Simpson – TopBet News

Expert | Pick
Ryan Simpson | Alabama

Our own Ryan Simpson picks the Crimson Tide to win and cover the spread with a final score of 33-21 over the Clemson Tigers. Simpson cites Alabama’s superior defense which will allow them to hold quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne to limited yards. He also likes the fact that Alabama is coming into this matchup with a 8-5 ATS record (3-1 in the last four). View Ryan’s detailed pick and prediction for the 2019 CFB National Championship game here.

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