Who Is The Champion? LSU and Clemson Battle In The Game Of The Century

The end of the 2019 college football season is finally here as the undefeated Clemson Tigers take on the undefeated LSU Tigers in what can easily be called a Game Of The Century. What a way to kick off the new decade with these two behemoths of college football going at it in the Big Easy.

This will only be the second time since 2015 that this championship game isn’t Clemson vs. Alabama, so all of us watching should be grateful for that alone. Clemson will be hunting for its second straight title and third in the last four years, while LSU will be looking to win its first national championship since 2007. There’s so much at stake here, and so many storylines at play.

Let’s take a closer look at this game and some of the key matchups to see if we can find some good betting plays in college football’s “Super Bowl” from your #1 NJ Sports Betting site, 888 Sport.

LSU Tigers (-220) vs. Clemson Tigers (+165)

o/u 69.5 (-114), LSU -6 (-114)

When we last saw LSU, they were absolutely destroying Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow went bananas on the Oklahoma defense, throwing 7 touchdowns ​in the first half, ​breaking all kinds of records, and finishing the game with nearly 500 yards passing (493, to be exact). But this has been the story all season for Burrow, as he’s been deadly accurate and efficient, even while going up against four top-10 defenses and making them all look pedestrian at best; he has had one of the best statistical seasons ever from a quarterback.

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been a huge weapon for Burrow; Jefferson caught four touchdown passes in that record-breaking first half vs Oklahoma. It’s easy to say “just blitz Burrow and throw him off his game”, but teams have been doing that all season to no avail, he’s one of the best in the nation when pressured in the pocket. He’s also very underrated when it comes to scrambling as he’s deceptively fast; his legs are definitely a weapon--he doesn’t run often but when he does it’s for positive yardage.

Clemson’s defense will have their work cut out for them but they are definitely up to the task. They are one of the top scoring defenses in the country, led by hybrid linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons. This guy is a stud and will be all over the field in this game. He can cover Jefferson, pressure Burrow, spy the running back, all of it. Burrow will have to know where he is at all times. Clemson’s front four are also important here as they are one of the best in the country at getting to the quarterback, which allows Clemson to not have to rely on the blitz, thus leaving more defenders in coverage. With pressure from the front four, the back seven can then double team Burrow’s favorite weapons, and leave Simmons to be a “floater” per se, getting in the path of Burrow’s favorite passing areas. This will be a fascinating chess match within the game.

Clemson’s offense is led by sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Though Lawrence hasn’t been as prolific as Burrow this season, he’s still a very, very capable quarterback. He’s also got something on his resume that Burrow doesn’t, and that is a national championship. Only a year ago as a true freshman, Lawrence led Clemson to the title, so he won’t be intimidated by the moment here whatsoever. Lawrence will be looking to get the ball to running back Travis Etienne, who is very dangerous out of the backfield on swing and screen passes.

The Clemson offensive line is ​very ​good, ranked No.7 in the nation by Pro Football Focus. They are dominant in both run-blocking and pass-protection. LSU’s defense really never had to be “great” this season because of the dominance of their offense. For most of the season, they were middling at best. They couldn’t tackle very well, and didn’t get to the quarterback well either, finishing the season ranked 62nd in sack rate (Clemson was 3rd, by the way). They have gotten better in the missed tackles department later in the season, but this will come into play if they go back to their old ways. Etienne leads the nation among running backs in yards after contact and has forced a staggering 45% of missed tackles, which is a record.

LSU does have shutdown cornerbacks in Derek Stingley, Jr. and Kristian Fulton, so look for Lawrence to not test them too much; he will look to attack the middle with Etienne and his slot receivers. If this game is close, special teams will come into play, and LSU has one of the best kickers in college football, Cade York. He hasn’t missed inside 40 yards and is 4/5 outside of 50 yards. Clemson’s kicker is nowhere near as good and has missed multiple field goals, but they do have one of the best punters in college football, which will come in handy in regards to field position.

Favorite Picks and Props

• Clemson +6 (-114)
• Total Points over 69.5 (-114)
• Total Points by LSU over 36.5 (-125)
• LSU 1st Quarter moneyline (-109)
• Joe Burrow under 365.5 Passing Yards(-110) Trevor Lawrence under 294.5 Passing Yards Terrace Marshall, Jr. First Touchdown (+1200)

This game between these two juggernauts should become an instant classic if everything plays out as expected. There will be more than just a trophy on the line here, but immortality itself. A must-see tv event. Enjoy watching, and good luck!

*Credit to the main photo of this article belongs to John Amis/Associated Press (Burrow), Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press (Lawrence)