Posted on 12/29/2018 10:15:24 AM PST by blam
The Alabama Crimson Tide are oddsmakers' prohibitive favorites to win the 2018 College Football Playoff ahead of Saturday's semifinal games.
Updated betting lines showed the Tide followed by the Clemson Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Oklahoma Sooners:
Alabama enters the playoff undefeated after a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game (see highlights linked below) ). The Tide scored 21 unanswered points over the game's final 19 minutes to overcome a 28-14 deficit and capture their 27th SEC title.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return to lead the Alabama offense after he left the clash with Georgia because of an ankle injury that required surgery. Should he struggle or look less than 100 percent, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Jalen Hurts take the reins after he led the SEC title game comeback.
That uncertainty under center wasn't enough to knock the Tide from their favored status ahead of Saturday's matchup with Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and the Sooners, though.
Meanwhile, Clemson is an 11.5-point favorite over Notre Dame in the other semifinal, per OddsShark.
Victories by the Tigers and Tide would set up the teams' third meeting for the national championship over the past four years. They split the previous two.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban said Friday the key to beating the Sooners will be preventing mistakes that give Murray more chances to make explosive plays.
"But it still comes down to your ability to execute, whether it's offense, defense or special teams, that are going to create better situations for your team and not create extra opportunities for their team," he told reporters.
If the oddsmakers are right, Saban will capture his seventh national title Jan. 7 to surpass fellow Bama legend Bear Bryant for the most in college football history.
GO SOONERS!
It should be a good game.
Nick Saban is a lying, carpetbagging, foreign invader from Yankeeland who should be deported back to West Virginia!
Roll Tide Roll!
I think you misspelled "Best Coach Ever".
Might want to take the over in this one.
Getting ready to cheer on our Clemson Tigers here in the Pink and Green household.
The better coaches are defined by their recruiting successes.
The best coach, talent wise, can’t compete unless his recruiting was exceptional. But an average coach can win with exceptional recruiting results.
I understand. lol
Roll Tide!!!!
“I think you misspelled “Best Coach Ever”.”
Not even! I fail to understand why supposed institutions of higher-learning would hire a known liar! It makes no sense!
Rootin’ for an Irish/Sooners championship game. That way the Alabama and Clemson teams will have plenty of time to visit their teammates in jail.
Not a big fan of Saban but betting on him to win is like betting on a Democrat to lie.
Let me guess: you went to Brown...
Roll Tide.
Just be careful not to violate the trademark that Dabwad Swinney has on his own name. It’s all about him in his own world, ya know.
For example, go to the Clemson.edu website and try to click over to the football program and coaching staff info. the university is NOT allowed to present the staff info, although each and every one is a university and state employee. That link will take you to daboswinney.com, which is a full load of aromatic accolades to the shrine of the d-wad.
Roll Tide. Again this year. Without a cheat uncalled penalty on the closing play to win.
but great recruiting AND greating is spelled “Saban”.
Lol!
Luckily for us Bama fans Saban posses both exceptional coaching abilities (The Program) and the best recruiting abilities.
Brown?
Nah. LSU alum! ;-)
I remember when Angelo Dundee was asked about Holyfield beating Tyson, Dundee’s response was that Tyson had run into someone who had his number.
I think the same of Dabo Swinney and Clemson. Alabama will go down IF they can get past Oklahoma. Mark my words!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.