I was talking to a Raiders fan at work today, and we were commiserating over the Falcons losing the Super Bowl, and I brought him here for both that prediction AND this one.
A few nuggets here:
In all sincerity, it is tough to know what to make of Clemson. Several teams on their schedule make it difficult. Can we derive any knowledge from South Carolina or Syracuse? It’s unfair to derive totally from NC State or Pitt, but it’s equally unfair to derive from Ohio State alone. They are an enigma, albeit an enigma that racks up a lot of yards and points.
Alabama has a mean points range of 29, both on offense and defense.
Clemson has a mean points range of 17-19.
EXPECTATION
I expect a lot – and I mean 2012 UGA lot – of running. Bo Scarborough does not have the miles on him that Derrick Henry had by this time last year. The ability to alter this and use Hurts for ROP and ball control offense will be critical. I fully expect Clemson to turn the ball over at least twice. Their one interception was actually BELOW what was expected last year. If the Tide can take one to the house, it will flip the momentum.
(They DID turn it over twice, but we didn't take one to the house)
Bo Scarborough averages 6.6 ypc. If he could get 20 carries and average that......the game would be ours.
Bo had 16 carries for 93 yards, although that was skewed by a 37-yard run (which would make him average 3.7). As it was, he averaged 5.8. If Bo had just four more carries at 5.8 yards per carry?? I honestly think we win. Those four carries alone would have taken about two minutes off the clock, given the defense a rest, and reduced the number of plays Clemson ran in a game they won on the last play.
Even if he averaged 3.7, the time still goes off the clock.
(Well, Alabama DID get 31.....)