It’s a highly productive area for football talent, especially speed. A coach *in *Florida who can’t recruit well there has no excuse.
I think part of the reason that Bama and Clemson are miles ahead of everyone else is the fact that other programs in the region haven’t found their own formula - they will eventually.
Texas may be on the verge of returning to the national title conversation. I’m obviously careful not to read too much into bowl game wins, which often coincide with draft-eligible players sitting out for precautionary reasons and coaches or assistant coaches moving on to greener pastures, and sometimes teams don’t have the same intensity that they do during the regular season. But all of those disclaimers and half-ass excuses for Georgia aside, Texas has been playing better football the past year.
Can’t argue with that.
No excuse needed for the Dawgs, Asahi. This year we couldn’t buy a win against a top-20 team. We had no business being in the playoff much less bitching about being in the playoff.
I’m an LSU guy myself.
I’ll be honest. We had no business winning that game against y’all. We’re physical, but not skilled. UGA is physical and skilled. They just didn’t show up mentally for some games, and I guess we were lucky that they didn’t show up in Baton Rouge. They showed up against Bama in the first 3 quarters, but as Nick Saban so often does (and we’ve been on the receiving end of many of his masterpieces), he moved his chess pieces, leaving his opposition scratching their heads.
Honestly, this year’s UGA reminds me a lot of Mark Richt’s teams. In 8 or 9 games, they look like they could beat the 2001 Miami Hurricanes…and then inexplicably lose games against mediocre or above average teams.
WV coach took the Houston job. He’s going from a power 5 conference to one that’s not power 5. WV hired the Troy coach to take his place.
It makes sense. Houston and Southeast Texas alone has oceans of football talent. But he also knows that if he can succeed at Houston, produce 10 or 11 wins, then he can maybe go to a bigger program in the South.
The big match is tonight.
I think Alabama is my favorite to win, but it’s definitely a winnable game for Clemson. The Tigers will be the most athletic team the Tide has faced all season - probably the fastest team they’ve faced all year. As for Clemson, Alabama will be the most talent-loaded team they’ve faced all year. They will be tested at every position.
I’m guessing that Clemson makes it interesting but the Tide win it with a late score. The score will probably go into the high 20s or low 30s. I think a good metric for either team will be first down efficiency. I haven’t seen enough of Clemson, but I know that in Alabama’s case, they are lethal when they move the ball well on first down. It opens up so many options for them. They don’t necessarily just try to get the first down on 2nd and short. They’re just as likely to pass it down field. If Clemson can prevent 2nd and short, they’ve got a real shot.
I don’t disagree with your analysis, but I do feel like you are playing it safe.
My predictions:
1 - With 8 seconds to go in the first half, Alabama will have the ball somewhere near the Clemson 38 yard line.
2 - Third quarter: TV will focus on fans at one point, and a girl a few people to the right will be looking at her cell phone
3 - Alabama will shank one field goal to the left (at minimum)
Clemson dominating this first half.
Want this to be a 60-point beatdown.
'Bama not looking good here. No points so far the second half, two straight failures on fourth down.
They might Alabama worse than they beat ND…
When’s the last time Alabama lost any game by over 20 points?
Well, Famine is stomping Pestilence thus far.
You can find anything on the internet in 30 seconds…and your answer is 2003, LSU 27 Alabama 3
But yeah, Alabama has been known for comebacks in the 4th after wearing teams down, but I don’t see them getting 4 touchdowns back.
Nice punt. Nice game. 
And a nice drive.
THAT was a comprehensive whoopin’. Kinda nice to see Nick Saban handed his ass on a platter.
Never seen a Saban team get destroyed like that in a post-season game. Clemson’s speed and athleticism were a sight to behold.
Going way back here, but this game reminded me of Redskins-Raiders in Super Bowl 18. The defending champ seemed en route to another championship, only to get manhandled on the biggest stage.
Don’t forget, though, that the Joe Gibbs-coached Skins rebounded nicely from that defeat and went on to win another two championships. So be careful about writing Alabama off.