3 Reasons to Bet on Clemson in the 2019 College Football Playoff

The Clemson Tigers currently sit at #2 in the College Football Playoff rankings, right behind fellow unbeaten Alabama. Clemson’s most impressive wins this season include a victory at Texas A&M, as well as a win over currently-ranked Syracuse and then-ranked Boston College. They face Duke and South Carolina at home to finish the regular season and then have the ACC title game on December 1, and if they can run the table, they will make it into the national semifinal. Given that Pitt and Virginia are the top two teams in the ACC Coastal Division, betting on Clemson to make the playoffs is a solid wager. However, can you bet on them to win the national championship? Here are three reasons for NCAA Football betting enthusiasts to consider taking Clemson to hoist the crystal football at the end of the title game.

3 Reasons to Bet on Clemson in the 2019 College Football Playoff

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Improved Play at the Skill Positions

The departure of Kelly Bryant at quarterback might have threatened the prospects for the Tigers’ offense. However, freshman Trevor Lawrence has filled in terrifically and more. He has a more accurate arm down the field, and he has more downfield vision, allowing him to move through his progressions before scrambling. That has led to big throw after big throw, keeping drives from stalling. Also, wide receivers Tee Higgins, Amari Rodgers and Hunter Renfrow all returned to the team instead of opting for the pros. They not only bring talent back with him, but also the experience of what it takes to play late into the season and to play in big-time games. It’s one thing to dominate teams that don’t have your talent level; it’s another thing to play against opponents who have similar, or perhaps even superior, talent levels and find ways to execute. Clemson hasn’t played a team this season that will challenge them like Alabama, Notre Dame, Michigan or any of the other possible playoff opponents that they would face will, and having people on the team who have participated in those types of tilts will help significantly down the stretch.

Improved Consistency on the Offensive Line 

Mitch Hyatt was the anchor of the offensive line last year, but the mistakes he made at crucial times last year played havoc with the Tigers’ chances, and the Alabama defense exposed the flaws in the offensive line to the point where Clemson basically had no options to move the ball consistently against the Crimson Tide in the national semifinal last year. Hyatt is back this year, and his blocking has been much more consistent. Center Justin Falcinelli also came back looking for better outcomes, and the results speak for themselves. TreMayne Anchrum has come on nicely and right tackle, and Sean Pollard has played right guard consistently. The depth of the line is impressive, as five-star recruit Jackson Carman, who would start for most programs, is on the second string at Clemson.

Intangibles will combine to put Clemson past Alabama

What motivated the Crimson Tide last year? The pain of losing to Clemson in the national championship game the year before. At Clemson, one of the top coaching staffs in the nation works under Dabo Swinney to prepare the team each week. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables rejected Chad Morris’ offer to come work for him at Arkansas, which means that one of the top DCs in the nation is working on one of the best defensive units in the country. With Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott returning as co-offensive coordinators, the Tigers have not seen any dropoff since Morris left Clemson to take the head job at SMU. The coaching staff knows how to prepare their players, and the continuity makes it easier to gain the trust of top recruits. Then there’s the fact that Clemson now has the same hunger that Alabama had last year, after their embarrassing loss in the national semifinal. That hunger should give Clemson an edge should they hit the Tide in a semifinal or in the title game.