ESPN has been reworking its bowl game projections after each week of the season and this week they've given us a pretty sweet rematch. They are predicting that Clemson and Alabama will meet in the national title game for a third time and that is not a bad bet considering how both teams have made a 3-0 start look easy.
Alabama lost quite a few defenders to the NFL Draft, but of course have recruited well enough for that not to matter. The offense has been good enough to get by as of now, but it will likely be tested a little down the road with games against a stout Vanderbilt defense this week as well as Auburn, Arkansas and Tennessee down the road.
The concern for Clemson this year was if the offense could keep up after guys like Deshaun Watson, Mike Williams and Charone Peake went to the NFL Draft. It looks like that won't be an issue either after they've averaged 39 points scored in their first three games and about 520 total yards of offense in those games. The defense has been great as well allowing only 10 points a game and only about 223 total yards of offense each game.
Both of the ESPN writers have Oklahoma and USC in the semifinal games, but each playing either Alabama or Clemson in those games. The title game will be held Jan. 8 in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
