The 2019-20 college football season comes to an end Monday from New Orleans when defending champion and third-seeded Clemson faces No. 1 LSU.
It’s a national championship matchup of Tigers who call their home stadiums Death Valley – LSU’s is officially known as Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Clemson’s is Memorial Stadium down in South Carolina. Looks to be a spectacular matchup between the top-scoring offence in college football in SEC champion LSU and the No. 1 scoring defence in ACC champion Clemson.
College Football Playoff National Championship Betting Analysis
Looks to be a spectacular matchup between the top-scoring offence in college football in SEC champion LSU and the No. 1 scoring defence in ACC champion Clemson. The difference could be when the Clemson offence has the ball. It ranks fourth nationally in scoring at 45.3 ppg, while LSU has been a little leaky at times on defence this season – allowing 38 points to both Texas and Vanderbilt and 41 to Alabama — and gives up 21.2 per game. The Sports Interaction total is set at 69.5, with the under a slight favourite.
These schools last played in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on New Year’s Eve 2012 with No. 14 Clemson upsetting No. 8 LSU 25-24 on a 37-yard field goal as time expired. Obviously, no players from those teams are still in college. That was really the start of this Clemson dynasty under Coach Dabo Swinney.
This is the first time since last year’s title game that Clemson is a betting underdog; it is 8-2 ATS in its past 10 as a dog. Clemson is 9-1 straight up in its past 10 games against SEC schools and beat two in the regular season in South Carolina (38-3) and Texas A&M (24-10).
LSU didn’t play South Carolina this season but beat A&M handily 50-7. LSU is 9-1 SU & 6-4 ATS in its past 10 vs. the ACC, last playing a team from the conference to open the 2018 season and easily handling Miami (Fla.).
Clemson Tigers
Clemson is in its fourth national championship game in the College Football Playoff era and is 2-1 while looking to become the first school to repeat. It upset No. 1 Alabama 44-16 last year. No third-seeded school has won it all in the CFP era. The Tigers are on a national-best 29-game winning streak. Most of those have been blowouts, but No. 2 Ohio State gave Clemson all it could handle in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Dec. 28 before the Tigers prevailed 29-23. The Buckeyes were up 16-0 in the second quarter when a controversial targeting penalty seemed to wake Clemson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence up.
Lawrence led the game-winning 94-yard drive in the fourth quarter, hitting tailback Travis Etienne on the 34-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:49 left. Ohio State then drove down the field, but Justin Fields was picked off in the Clemson end zone. Clemson and Ohio State almost surely will open 1-2 in the 2020 preseason Top 25 (in whichever order), and Fields and Lawrence are the two clear Heisman favourites next season. Clemson is 10-1 ATS in its past 11 bowl games.
Louisiana State Tigers
It’s LSU’s first national championship game in the CFP era; no top seed has won it. This will be the last NCAA game for quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, who has had arguably the best season by an FBS quarterback ever. The next time he takes the field, it should be for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals next August in a pre-season game as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Burrow was absolutely ridiculous in the Peach Bowl semifinal 63-28 rout of No. 4 Oklahoma, throwing seven first-half touchdown passes and running for another score in the second half. The seven TD throws tied for the most in any bowl game ever and were single-game records for LSU and by any SEC quarterback.
The scary thing about that performance was that Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver Ja’Marr Chase was quiet with two catches for 61 yards. Instead, the equally talented Justin Jefferson caught 14 passes for 227 yards and four scores. Top LSU tailback Clyde Edwards-Helaire was in question for the game with a hamstring injury. He did play but only had two carries; the two-plus weeks off in between games can only help Edwards-Helaire, who has rushed for 1,304 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. LSU is 4-0 ATS in its past four neutral-site games – although this is hardly a neutral-site game with New Orleans about 80 miles from the LSU campus.
Who Will Win Clemson vs. LSU?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
---|---|---|---|
Opening 29 Dec 5:36am | CLEM | -5 -107 | O +68.5 -111 |
Closing 13 Jan 4:50pm | CLEM | -5 -110 | O +66.5 -110 |
Injuries
Nyles Pinckney (DT)
Tee Higgins (WR)
Justyn Ross (WR)
Frank Ladson Jr. (WR)
Jake Venables (LB)
Frank Ladson Jr. (WR)
Jake Venables (LB)
Andrew Booth Jr. (CB)
Travis Etienne (RB)
Xavier Thomas (DE)
Myles Brennan (QB)
Trey Palmer (WR)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB)
Damien Lewis (G)
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB)
Tyrion Davis-Prince (RB)
Tory Carter (FB)
Grant Delpit (S)
Thaddeus Moss (TE)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nyles Pinckney (DT) | Out Mon | Ankle - 12 / 01 / 20 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Pinckney has a left ankle injury, and he will not face Louisiana State in the CFP National Championship. |
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Tee Higgins (WR) | Ques Mon | Head - 28 / 12 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Higgins is dealing with a head injury, and it is unknown if he will be available for the CFP National Championship against Louisiana State. |
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Justyn Ross (WR) | Ques Sat | Ribs - 16 / 11 / 19 | 5-0 | 2-3 | + - |
Ross left the last game with a rib injury, and it is unknown if he will line up versus South Carolina on Saturday. |
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Frank Ladson Jr. (WR) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 03 / 11 / 19 | 5-1 | 3-3 | + - |
Ladson Jr. is battling an ankle injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up Saturday against NC State. |
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Jake Venables (LB) | Ques Sat | Hamstring - 03 / 11 / 19 | 5-1 | 3-3 | + - |
Venables has a hamstring injury, and it is unclear if he will play against NC State on Saturday. |
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Frank Ladson Jr. (WR) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 27 / 10 / 19 | 6-1 | 4-3 | + - |
Ladson Jr. is nursing an ankle injury, and it is uncertain if he will be available Saturday against Wofford. |
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Jake Venables (LB) | Ques Sat | Hamstring - 27 / 10 / 19 | 6-1 | 4-3 | + - |
Venables has a hamstring injury, and it is unclear if he will play against Wofford on Saturday. |
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Andrew Booth Jr. (CB) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 23 / 10 / 19 | 7-1 | 4-4 | + - |
Booth Jr. has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game versus Boston College for throwing a punch. It is unclear if he will play in the second half. |
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Travis Etienne (RB) | Prob Sat | Ankle - 19 / 10 / 19 | 8-1 | 4-5 | + - |
Etienne exited the last game with an ankle injury. He is expected to play against BC on Saturday. |
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Xavier Thomas (DE) | Ques Sat | Concussion - 17 / 10 / 19 | 8-1 | 4-5 | + - |
Thomas has missed the last three games with concussion-like symptoms, and it is unknown if he will be available Saturday versus NC State. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Myles Brennan (QB) | Ques Mon | Undisclosed - 09 / 01 / 20 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Brennan is tending to an undefined ailment, and it is unknown if he will be available in the CFP National Championship against Clemson. |
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Trey Palmer (WR) | Ques Mon | Undisclosed - 05 / 01 / 20 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Palmer is nursing an unspecified injury, and it uncertain if he will participate in the CFP National Championship against Clemson. |
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Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) | Prob Mon | Hamstring - 02 / 01 / 20 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
Edwards-Helaire is likely to suit up against Clemson in the CFP National Championship despite a hamstring injury. |
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Damien Lewis (G) | Ques Mon | Leg - 28 / 12 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Lewis has a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will play against Clemson in the CFP National Championship. |
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Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR) | Prob Mon | Shoulder - 28 / 12 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Marshall Jr. is dealing with a shoulder injury, but he is expected to be available for the CFP National Championship versus Clemson. |
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Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) | Prob Sat | Hamstring - 18 / 12 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Edwards-Helaire is tending to a hamstring injury, but it is expected that he will suit up against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl. |
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Tyrion Davis-Prince (RB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 17 / 12 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-1 | + - |
Davis-Prince is battling an unspecified injury, and his status for the Peach Bowl versus Oklahoma is up in the air. |
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Tory Carter (FB) | Ques Sat | Foot - 23 / 11 / 19 | 3-2 | 3-2 | + - |
Carter has missed the last two games with a left foot injury, and it is unclear if he will play in the SEC championship game against Georgia. |
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Grant Delpit (S) | Prob Sat | Ankle - 20 / 11 / 19 | 3-2 | 3-2 | + - |
Delpit missed the previous game due to an ankle injury, but he is expected to be available Saturday against Texas A&M. |
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Thaddeus Moss (TE) | Prob Sat | Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 19 | 3-2 | 3-2 | + - |
Moss is expected to face Arkansas on Saturday despite dealing with an undefined ailment. |
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 29 Dec 5:36am CLEM -5 -107 O +68.5 -111 Closing 13 Jan 4:50pm CLEM -5 -110 O +66.5 -110 -
Injuries
Nyles Pinckney (DT)
Out Mon Ankle - 12 / 01 / 20Tee Higgins (WR)
Ques Mon Head - 28 / 12 / 19Justyn Ross (WR)
Ques Sat Ribs - 16 / 11 / 19Frank Ladson Jr. (WR)
Ques Sat Ankle - 03 / 11 / 19Jake Venables (LB)
Ques Sat Hamstring - 03 / 11 / 19Frank Ladson Jr. (WR)
Ques Sat Ankle - 27 / 10 / 19Jake Venables (LB)
Ques Sat Hamstring - 27 / 10 / 19Andrew Booth Jr. (CB)
Ques Sat Suspension - 23 / 10 / 19Travis Etienne (RB)
Prob Sat Ankle - 19 / 10 / 19Xavier Thomas (DE)
Ques Sat Concussion - 17 / 10 / 19Myles Brennan (QB)
Ques Mon Undisclosed - 09 / 01 / 20Trey Palmer (WR)
Ques Mon Undisclosed - 05 / 01 / 20Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB)
Prob Mon Hamstring - 02 / 01 / 20Damien Lewis (G)
Ques Mon Leg - 28 / 12 / 19Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR)
Prob Mon Shoulder - 28 / 12 / 19Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB)
Prob Sat Hamstring - 18 / 12 / 19Tyrion Davis-Prince (RB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 17 / 12 / 19Tory Carter (FB)
Ques Sat Foot - 23 / 11 / 19Grant Delpit (S)
Prob Sat Ankle - 20 / 11 / 19Thaddeus Moss (TE)
Prob Sat Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Nyles Pinckney (DT) Out Mon Ankle - 12 / 01 / 20 1-0 0-1 + - Pinckney has a left ankle injury, and he will not face Louisiana State in the CFP National Championship.
Tee Higgins (WR) Ques Mon Head - 28 / 12 / 19 2-0 1-1 + - Higgins is dealing with a head injury, and it is unknown if he will be available for the CFP National Championship against Louisiana State.
Justyn Ross (WR) Ques Sat Ribs - 16 / 11 / 19 5-0 2-3 + - Ross left the last game with a rib injury, and it is unknown if he will line up versus South Carolina on Saturday.
Frank Ladson Jr. (WR) Ques Sat Ankle - 03 / 11 / 19 5-1 3-3 + - Ladson Jr. is battling an ankle injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up Saturday against NC State.
Jake Venables (LB) Ques Sat Hamstring - 03 / 11 / 19 5-1 3-3 + - Venables has a hamstring injury, and it is unclear if he will play against NC State on Saturday.
Frank Ladson Jr. (WR) Ques Sat Ankle - 27 / 10 / 19 6-1 4-3 + - Ladson Jr. is nursing an ankle injury, and it is uncertain if he will be available Saturday against Wofford.
Jake Venables (LB) Ques Sat Hamstring - 27 / 10 / 19 6-1 4-3 + - Venables has a hamstring injury, and it is unclear if he will play against Wofford on Saturday.
Andrew Booth Jr. (CB) Ques Sat Suspension - 23 / 10 / 19 7-1 4-4 + - Booth Jr. has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's game versus Boston College for throwing a punch. It is unclear if he will play in the second half.
Travis Etienne (RB) Prob Sat Ankle - 19 / 10 / 19 8-1 4-5 + - Etienne exited the last game with an ankle injury. He is expected to play against BC on Saturday.
Xavier Thomas (DE) Ques Sat Concussion - 17 / 10 / 19 8-1 4-5 + - Thomas has missed the last three games with concussion-like symptoms, and it is unknown if he will be available Saturday versus NC State.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Myles Brennan (QB) Ques Mon Undisclosed - 09 / 01 / 20 1-0 1-0 + - Brennan is tending to an undefined ailment, and it is unknown if he will be available in the CFP National Championship against Clemson.
Trey Palmer (WR) Ques Mon Undisclosed - 05 / 01 / 20 1-0 1-0 + - Palmer is nursing an unspecified injury, and it uncertain if he will participate in the CFP National Championship against Clemson.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) Prob Mon Hamstring - 02 / 01 / 20 1-0 1-0 + - Edwards-Helaire is likely to suit up against Clemson in the CFP National Championship despite a hamstring injury.
Damien Lewis (G) Ques Mon Leg - 28 / 12 / 19 2-0 1-1 + - Lewis has a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will play against Clemson in the CFP National Championship.
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR) Prob Mon Shoulder - 28 / 12 / 19 2-0 1-1 + - Marshall Jr. is dealing with a shoulder injury, but he is expected to be available for the CFP National Championship versus Clemson.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) Prob Sat Hamstring - 18 / 12 / 19 2-0 1-1 + - Edwards-Helaire is tending to a hamstring injury, but it is expected that he will suit up against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl.
Tyrion Davis-Prince (RB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 17 / 12 / 19 2-0 1-1 + - Davis-Prince is battling an unspecified injury, and his status for the Peach Bowl versus Oklahoma is up in the air.
Tory Carter (FB) Ques Sat Foot - 23 / 11 / 19 3-2 3-2 + - Carter has missed the last two games with a left foot injury, and it is unclear if he will play in the SEC championship game against Georgia.
Grant Delpit (S) Prob Sat Ankle - 20 / 11 / 19 3-2 3-2 + - Delpit missed the previous game due to an ankle injury, but he is expected to be available Saturday against Texas A&M.
Thaddeus Moss (TE) Prob Sat Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 19 3-2 3-2 + - Moss is expected to face Arkansas on Saturday despite dealing with an undefined ailment.