The CFB Championship is finally here and feels a bit like Ali vs. Frazier, Packers vs. Bears, Lakers vs. Celtics, Letterman vs. Leno…..ok, maybe not quite that big but BAMA vs. Clemson #4 should not disappoint anyone except the losing team & their fan base. Of course, only a small number of either group will be at Levi Stadium due to the expense of a short notice, cross-country trip to an expensive locale but that is just part of big-time sports events today. On a positive note, most playoff critics are silenced as the undisputable #1 & #2 teams are playing. ZT & the Padre recognize the process should be modified to include more teams. ZT, as you know, is a Pirate Mike fan and felt it would be good to get his take on the process…..
ZT and the Padre will weigh in with their final prognostications before Monday. In the interim, the Padre will be attempting to reprogram a Church of Scientology E-meter for Christian use while ZT will be trying to bake a brownie and incorporate Jack Links Jerky in the recipe……..
ZT is back from eating a tub of buttered popcorn at an AMC theater and washing it down with a cherry & cola mixed icee…..better than taking one of the jellyfish pills for brain power so here we go….
Bama vs. Clemson IV
If this was Rocky 4, it would involve a new, young power fighter named Ivan Drago. Not what we have here at all! This is more like Rocky 2 with a dose of Rocky 3. Why? Because like Rocky vs. Apollo, these teams know each other as well as you can without being in the same conference. The dose of Rocky 3? Because Bama is like the Rocky fighting Clubber Lang when he had to learn a different way to fight with speed vs. raw power. In Bama’s case, it’s a PASSING OFFENSE!! Has this team averaging the most points in school history….
Why the Rocky Analogy? ZT is hoping this goes on for 4 more years to equal the current Rocky/Creed movies ( 6 Rocky & 2 Creed ). In my chats with sports fans around the country, they are not NEARLY as interested in this scenario as Bama/Clemson fans are!
OK….Back to the game….. #1 vs. #2 This is what is supposed to happen! This game has as many angles as there are ways to order hash browns at Waffle House so lets look at a few..
When Bama has the ball: GO BIG EARLY AND OFTEN….ZT loves to see a running game established but in reality, this Bama squad works better when it jumps out fast. Tua ( 41 TDs, 4 INTs, & 205.2 QBR ) and the very talented WR corps have a chance to make this happen noting the Clemson Secondary is solid but not at the same level as their phenomenal DL/LB group. Mix in 4 SOLID RB’s who are better rested than most inhabitants of a FL retirement community with a sweet TE Irv Smith and we will see if the difference between SEC and ACC competition is exposed in this contest. So, after all this babble, it means the Alabama Offensive Line is the “less discussed” KEY to a Bama National Championship! Hope the “big uglies” are well-fed, well-prepared, and don’t bathe before playing arguably the best defensive front of their careers!
When Clemson has the ball: BALANCE, but LOTS OF RUNS EARLY……It has worked for Clemson and a few others over the past few years. Bama Defense reminds me of a long distance runner who has a great start & solid pace but not always a great gear for the last 200 meters. That means Dabo mixing the superb running of RB Travis Etinee with the arm of 6’5″ Trevor ” Vidal Sassoon” Lawrence (27 TDs, 4 INTs & 154.8 QBR) and a pair of 6’4″ receivers Justin Ross ( Alabama Native ) and Tee Higgins for a chance to win it late! Strike early and wear down Bama and make them chase you! Bama Defense MUST shut down the run, put some pressure on Lawrence and this likely means winning a lot of Man-to-Man coverage…that will be a tall order!
Special Teams……. Clemson has the edge! K Greg “Ice-Cold” Huegel is a 5th year Sr. with only 1 PAT miss ( 71 of 72 and that was against ND last week ) and 10-15 in the FG department. Will Spiers is the P and while he isn’t on the field often, he does average almost 40 yds. per kick. OK…the entire world knows Bama kicking has more woes than a Lifetime Channel Movie. Saban is more likely to spot an Alien than a super Kicker! K Justin “I want an Apple Watch instead of a” Bulovas is an improvement ( 74-79 PATs & 13-17 on FG – Long of 49 ) but still causes the Bama faithful to keep Maalox and Tums by the TV. Only way you will see this guy on Sunday is if you bump into him at The Olive Garden. P Mike Bernier only “won” the job mid-season ( yes, BAMA does miss P JK SCOTT who IS playing on Sundays ) and had a poor showing vs. OU last week with 2 punts and a 28 yard average! Again, Clemson has the edge and when you are playing for a Championship, all weaknesses tend to be exposed!!
Just can’t get past a mediocre ACC with a 5-5 bowl record and short of any major game developments ( injuries, ejections, etc ), believe Saban & Bama earn another one on Monday night.
Bama 31 Clemson Tigers 24
ZT is out!! Will be stalking.. I mean following on social media… Gary Danielson, trying to find 100 desserts that include bacon, and see you in September when we do it again!!
Padre has finished his afternoon of divine duties ( particularly since the Panthers have packed their gear for the 2018 NFL season ) and is ready to prognosticate from the highest mountain….
It’s Bama vs. Clemson IV and Rocky ( Clemson ) is heading to Moscow ( San Francisco ) to battle Drago ( Bama ). Oklahoma came out ready to dance ( like Apollo with James Brown ), but Bama put the smack down and may they Rest In Peace.
Clemson…..they played Notre Dame…. That doesn’t count.
Anyway, Bama lands some early blows. It looks like their strength pulls it out. But Clemson gets back up. Keeps Fighting! They have a chance…. They blitz TUA. He throws a pick 6!! Dabo yells ” They are bleeding! You cut them! See, they aren’t a machine, they are men! The crowd starts chanting ” Clemson, Clemson, Clemson!”
People around the country can’t believe it. Clemson is gonna knock down the giant!
….Bama then goes 75 yards and scores a TD with 4 seconds to go on an amazing pass by Tua. The USSR … ( cough, cough )…..I mean Bama wins 26-24!
There you have it. This year’s final prognostication. The Padre is OUT!
Oh……and Florida blew out Michigan and FSU went 5-7….. BOOM!!! Padre really out!
Editor’s Note: ZT and the Padre submit their prognostications independently and thought it was ironic they both used Rocky analogies when I am not sure either could punch their way out of a wet paper bag.
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 