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The big showdown in college football is set and it will be a rematch of last year’s epic national championship: the Clemson Tigers versus the Alabama Crimson Tide for all the marbles. The two southern titans will clash at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL on January 9, 8:30 PM EST. It’s on.

How They Get Here:

Alabama

It’s same song, different verse for Nick Saban’s Alabama football machine. The program has been likened to, at various times, a boa constrictor or “The Death Star.” The formula  is simple in concept and precise in execution: get the biggest, fastest, nastiest athletes in the country, teach them sound defensive technique and rotate them throughout the front seven (defensive line and linebackers) to keep them fresh. Add in a veritable army of video analysts as well as the brilliant defensive mind of Saban to make and necessary adjustments and you have the ingredients for a dominant defense, particularly in the ground game. Team simply do not run the ball on Alabama. Period.

Of course, passing the ball against Alabama is difficult as well, as QB Jake Browning and the Washington Huskies learned in the Peach Bowl. Alabama throttled the Pac-12 conference champs – after one early passing touchdown, Washington never threatened again. It’s an outcome that has become familiar to college football fans.

On offense, the Tide are known for running behind big power backs that can wear down a defense. Bo Scarborough is this year’s edition of the Bama Power Back and he lives up to his predecessors. The passing game is more of a question mark, with precocious true freshman QB Jalen Hurts still learning the nuances of the position at the college level. Nevertheless, Hurts can still be a threat with his legs.

Clemson

Clemson did a bit of living dangerously there, with a bevy of close games nearly knocking them out of the title picture. In addition to losing at home to Pitt, the Tigers also flirted with disaster in close games against Louisville and NC State. Still, in the biggest test of the season, Clemson was absolutely dominant against the Ohio State, shutting out the Buckeyes 31-0.

Whatever the stumbles along the way, Clemson is in the position it wanted all along: a shot at Alabama in the championship game, with a dream of revenge for last year’s heartbreaking loss.

As always, the Tigers are led by their quarterback nonpareil, Deshaun Watson. While Watson has thrown his share of interceptions this year, he has come up big in the most important moments. Dangerous with both his arm and his legs, Watson will do whatever it takes for his team to win.

And don’t count out the Clemson defense either. While that unit may not impress in the same manner as Alabama’s vaunted defense, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is known for using creative schemes and blitzes to get to the quarterback. Will he be able to rattle Alabama’s freshman QB? Tonight will tell.

The Inspector Pumphead Prediction

After inspecting various advanced statistics, game film and football history, here’s how I see it playing out. The game will remain relatively close in the first half, but a key DeShaun Watson interception will shift the momentum. Alabama’s defense will slowly squeeze the life out of Clemson before pulling away.

Alabama 30,  Clemson 17. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.