Well, the confetti has fallen and the cigars have been smoked. LSU is the champion of the college football world.
G’night! And geaux tigers. #CFBPlayoff x #NationalChampionship#GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/SYruSLMRQH
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) January 14, 2020
After a number of interesting back and forth drives, Joe Burrow and the Tigers of Baton Rouge were able to exploit Brent Venables’ defense, scoring three second half touchdowns.
You know what happened. You’ve seen the videos, the postgame analysis, the recaps. But… what about our picks?
Let’s take a look back at how the UGA Wire staff predicted the game to go. Yes, I’ll go ahead and tag Old Takes Exposed on my own pick.
James Morgan- Clemson’s defense gets some red zone stops, but Joe Burrow extends plays and LSU’s secondary slows down Clemson’s receivers.
Prediction: 37-31 LSU
Joe Vitale- I don’t care how good Clemson is, Joe Burrow and LSU are in a league of their own.
Prediction: 31-27 LSU
Henry Sillen- Coach O’s fire will have his Tigers more pumped up than Dabo’s and Burrow has had more quality wins than Lawrence all year. Burrow hands Lawrence the first L of his career tonight.
Prediction: 45-31 LSU
Garrett Shearman- Joe Burrow is the most clearcut number-one-pick-in-the-draft quarterback I’ve seen since Andrew Luck (sorry Murray, Mayfield, Goff and Winston). I think Trevor Lawrence is going to be that caliber QB by the time he’s draft eligible, and he certainly has very talented receivers around him, but LSU’s offense has put up otherworldly numbers against great defenses all year behind easily the best quarterback and the best wide receiving corps in the country.
“Go Tigahs.”
-Edward James Orgeron, Jr.
Prediction: 45-38 LSU
Jackson Stone- Clemson will be the best defense that LSU has faced but the Bayou Bengals will have just enough firepower to win a thriller of a game late.
Prediction: LSU 35-31
Jackson Fryburger- I really liked LSU in this game ever since the matchup came out, but started to lean Clemson of late. If Swinney’s Tigers can limit the passing game for LSU and keep it close, I like their experience and slim coaching advantage to prevail. However, LSU has the capability to blow this one open with a performance like it had against Oklahoma. The key to this one will be Clemson’s ability to stop Burrow through the air. Sure, the Heisman winner is going to score, but just how often in the passing game? Clemson is just behind LSU in statistics offensively, but much more sound on paper defensively. Though Orgeron’s Tigers have played well on defense down the stretch, I have to lean Clemson here. Give me the reigning national champs in a tight one, though I could easily see LSU wearing them down through the air.
Prediction: Clemson 38, LSU 34
Staff Record:
ATS: 3-3
S/U: 5-1