Monday night’s national title showdown between LSU and Clemson is loaded with top prospects for the 2020 NFL draft
This coming Monday all eyes will be on the National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana. While both teams are playing for college football immortality, for select players it goes beyond their final game in a college uniform.
There will be plenty NFL scouts in attendance as they get one final opportunity to put their notes together in a game before the offseason bowl games, combines and pro day workouts.
LSU TIGERS
QB Joe Burrow
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
At this point it seems like a foregone conclusion that Burrow will be the number one overall selection at this point. His Heisman season put him on the map and with the Cincinnati Bengals likely done with the Andy Dalton era all but over, look for Burrow to take off one tigers jersey and trade it for one in orange and black.
Don’t you want to be the one to end Clemson’s streak?
Does it make sense for Notre Dame fans to be pulling for one of Clemson or LSU more than the other in next Monday night’s college football national championship?
Neither are anything near a traditional rival, although Notre Dame and LSU have matched up six times since 1997 with the Irish taking four of those matchups.
Meanwhile Notre Dame has played Clemson twice recently, one being a heart-breaking loss in a hurricane back in 2015 and the other being in the 2018 Cotton Bowl when the Tigers erupted in the second quarter to eliminate the Irish, 30-3.
We’ll look at why and why not to root for both teams in the final collegiate football game until August.
I really hope it doesn’t take 31 more years for Notre Dame to win another national title. Like I said earlier I was far too young to have any memory of the 1988 team besides what I’ve read online or watched on YouTube.
January 2, 1988.
I was still a month from turning two so I have no real-life memory of the day, the Fiesta Bowl or celebrating a national championship. What I do know are a few things:
One:
My first takeaway has always been when learning about the 1988 team that as ridiculous as it sounds, the Fiesta Bowl win over West Virginia that clinched the title feels like it was at most the third biggest game of the ’88 season, perhaps even the fourth. Miami in the Catholics vs. Convicts battle immediately comes to mind, then for me my head goes to the No. 1 vs No. 2 regular season finale at USC. And finally, Reggie Ho’s heroics against Michigan in September I think of before the Fiesta Bowl comes to mind.
Two:
Who could have ever guessed that would be the one and only title Lou Holtz would win in South Bend? The program was on the rise and entering an incredible run from 88-93 that saw them go a combined 64-9-1, suffering just one loss in each of ’89, ’92 and ’93.
Yet each year the failed to win the national championship, even as ridiculous it remains to me Florida State was given the nod in ’93 but the program’s greatest heights in the modern-era, or at least since color-TV became the norm saw one championship and a bunch of close calls.
NBC has more exclusive television deals for their football team since that January night than they do national championships. Which leads me to…
Three:
I really hope it doesn’t take 31 more years for Notre Dame to win another national title. Like I said earlier I was far too young to have any memory of the 1988 team besides what I’ve read online or watched on YouTube.
I’ll be 64 years old in 31 years if I make it that long. Please don’t have me still waiting by then, Brian Kelly and company.
In the meantime enjoy some highlights from that memorable night, at least for those that are old enough to remember it.
Donnetta Etienne, the mother of Clemson star running back Travis Etienne, is being inundated with disturbing talk heading into Clemson’s showdown against LSU on Jan. 13 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in New Orleans.
Donnetta Etienne, the mother of Clemson star running back Travis Etienne, is being inundated with disturbing talk heading into Clemson’s showdown against LSU on Jan. 13 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in New Orleans.
Breaking down the times, where to watch and betting odds for each of the 41 2019 NCAA college bowl games.
The exciting 2019 college football season will have a bow put on it before you know it, as bowl season is upon us, along with the college football playoffs.
For your viewing (and of course, betting) pleasure, we’ve broken down each bowl game, with time and where you can watch the game, as well as the latest college football betting lines and odds, via BetMGM.
New to sports betting? The line lists the team that is considered the favorite to win, while the -minus number represents the point spread in the matchup, which is by how many points the line makers predict the favorite will win. An Over/Under (O/U) displays the betting line for how many points sportsbook line makers feel will be scored by the two teams combined in the matchup.
2019-20 College Football Bowl and Playoff Games
All times Eastern
Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs. Charlotte
BetMGM Line: Buffalo -5.5 | O/U 57.5
When and where to watch: December 20, 2019 at 2 p.m. | ESPN
Frisco Bowl: Kent State vs. Utah State
BetMGM Line: Utah State -8.5 | O/U 65.5
When and where to watch: December 20, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2
Celebration Bowl: Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T
BetMGM Line: Not available
When and where to watch: December 21, 2019 at noon | ABC
New Mexico Bowl: Central Michigan vs. San Diego State
BetMGM Line: San Diego State -4.5 | O/U 41.5
When and where to watch: December 21, 2019 at 2 p.m. | ESPN
Cure Bowl: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern
BetMGM Line: Georgia Southern -5.5 | O/U 56.5
When and where to watch: December 21, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network
College football season is almost over! Get action in any of these bowl games at BetMGM now. Place your bet!
Boca Raton Bowl: SMU vs. Florida Atlantic
BetMGM Line: SMU -3.5 | O/U 72.5
When and where to watch: December 21, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. | ABC
Camellia Bowl: Florida International vs. Arkansas State
BetMGM Line: Arkansas State -3.5 | O/U 63.5
When and where to watch: December 21, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. | ESPN
Las Vegas Bowl: Washington vs. Boise State
Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy – USA TODAY Sports
BetMGM Line: Washington -3.5 | O/U 49.5
When and where to watch: December 21, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. | ABC
New Orleans Bowl: UAB vs. Appalachian State
BetMGM Line: App State -17.5 | O/U 48.5
When and where to watch: December 21, 2019 at 9 p.m. | ESPN
Gasparilla Bowl: Marshall vs. Central Florida
BetMGM Line: Central Florida -17.5 | O/U 61.5
When and where to watch: December 23, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. | ESPN
Hawaii Bowl: BYU vs. Hawaii
BetMGM Line: BYU -2.5 | O/U 62.5
When and where to watch: December 24, 2019 at 8 p.m. | ESPN
Independence Bowl: Miami (Fla.) vs. Louisiana Tech
BetMGM Line: Miami, Fla. -7.5 | O/U 50
When and where to watch: December 26, 2019 at 4 p.m. | ESPN
Quick Lane Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. E. Michigan
BetMGM Line: Pittsburgh -10.5 | O/U 50
When and where to watch: December 26, 2019 at 8 p.m. | ESPN
Military Bowl: North Carolina vs. Temple
BetMGM Line: North Carolina -5.5 | O/U 53
When and where to watch: December 27, 2019 at noon | ESPN
Pinstripe Bowl: Michigan State vs. Wake Forest
Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch – USA TODAY Sports
BetMGM Line: Michigan State -3.5 | O/U 49
When and where to watch: December 27, 2019 at 3:20 p.m. | ESPN
Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
BetMGM Line: Texas -5.5 | O/U 53.5
When and where to watch: December 27, 2019 at 6:45 p.m. | ESPN
Holiday Bowl: Southern California vs. Iowa
BetMGM Line: Iowa -2.5 | O/U 51.5
When and where to watch: December 27, 2019 at 8 p.m. | FS1
Cheez-It Bowl: Washington State vs. Air Force
BetMGM Line: Air Force -2.5 | O/U 67.5
When and where to watch: December 27, 2019 at 10:15 p.m. | ESPN
Camping World Bowl: Iowa State vs. Notre Dame
BetMGM Line: Notre Dame -3.5 | O/U 57
When and where to watch: December 28, 2019 at noon | ABC
Cotton Bowl Classic: Memphis vs. Penn State
BetMGM Line: Penn State -7.5 | O/U 60.5
When and where to watch: December 28, 2019 at noon ET | ESPN
BetMGM Line: LSU -12.5 | O/U 76
When and where to watch: December 28, 2019 at 4 p.m. | ESPN
Fiesta Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State
College football playoff semifinal game
BetMGM Line: Clemson -2.5 | O/U 63
When and where to watch: December 28, 2019 at 8 p.m. | ESPN
First Responder Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Western Kentucky
BetMGM Line: Western Kentucky -2.5 | O/U 52.5
When and where to watch: December 30, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. | ESPN
Redbox Bowl: Illinois vs. California
BetMGM Line: Cal -5.5 | O/U 41.5
When and where to watch: December 30, 2019 at 4 p.m. | FOX
Music City Bowl: Louisville vs. Mississippi State
BetMGM Line: Mississippi State -3.5 | O/U 62.5
When and where to watch: December 30, 2019 at 4 p.m. | ESPN
Orange Bowl: Virginia vs. Florida
BetMGM Line: Florida -13.5 | O/U 54.5
When and where to watch: December 30, 2019 at 8 p.m. | ESPN
Belk Bowl: Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech
BetMGM Line: Florida -13.5 | O/U 54.5
When and where to watch: December 31, 2019 at noon | ESPN
Sun Bowl: Florida State vs. Arizona State
BetMGM Line: Arizona State -5.5 | O/U 56
When and where to watch: December 31, 2019 at 2 p.m. | CBS
Liberty Bowl: Kansas State vs. Navy
BetMGM Line: Navy -1.5 | O/U 52
When and where to watch: December 31, 2019 at 3:45 p.m. | ESPN
Arizona Bowl: Georgia State vs. Wyoming
BetMGM Line: Wyoming -7.5 | O/U 49
When and where to watch: December 31, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network
Alamo Bowl: Texas vs. Utah
BetMGM Line: Utah -6.5 | O/U 55
When and where to watch: December 31, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Outback Bowl: Minnesota vs. Auburn
BetMGM Line: Auburn -8.5 | O/U 51.5
When and where to watch: January 1, 2020 at 1 p.m. | ESPN
Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Alabama
Photo Credit: John David Mercer – USA TODAY Sports
BetMGM Line: Alabama -6.5 | O/U 58
When and where to watch: January 1, 2020 at 1 p.m. | ABC
Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon
BetMGM Line: Wisconsin -2.5 | O/U 50.5
When and where to watch: January 1, 2020 at 5 p.m. | ESPN
Sugar Bowl: Baylor vs. Georgia
BetMGM Line: Georgia -7.5 | O/U 42.5
When and where to watch: January 1, 2020 at 8:45 p.m. | ESPN
Birmingham Bowl: Boston College vs. Cincinnati
BetMGM Line: Cincinnati -6.5 | O/U 55.5
When and where to watch: January 2, 2020 at 3 p.m. | ESPN
Gator Bowl: Indiana vs. Tennessee
BetMGM Line: Not available
When and where to watch: January 2, 2020 at 7 p.m. | ESPN
Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Nevada
BetMGM Line: Ohio -6.5 | O/U 58
When and where to watch: January 3, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Armed Forces Bowl: Tulane vs. Southern Mississippi
BetMGM Line: Tulane -6.5 | O/U 57.5
When and where to watch: January 4, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. | ESPN
LendingTree Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
BetMGM Line: UL Lafayette -13.5 | O/U 56
When and where to watch: January 6, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
National Championship
The 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship game will determine this year’s top team among NCAA Division 1 football.
The winners of Oklahoma Sooners vs. LSU Tigers (Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl) and Clemson Tigers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (PlayStation Fiesta Bowl) will meet to play for this year’s championship title.
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