BUCK BELUE
ATLANTA, Ga – This is most likely going to be real entertaining. Clemson is focused on back-to-back titles and a second consecutive undefeated season! Wow! LSU has caught lightning in a bottle, with Joe Burrow and Joe Brady dialing up big play, after big play. Coach O’s team looks unbeatable! Put your seat belts on for this one, baby!

The quarterback match-up is epic, with Heisman winner Joe Burrow and the golden-boy Trevor Lawrence matched-up with a title on the line. Clearly, they are the next two #1 picks in the NFL draft.

But perhaps the best match-up is Clemson’s DC Brent Venables facing off against the Joe Brady/Steve Ensminger designed LSU offense. Burrow and the guys are scoring at a record pace (just ask Oklahoma). Venables defenses have a big game reputation for stepping up (ask Ohio State & Alabama).

The extra rest between games has given LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire the opportunity to get his hamstring right and he is a difference-maker. It’s one thing to slow down the LSU passing attack, with Joe and all those playmakers… but its even more dangerous when they mix in Edwards-Helaire getting the ball in the run game.

Joe Burrow has obviously been amazing. He needs 4 TD passes to break the all-time single season record. His accuracy has been amazing all season. Take away the drops & throw-aways and Burrow has completed 82.5% of this throws. He’s been deadly on the deep balls.

Venables needs to get a couple of stops and a couple of turnovers. He also needs to get his best defender Isaiah Simmons involved and making plays. Simmons is the 2nd best defensive player in CF this season (behind Chase Young). Venables has him lined up all over the field this season, but he went missing early in the Ohio State game. Need him showing up big early and often, to have a legit shot.

On the other side of the ball, Trevor Lawrence needs his playmakers to pick it up. Both Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross played down against the Buckeyes. Third option Amari Rodgers called that “unacceptable.” It’s time to show up now. Etienne and Trevor need some help to score 40-plus on these guys.

LSU has corners that can man-up on the outside (Stingley & Fulton), but their DC Dave Aranda might want to be careful playing man coverage too much, because Trevor can hurt man with his legs.

Enjoy the showdown! You can hear more on the big game by listening to The Buck & Kincade Show, on The Fan, M-F Noon-3.