Swinney confident star DE Lawson will play vs Alabama

This was a moment to cherish, but it didn’t take long for a reporter to burst the bubble.

Swinney, an Alabama native, is a former walk-on wide receiver with the Crimson Tide and played on Alabama’s 1992 national title-winning team.

This is where Kearse took exception.

“Defensively, I think they’ve got 11 guys that we have in the depth chart, and one is a freshman and one is a sophomore”. “For now, we’re happy with our action and it’s somewhat balanced with just over 60 percent on the Over”.

The university said assistant coach Morgan Scalley has been promoted to defensive coordinator to replace him.

It’s probable that Alabama has seen nothing this season like Watson and Watson has seen nothing this season like Alabama. Clemson is good and all, but I think the Alabama defense is the big difference. “This is going to be a tougher challenge, but our defensive line and front seven are definitely up for it”.

Watson gets most of the praise, and rightfully so, but head coach Dabo Swinney has a few standout performers on offense.

This isn’t Watson’s first run at a championship.

Clemson is led by two of the nation’s best offensive players in Watson and running back Wayne Gallman.

This situation occurred last season as well, benefitting Ohio State while restricting OR, which ultimately led to a Buckeyes’ victory. That may have changed the entire game.

CBS Sports college football writers Tom Fornelli, Chip Patterson and Robby Kalland each weigh in with their hottest angle on Monday’s big game. Watson missed some throws against Oklahoma, but ran for 145 yards on 24 carries. “Dabo (Swinney) has done an outstanding job, and they have a lot of good players that are very well-coached that play very well”.

The kid is unflappable, Miller said. “If they beat us, it’s not going to be because they had two extra meetings or an extra walk-through on Wednesday and Thursday, it’s going to be because they just beat us”.

“I think God has got a sense of humor”, Swinney, a devout Christian, said Tuesday.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 13-1 this season and hit this game ranked number two in the nation. But it’s what he has done off the field – that ability to prepare enough to know the outcome before it happens – that has infected the entire Clemson locker room. Can Clemson pull off the upset?

Clemson has thrived while being doubted in spite of their record, but Alabama has an advantage its opponent does not, and it is not related to the sheer amount of practice the team is allowed.

Now that the Tigers are one step away, no one’s arguing with Swinney’s prediction.

“… If it was anyone else they would have never said that”. “I’ve been telling them I want to go out with a bang with my team for one last time”.

In the days leading up to the Orange Bowl, tight end Jordan Leggett was happy to tout his quarterback’s inevitable success. Since 2007, no underdogs have won the National Title game or have even covered the spread. “Deshaun has saved us a ton this year”, he said. “They’ve got a bunch in Tuscaloosa”, Swinney said. He holds out his hand – flat, with the palm down – then swipes a straight line across the air. “You’re either Alabama or Auburn”, Swinney said.

Same guy, day in, day out.

They’ll be living and dying with every play as their team fights tooth and nail to stand alone atop the college football world.

So what’s to worry about against Alabama?