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10 Reasons Alabama Will Beat Clemson

By Ronald Evans

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and running back Derrick Henry (2) celebrate with the 2016 CFP National Championship trophy after beating the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and running back Derrick Henry (2) celebrate with the 2016 CFP National Championship trophy after beating the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama defense
Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) is tackled by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (54) during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 10-0. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

#8 Alabama Has More Talent Than Clemson

Review any of numerous college football recruiting sites and the results will vary little. The Power 5 conference teams harvest the greatest abundance of talent every recruiting cycle.

Getting the best talent matters greatly to coaches. Signing most of the best players does not guarantee the best team. Not signing enough of the best almost always results in weaker team performance.

It is said, ad nauseum, “it is not the x’s and o’s, but the Jimmy and the Joes.”  It is said over and over because it is true.

Each season the top Power 5 teams have a comparable level of talent among their starters. What separates the elite teams is the presence or absence of a few game-changers on each side of the ball.

Another telling comparison can be seen in the depth behind starters and on special teams. How much talent a team has among their 12-20 players who have essential secondary roles can make a great difference.

Over the past five years, the near consensus among recruiting experts has Alabama #1 in each recruiting cycle. Over the same five-year period, Clemson has been in the top 10 or near the top 10 each year.

Alabama has a talent advantage over Clemson.  Maybe it is not a big advantage. In close games, even a slight advantage can make a difference, particularly late in games when depth matters most.

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