IT’S ALL IN THE CARDS
IT’S EASY to forget how different history could have looked. It’s easy to overlook how little had to change for legacies to change so significantly.
Three months before Clemson won its first national championship in 35 years, the unbeaten Tigers were playing at home and trailing by eight points against then-undefeated Louisville, with fewer than eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Even after Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson put his team back in front, his Louisville counterpart, Heisman Trophy frontrunner Lamar Jackson, led the Cardinals into the red zone in the final minute. The most explosive offense in the country just needed a touchdown and an extra point to win, but on fourth down, receiver James White inexplicably ran toward the sideline despite having only one defender to beat, and was pushed out of bounds at the 3-yard line, falling 1 yard shy of a first down.
With that, Clemson pulled out a 42-36 win, and remained in control of the ACC. With that, Watson and his teammates had the chance to become legendary.
Now, with Watson gone, Jackson has an even better chance to take down the Tigers, and enhance his already impressive legacy.
Jackson enters the rematch as mesmerizing as ever, having averaged 505 total yards, with a total of eight touchdowns, in two road wins this season, and appears capable of becoming the second-ever two-time Heisman winner.
At most other positions, Clemson comes out in front. The Tigers are deeper and more experienced and can win in numerous ways, unlike Louisville. In Week 1, Clemson tallied 56 points. Last week, the Tigers defense — which has surrendered a total of nine points in two games — recorded 11 sacks against Auburn.
But last year, Clemson’s defense was just as dominant, ranking third in the nation in sacks and sixth in interceptions, while finishing eighth in defensive efficiency, 15th in total defense and 12th in scoring defense. Still, Jackson shredded that championship defense for 457 total yards and three touchdowns in Death Valley.
Against a singular talent like Jackson, even the best college defenses are overmatched, as Nick Saban and Alabama learned against Watson in two straight national-title games.
Clemson’s new quarterback, Kelly Bryant, cannot produce such magic. Thus far, his best days look like Jackson’s off days, and in Bryant’s first road start, he has no chance to keep up with the reigning Heisman winner and LOUISVILLE (+3).
Often, quarterbacks get too much credit or too much blame. This time, they both will deserve it. BOISE STATE (-14½) over New Mexico: Here, the quarterback doesn’t matter. If Brett Rypien can’t suit up, Montell Cozart will bounce back from last week’s meltdown against Washington State. Illinois (+17½) over SOUTH FLORIDA: When is the Power Five going to start getting some respect? Air Force (+231/2) over MICHIGAN: I think the real Wilton Speight is standing up. PITTSBURGH (+13½) over Oklahoma State: It has gotten a little too crowded to hang with the Cowboys right now. Perhaps the bandwagon will thin after their first real competition of the season. MEMPHIS (+3) over Ucla: Cue Admiral Ackbar. Yes, it’s a trap. BOSTON COLLEGE (+13½) over Notre Dame: Enjoy this weekend’s contrarian special. Wisconsin (-17) over BYU: The Cougars
face one of the nation’s best defenses after putting up 33 points in three games this season — including 20 against FCS foe Portland State — and will be helpless to stop an expected repeat of the run-heavy game plan LSU used against them in the opening week, this time featuring Badgers freshman Jonathan Taylor, who is averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Tennessee (+5) over FLORIDA: The money line is awfully tempting, too.
OHIO STATE (-30) over Army: The road to becoming the best-looking one-loss team in the country begins this week. After the Buckeyes’ Week 2 home loss to Virginia Tech in 2014, Ohio State beat Kent State 66-0, the first of four straight games with 50 points or more. In their season-openers against non-Power Five teams since then, the Buckeyes have won by an average of 52.5 points. Once again, Urban Meyer will cut the brakes. OKLAHOMA (-341/2) over Tulane: Well, what the hell? You ride her until she bucks you or don’t ride at all. Right, Cup?
MISSISSIPPI STATE (+7) over Lsu: At home, and under the lights, emerging dualthreat quarterback Nick Fitzgerald will give the Bulldogs an opportunity at an upset in the final minutes. Colorado State (+28½) over ALABAMA: Expect Alabama’s five-star freshman Tua Tagovailoa to see more reps under center, and plan to see the Crimson Tide’s offense struggle — relatively — to stay in rhythm with two different quarterbacks. PENN STATE (-38½) over Georgia State: Thus concludes Penn State’s intramural portion of the schedule. Correction: the Nittany Lions host Rutgers on Nov. 11. Texas (+161/2) over USC: Scoring isn’t the issue for Tom Herman’s Longhorns, and the Trojans’ defense can’t come close to keeping pace with its better half. BEST BETS: Ohio State, Mississippi State, Texas THIS SEASON: 16-14; BEST BETS: 6-0 2014-16 RECORD: 381-370-7 hkussoy@nypost.com By Lenn Robbins