Don’t be confused by last season’s Alabama football, easy win over Clemson. The Tigers are much better than last season. They are every bit good enough to win next Monday. Particularly if Alabama football harms itself with mistakes, miscues and lapses in mental discipline.
Clemson easily beat Notre Dame in the other semifinal Saturday. Perennially over-hyped and playing under competition rules unfair to other top Power Five teams, the Irish somewhat deserved a shot because of an undefeated season. Otherwise, it doesn’t take much college football knowledge to understand UND was not a No. 3 or even a No.