Clemson is getting some kind of disrespect ahead of its national semifinal game against Alabama on New Year's Day. The top seed in the College Football Playoff is out to defend its title, but the Tigers find themselves as underdogs against the team they beat in last year's national championship.

With the exception of one game, and really only half a game, Clemson has been the best team in the country all season. When Kelly Bryant got injured against Syracuse, the Tigers struggled. Find me a team that wouldn't when losing its quarterback. Florida State is example 1A of what can happen when a team's QB gets injured. That loss to the Orange has been overexamined and I think Clemson will prove its worth against the Crimson Tide come January 1.

The other semifinal has a little "something has to give" feel. Oklahoma's offense is explosive with Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield and Georgia's defense is as formidable as any in this field of four teams. Add to that the two-headed monster running game of the Bulldogs, and I'll take Georgia to reach the national championship game on January 8th.

Nobody gets closer to the top college football programs in the country than ESPN's Marty Smith and he joined Big Board Sports to break down the matchups:

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