Alabama, Clemson favored in college football playoffs

Alabama and Clemson are favored to square off in the College Football Playoff national championship game for the fourth time in seven years.

No. 1 Alabama is a consensus 19½-point favorite over No. 4 Notre Dame in the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl.

No. 2 Clemson is a consensus 7-point favorite over No. 3 Ohio State in the semifinal at the Sugar Bowl.

The totals on each Jan. 1 game are 65½.

Early action on Clemson pushed the line to 7½ at the Westgate and to 8 at Circa in a rematch of last season’s CFP semifinal won by the Tigers, 29-23.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if this line did close above seven,” Westgate vice president of risk Ed Salmons said. “Clemson is a much better team than last year and Ohio State is nowhere close to what they were last year.

“Last year, that Ohio State team was by far the best team they’ve had, with two of the top three picks in the NFL draft. Ohio State dominated that game and still managed not to cover.”

Clemson dominated Notre Dame in a 34-10 victory Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

The Crimson Tide, which whipped the Fighting Irish 42-14 in the 2013 BCS national championship, opened at -19 at Circa and at -20½ at the Westgate sportsbook before dipping to -20.

“The numbers we put up, we want to see how high we can go and see what they’ll take rather than go the other way and lay lower numbers and let them take the favorites,” Salmons said.

Alabama had covered seven straight games before failing to cover as 16½-point favorites over Florida in Saturday’s 52-46 win in the Southeastern Conference title game. The Crimson Tide led 35-17 at halftime.

“The question in this game, as far as the point spread, comes down to after Alabama gets a big lead, can Notre Dame score some garbage points,” Salmons said. “They couldn’t do it against Clemson. But if they can here, they’ll have a decent shot at covering at the end.

“When you lay this many points with Alabama, (coach Nick) Saban plays a different style in the second half that allows teams (a chance to cover). They’ll bet Alabama in the first half and on the money line.”

The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide 44-16 in the 2019 CFP title game and 35-31 in the 2017 CFP championship. Alabama beat Clemson 45-40 for the 2016 CFP title.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.