National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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1. Joe Burrow is the better quarterback in the title game.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Joe Burrow is the Heisman winner, and rightly so, but Trevor Lawrence is the better quarterback. LSU has the more balanced team and there is a little more talent around Burrow overall, especially when you talk about the offensive line but, make no mistake about it, Lawrence is the better quarterback.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. When I talked to Farrell about this question I proposed it being, ‘If Lawrence could go in the NFL Draft after this season, would Burrow or Lawrence be picked first?’ Pro teams would take Lawrence without a doubt. Burrow has had a phenomenal season, a historical season with 5,208 yards and 55 touchdowns but Lawrence is slightly more special. He threw 30 touchdown passes and led Clemson to a national title as a freshman. He threw 36 TDs so far this season. He led Clemson to a come-from-behind victory over Ohio State in the national semifinal. He’s really a once-in-a-generation talent and I’d give him the edge over Burrow.
2. LSU has the edge at wide receiver.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Clemson has better wide receivers overall, they just don’t have the same variety of playmakers. By that I mean LSU has big receivers and slot receivers and guys who can high point and others who can make you miss in space. But Clemson has guys we will be talking about for a long time in the pros like Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross and they could make the difference in the game.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Prior to the Ohio State game, I would have picked Clemson as well, but the Buckeyes defensive backs muscled Ross and Higgins and neither was effective in the semifinal win. LSU’s receivers - against better competition all season - were completely unstoppable. Ja’Marr Chase (1,559 receiving yards) and Justin Jefferson (1,434) have posted unreal numbers this season, each with 18 receiving scores. Terrace Marshall, Thaddeus Moss and even RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire are big-time threats. LSU has so many weapons and a better receiving corps.
3. The home field advantage for LSU will loom large.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Dabo Swinney likes to complain about things and, yes, LSU is playing so close to home it might as well be a home game, but it won’t matter. Once the teams get settled in and go back and forth, it will simply be a neutral site title game won by Clemson. Swinney is great at getting his teams motivated and thinking they are up against it and the underdogs and he has done a marvelous job doing so, especially this year. And the “road game” mentallity is a nice effort, but it won’t matter.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I don’t think it will matter. Lawrence is basically a pro quarterback still playing college football and the mentality that Swinney has drilled into this team - that no one respect them even though they’ve won 29 straight games - will play even larger against a hostile crowd. With how Clemson is approaching this game and with the defending national champs as nearly a touchdown underdog, a nasty crowd is just what Clemson is looking for and it could help them thrive. I’ll still take LSU 38-34, but the crowd won’t hurt Clemson.
