Fact or Fiction: Trevor Lawrence will outplay Justin Fields
Mike Farrell and Adam Gorney weigh in on three statements and reveal whether they believe those declarations to be fact or fiction.
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1. Trevor Lawrence will outplay Justin Fields.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Everyone knows how amazing I think Trevor Lawrence is but Justin Fields will have a great day as well. Both Clemson and Ohio State have very good defenses but I’m expecting a shootout in this one with both quarterbacks putting up big numbers. Fields will just make one or two more mistakes that will cost his team, but he will have a great game otherwise.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Clemson hasn’t lost since the 2017 season and still coach Dabo Swinney is playing the “disrespected” card ... and it’s working. The Tigers obliterated Virginia in the ACC Championship and my prediction is that Lawrence has a phenomenal day against Ohio State as he shows he’s the best player in college football. I don’t think Clemson blows out the Buckeyes, but I will bet Lawrence outplays Fields and Clemson wins the game.
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2. Miami is a lost cause under Manny Diaz
Farrell’s take: FACT. I just can’t see this working out as Miami appears to get worse each time I watch them. Where is the Miami team we saw a couple of years ago? Where is the traditional power we got used to so many years ago? This team is a joke and things look horrible under Diaz. He’s not the solution and Miami can’t even get it done in a weak division or against inferior opponents. It’s a mess.
Gorney's take: FICTION. I will admit that the Miami loss to Louisiana Tech might be one of the worst in program history, not only in that the Hurricanes were blanked but just how the team looked on the field. They were terrible. I also don't like that Diaz is already changing coaches which makes me question his judgment in hiring them in the first place. But I don't think this story has been fully written yet. There is an influx of talent coming in and Miami is the most fertile recruiting territory in the country. Diaz has a lot of problems to fix and I don't know if he'll get the time to do it but he can turn the Hurricanes into a competitive program again.
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3. Darnell Washington has secretly signed with Georgia.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I thought this might be true as I think RB Zachary Evans has secretly signed with the Dawgs and CB Kelee Ringo might have done the same, but there are too many rumblings out there, especially regarding Tennessee and that last visit he took where this one could go in any direction. Georgia is still the team to beat and Alabama is up there, but the Vols gave him something to think about.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Georgia is still considered the front-runner for the five-star tight end, but I don’t believe his recruitment has been finalized at this point. There has been a lot of smoke about Tennessee in recent days and the Vols are still in it along with some other teams, but I’ve also heard some rumors about Oregon that I don’t actually believe right now. I still think Washington picks Georgia, but I don’t think it’s done yet.