The biggest problem is Clemson's stats are so inflated for playing bad ACC teams.The stats are so out of whack that even reputable ranking sources are so wrong when assigning values to ACC teams. I was so successful in Bowls for suspecting ACC is a fraud with those high rankings. And ACC teams proved I was right when they faced out-of-conference opponents.
Let's take a look at all pertinent stats.
Sagarin's/SOS Clem 95.4/SOS 30 Ala 100.5/SOS 1
F/+ Combined Rating Alabama #1 Clemson #2
S&P Rating Defense: Alabama #1 Clemson #4
S&P Rating Offense: Alabama #25 Clemson #10
Fied Position: Alabama # 16 Clemson #111
Alabama DL #2 and Clemson DL #4
Alabama OL #12 and Clemson OL #9
Scoring (ppg)/D Clemson 38.4/D 20 Alabama 34.4/D 13.4
Total Offense/D Clemson 512/D 302 Alabama 424/D 257
Rush Offense/D Clemson 229/D 124 Alabama 204/D 71
Pass Offense/D Clemson 283/D 177 Alabama 219/D 186
3rd down Conv./D Clemson 47.7%/D 25.7 %
Alabama 36.2%/D 27.7%
RZ Conv./D Clemson 89.1%/D 82.1 %
Alabama 81.4%/D 80%
TO's: Clemson -1 (Gained 9 Fumb/16 INT Lost 12 Fumb/14 INT)
TO's: Alabama +9 (Gained 8 Fumb/18 INT Lost 7 Fumb/10 INT)
Margin of Victory (PPG): Alabama, 21.0 vs. Clemson, 18.4
Sacks (Per Game): Alabama 3.57 vs. Clemson 3.07
Sacks Allowed : Alabama 1.50 vs. Clemson 1.14
Time of Possession: Alabama 33:49 vs. Clemson 32:07
Field Goals: Alabama, 71.0% vs. Clemson, 86.7%
Clemson Long Offensive Plays #14 (239 10+ yds)
Clemson Long Plays Allowed #27 (158 10+ Plays)
Alabama Long Offensive Plays #40 (199 10+ yds)
Alabama Long Plays Allowed #2 (125 10+ yds)
Per stats and rankings, including advanced stats, the Tigers are neck-to-neck with the Tide on both sides of the ball. The big advantages for the Tide are the TO's margin, Field Position and Special Team. The Tigers struggled big time in ST effort, ranks 126th in expected points by ST (minus-45.31), because of its poor
coverage. Alabama, ranks 26th in ST efforts (19.8) and boasts one of the nation's best punt returners in Cyrus Jones, who averages 12.6 yards per return with 4 TDs
The Tigers have a clear advantage on 3rd down conversion, converting nearly 48% of their tries vs Alabama poor 36%.