PHOENIX, Ariz. _ Clemson has portrayed itself as an underdog all season. Now the Tigers actually are one.
LSU is favored by 5.5 points over Clemson in the national championship game, which will be played Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. Clemson defeated Ohio State, 29-23, in Saturday's Fiesta Bowl to reach the title game for the fourth time in five years, while LSU destroyed Oklahoma 63-28 in the Peach Bowl and will play for its first national title since 2007.
Even with Clemson winning two of the past three national titles, LSU understandably favored. The Bayou Bengals are led by Heisman winner Joe Burrow, and LSU is averaging 52 points per game in its last six games.
Burrow passed for 403 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the first half of Saturday's College Football Playoff semifinal win over Oklahoma and finished with 493 passing yards while adding a rushing score.
Receiver Justin Jefferson caught 14 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns, and the LSU offense also has the Biletnikoff Award winner in Ja'Marr Chase, who has 75 catches for 1,559 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
"Yeah, I don't even wanna talk about, it to be honest," Clemson defensive coordianator Brent Venables said of facing LSU. "'Oh, now you get to go play LSU. Oh, great.' We're going right into the lion's den, but whatever man."
Burrow has 5,208 passing yards and 55 touchdowns after his record-setting performance against Oklahoma, one that Venables watched on his way to the Fiesta Bowl.
"I'm a competitive guy," Venables said. "Yeah, he threw for like (seven) touchdowns in the first half. They're unbelievable."
Still, Clemson isn't going down without a fight. The Tigers have been great as an underdog under Dabo Swinney, particularly as of late.
Clemson is 4-1 outright as an underdog in its last five games and 8-1 against the spread as an underdog in its last nine. Included in that stretch is last year's national championship win over Alabama when the Crimson Tide were favored by five points. Clemson won, 44-16.
In the postseason, Clemson is 7-2 outright as an underdog this decade, and both of its national championship victories came when the Tigers were underdogs.
