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UNDATED (AP) — LSU and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow head into the national championship game with a record-setting offense and an improving defense. Clemson is looking for its third national title in four seasons and second straight. Both teams have high-powered offenses and defenses that rely on strong coverage to befuddle opponents. AP's Ralph Russo says top-ranked LSU will win Monday night's game, 35-27.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm is heading to the NFL. Fromm announced his decision on Twitter, saying he's ready to “pursue his lifelong dream” despite some struggles this past season that led to speculation he might return for one more year with the Bulldogs. Fromm threw for 2,860 yards with 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. But he posted the lowest completion percentage and quarterback rating of his college career. Despite the drop-off, Fromm will be remembered as one of Georgia's best quarterbacks. He led the Bulldogs to an SEC title and trip to the national championship game in 2017.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Freshman Isaac Okoro scored 17 of his season-high 23 points in the first half and No. 5 Auburn held on for an 83-79 victory over Vanderbilt. Sporting their first Top-5 ranking in nearly 20 years, the Tigers withstood a late challenge by the Commodores after blowing a 13-point lead. Auburn, at 14-0, remains one of the nation's two remaining unbeaten teams, along with No. 7 San Diego State.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Trendon Watford made a three-point play and Charles Manning blocked two field goal attempts in the final seconds as LSU defeated Arkansas 79-77 in a Southeastern Conference game. The lead changed hands eight times in the final six minutes. Watford put the Tigers (10-4, 2-0) ahead 76-74 with a three-point play with 32 seconds remaining in the game. The Razorbacks (12-2, 1-1) regained the lead on a three-point play by Isaiah Joe with 21 seconds to play. Watford made his second three-point play with eight seconds to play. Arkansas had two shots at a game-winning 3-pointer, but Manning blocked both – one by Joe and one by Desi Sills.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — John Petty Jr. scored 18 points with four 3-pointers and Alabama beat Mississippi State 90-69 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide scored 90 or more points for the fifth straight game, and the Mississippi State offense couldn’t keep up with the Tide's hot 3-point shooting (10 of 24). Reggie Perry got off to a dominant start for the Bulldogs, scoring seven of their first eight points. However, Perry was plagued by fouls and fouled out with 6:56 to go in the second half, finishing with 14 points.
UNDATED (AP) — LSU’s Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson were easy selections for The Associated Press all-bowl team. The two connected for four first-half touchdowns in a College Football Playoff semifinal blowout of Oklahoma. Holiday Bowl victor Iowa, Cotton Bowl champion Penn State and Alamo Bowl winner Texas join LSU in having multiple selections on the informal team announced each year by the AP.
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