Dabo Swinney made it clear after the Orange Bowl that a certain label isn't sitting well at Clemson.
"We ain't no underdog!" the Clemson coach told ESPN's Holly Rowe moments after his team beat Oklahoma 37-17.
The Tigers, however, are underdogs entering Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T. Although Clemson is ranked No. 1 and owns the only perfect record in the FBS, Alabama is favored to win by a touchdown.
It's not only Brent Musburger's "friends in the desert" who think Alabama will triumph. ESPN Insider surveyed eight coaches -- head coaches, coordinators and position coaches -- who faced Clemson or Alabama this season.
Most coaches expect a close, entertaining game featuring contrasting styles and stars in all three phases. With one exception, they expect Alabama to win. The championship pairs the nation's best quarterback (Clemson's Deshaun Watson) against arguably the best and deepest defensive front in Nick Saban's Alabama tenure. Both teams run effectively but in different ways. Both have plenty of perimeter talent.
The coaches broke down the teams, the players to watch and the keys to winning. Some also offered their predictions for what happens at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Coaches: Watson's legs, up-tempo scheme gives Clemson a chance
Like Michigan State, Clemson faces Alabama with an advantage at the most important position: quarterback.
The difference with Watson, coaches say, is twofold: his ability to run, and Clemson's increased willingness to run him. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Watson has logged 18 or more designed runs in each of his past three games after averaging just 6.5 designed runs in his first 11. Watson, a Heisman Trophy finalist and the Davey O'Brien Award winner, has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in five of his past six games. His 646 rushing yards since Nov. 1 is the most among FBS quarterbacks.
"The quarterback's feet, to me, are really what gives [the Tigers] their only chance," an ACC assistant said. "He's a very, very good athlete."
An ACC head coach said that early in the season, Swinney protected Watson, who underwent ACL surgery in December 2014. But Watson's carries load increased as Clemson needed him more. "For them to win it all, that will be the piece," the coach said.
"You don't have to [run Watson] 25 times, but you've got to do it 15-20 just to keep them off balance," an SEC offensive assistant said. "Alabama struggles with running quarterbacks. They always have. I don't know how much they're planning on doing that with Deshaun, but if they do, they'll give them some problems."
Coaches said Michigan State, despite its offensive success with quarterback Connor Cook, matched up poorly with Alabama because of Cook's limited mobility. Traditional power-run concepts don't work against a Tide defensive line that, according to an SEC offensive coordinator, is "the best they've ever had."
Teams need to use misdirection, zone read and run-pass options. Clemson must force Tide defenders to account for Watson and the additional blocker Clemson has when he runs. The Tigers' offensive line isn't elite, coaches say, but has improved significantly.
The surge in Watson's carries has also increased opportunities for running back Wayne Gallman, who has eclipsed 25 carries in his past two games after doing so just once in the first 12.
"The linebackers started keying Deshaun more, springing Gallman," an ACC head coach said. "That makes every running back better because it's not just the illusion [of the quarterback running]."
Most coaches had high praise for Watson, noting his poise, arm strength and accuracy.
But a defensive backs coach who faced Clemson questioned the complexity of the Tigers' scheme.
"He's an elite athlete, but they don't ask him to do a lot," the coach said. "You look at their passing concepts, it's all quick game, it's spread out and it's boots. He isn't reading from one side of the field to the other. I think Alabama's going to be able to confuse them. They don't bring pressure. They get pressure with their front four.
"Saban's going to have something different, you know that."
Arguably a bigger factor, and a bigger debate between opposing coaches, is how Clemson's tempo impacts the Tide defense. Clemson will be the fastest-operating offense Alabama has seen: the Tigers rank 11th nationally in plays per game with 80.1.
Alabama has faced only one offense in the top 20 in plays per game (Middle Tennessee is 19th at 77.2 plays per game). In SEC play, Tennessee (76 plays per game) and Texas A&M (75.9 plays per game) are the most up-tempo offenses Alabama saw.
"He hates f----- tempo," an SEC coach said of Saban, "so Dabo's going to go as fast as they can go."
There's no other option.
"If you don't go fast, you've got no chance," an offensive line coach who faced Clemson said. "They can't just let Alabama get lined up and do what they do."
Coaches differed on how well Alabama handles tempo. One SEC offensive assistant said, "They've got a very complex defense and their guys struggle when things happen fast." But an ACC assistant who has observed Alabama thinks Tide defenders are better prepared for tempo-driven offenses.
"Nick's defense is now beating the offense back to the ball," the coach said. "That's what it's all about, sitting on them to snap the ball. That's telltale to me. The novelty of playing that style of offense is gone for Alabama."
Other than quarterback mobility and tempo, downfield passing is viewed as the other key against Alabama's defense. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Alabama is 57th among 65 Power 5 teams in completion percentage allowed on passes thrown 20 yards or longer (39.3 percent).
Watson leads the Power 5 with 16 touchdowns on such throws. Although freshman receiver Deon Cain remains suspended, Clemson has big-play threats like Charone Peake.
"They're not going to try to nickel and dime you with their passing game. It's a home run passing game," an ACC defensive coordinator said. "I don't think you're going to 4-yard and 5-yard Alabama down the field."
Added an SEC offensive coordinator: "They're probably going to need 10-plus explosive plays."
Breaking down Ridley vs. Alexander, more
Alabama's offense and Clemson's defense don't get as much national attention as their corresponding units, but both groups excelled in semifinal victories. The Tide offense showed it's more than just Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. Clemson's defense dominated the trenches despite playing most of the Orange Bowl without top lineman Shaq Lawson.
Henry is Alabama's engine, but offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin diversified his plan against Michigan State, emphasizing quick perimeter passes early before selectively attacking downfield. While Henry had a modest performance (20 carries, 75 rush yards, two touchdowns), quarterback Jake Coker completed 25 of 30 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns.
"Lane doesn't just line up in the [I-formation] and run at you," an SEC offensive assistant said. "He's smart enough to see what everybody else does, too. He's going to run misdirection, he's going to hand inside zone to Derrick Henry, he's going to use Kenyan Drake sweeps and all those things.
"If you want to stop those guys, you've got to load the box, but you have to put some edges on it and not let that thing get outside."
Clemson might have the strength-speed combination to contain the Tide. Coaches rave about Lawson, who expects to return for the title game, but an opposing offensive line coach also praised end Kevin Dodd, who has nine sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. The coach added that Tigers safeties Jayron Kearse and T.J. Green, at 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-3, respectively, are the biggest he's ever seen.
"I don't think it's just the front four," an SEC coach said of Clemson. "Their linebackers are really good, and their safeties are active as hell. That defense can run, man. They can really run."
But can they hold up against Henry and an offensive line filled with future pros? Clemson did against Oklahoma, but as an opposing offensive line coach said, "I don't think they've seen an offense like [Alabama]."
Henry is responsible for 72 percent of Alabama's rushing yards and 36.2 percent of its offensive production, but he might not be the most critical player for Clemson to curtail. "You cannot let Calvin Ridley loose," an SEC offensive assistant said.
Since Alabama's Week 3 loss to Ole Miss, Coker has targeted Ridley 8.7 times per game and found him for nine receptions of 30 yards or longer and seven touchdowns.
"He's Amari Cooper as far as being that guy in their offense," an SEC assistant said. "I'm sure they'll have brackets and things for him. I would."
Clemson mainly will counter Ridley with Mackensie Alexander, who in August labeled himself as the nation's best cornerback and went on to earn third-team All-America honors.
"He's an exceptional athlete," an ACC head coach said. "He's got great ability to make plays on the ball at any time. He's good up in a guy's grill."
But an ACC offensive assistant thinks Alabama will capitalize on Alexander, whom he called, "a little bit stiff, a little bit speed-deficient."
"He's a hands player, not a feet player," the coach said. "You attack him with speed, you attack him with double moves."
Alabama also will attack Clemson with wideouts ArDarius Stewart and Richard Mullaney and tight end O.J. Howard. But, as an SEC coordinator said, "If you stop Henry and Ridley, you have a really good chance against them."
Coaches make title game predictions
The coaches think Clemson matches up better with Alabama than Michigan State. The offenses and defenses aren't miles apart. Most give Alabama an edge in the kicking game, but not an overwhelming one.
But few coaches think the Tigers will pull off the upset.
Defensive assistant who faced Clemson: "F------ Alabama is just so dominant in their front seven. I just don't see Clemson being able to match up. The quarterback's dynamic. The running back's a great player. The wide receivers are average. I just think Alabama's just going to dominate them."
Offensive assistant who faced Alabama: "I just don't see anybody beating Alabama right now. I'm not one of those Clemson haters or ACC haters. They do a great job. They're the closest thing to the SEC in the ACC, besides Florida State. I wouldn't be shocked if Clemson beat them, like, 'Oh my god.' But I'd be surprised."
Offensive assistant who faced Clemson: "Alabama's proven, Nick Saban's proven. I think Alabama wins by 14-17 points."
Offensive assistant who faced Clemson: "If I was betting, I would say Alabama by a touchdown."
An SEC coach expects things to go differently. He expects Clemson to score against the Tide defense. He expects Clemson to hold up against Henry. He expects Clemson to push Alabama in the fourth quarter, when the Tide are often on cruise control.
"Alabama won't respond to a four-quarter game very well," he said. "The ones that they've lost, it's gotten to that fourth quarter where they're like, 'We may not do this.' I just don't think their quarterback's strong enough. I love them on defense, but I think Clemson's the perfect offense to give them fits."
The coach added that while Swinney doesn't apply the U-word to his team, Clemson players know where they stand nationally.
"They're being told they do not have a chance by everybody in the country," the coach said. "It's every big-game buildup where everybody's saying they can't do it. I think they win by 10 points."
If they do, the Tigers will be the least surprised group in America.