Who has the edge in the Clemson-LSU national championship game?

LSU can make a case for ranking among the best teams in SEC history. Clemson can cement its place among the great dynasties to ever grace the Bowl Subdivision.

Breaking down which team has the edge in the areas that will decide Monday night's national championship game in New Orleans:

PASSING OFFENSE

There has never been a better matchup of starting quarterbacks in postseason history, given the stakes at play when the unbeaten Tigers meet the unbeaten Tigers. LSU has the Heisman Trophy winner in senior Joe Burrow, who has thrown for 55 touchdowns and averaged 10.9 yards per attempt. His counterpart, Clemson sophomore Trevor Lawrence, fought through some early-season ineffectiveness to enter the championship game with 36 touchdowns on 9.3 yards per attempt. Think about this: Burrow may first overall in the 2020 draft and Lawrence may do the same in 2021.

Both offenses have superb casts at receiver. LSU's core group of Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson (102 receptions for 1,434 yards) and Terrace Marshall Jr. might be the only unit better than Clemson's top three, headlined by junior Tee Higgins. And both teams have running backs who can threaten defenses in the passing game, with LSU junior Clyde Edwards-Helaire one of Burrow's favorite targets. It's hard to pick against Lawrence, who might be the best quarterback to come through the college game in a generation. But LSU is loaded. EDGE: LSU

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RUNNING GAME

There may no more productive per-play back in the country than Clemson's Travis Etienne (1,536 yards and 18 touchdowns), who averages more yards after contact than most runners average per carry, period. His ability to fight through tackles and keep the Tigers' offense in position to convert on third down makes stopping Etienne one of LSU's biggest keys to success on defense. Edwards-Helaire (1,304 yards) helps keep opponents from dedicating every resource to stopping Burrow and the passing game. As good as he is, Etienne has spent the past two seasons on a different level. EDGE: Clemson

DEFENSE

LSU's defense has struggled only when held against the program's recent standard. After struggling early November, the Tigers have been dynamite on defense across the past four games, capped by a suffocating performance against Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl. That late-season surge bodes well for LSU against a Clemson offense that hasn't earned the same level of acclaim as LSU's prolific attack but ranks in the top five nationally in several key categories. But the Clemson defense leads the FBS in scoring and ranks in yards allowed per game and per play. Longtime defensive coordinator Brent Venables is known for dreaming up inventive schemes and formations to handle even the most intimidating offense. EDGE: Clemson

SPECIAL TEAMS

LSU might have more overall production in the return game but Clemson has been far better in controlling field position on kickoff returns — Clemson ranks 13th nationally in opposing kickoff returns and LSU ranks 91st. (Neither team has punted much, so it's hard to extrapolate too much from what we've seen in coverage.) Where LSU has an edge is in the kicking game, where Cade York has made 21 of his 26 attempts to earn freshman All-America honors. EDGE: LSU

PREDICTION

LSU has been an unstoppable force. Clemson has had one close call, against North Carolina, followed by a series of blowouts. It's easy to make an argument for each team: LSU for its offense and quarterback, Clemson for its defense and quarterback. With two such evenly matched teams, experience may end up playing a key role. In that area, at least, Clemson has a decided advantage. It's been more than two years since Clemson lost. Down 16-0 to Ohio State in the national semifinals, the Tigers rose to the occasion to stand at the doorstep of history. In the end, look for Clemson to maintain its winning streak and take home another championship. Clemson 34, LSU 30