PREMIUM
Rogers' December BOWL GAME OF THE MONTH (CFB Playoff!)
(NCAAF) Ohio State vs. Clemson,
Point Spread: -3.00 | -110.00 Ohio State (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -3.00 | -110.00 Ohio State (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Most seem to feel Alabama is a 'lock' to advance past Washington into the championship game, leaving this semifinal matchup in the Fiesta Bowl between No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Ohio State as Dec. 31st's marquee game. Clemson won the ACC title and enters 12-1 while 11-1 Ohio State did not even play in the Big Ten championship game, as it lost a tie-breaker to Penn State in the Big Ten's East Division. Both teams have been selected for the four-team playoff for the second time in its three-year history. The Tigers reached the national championship game before suffering a 45-40 loss to Alabama last season, while the Buckeyes defeated the Crimson Tide and Oregon en route to the 2014 title.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes have an excellent running game (258.3 on 5.5 YPC ranks 9th) led by RB Weber (1,072 yards, 6.1 YPC & 9 TDs) and J.T. Barrett (847 yards, 4.4 YPC & 9TDs). Of course, Barrett is the starting QB and has thrown for 2,428 yards with 24 TDs and just 5 INTs. The offense averages 42.7 PPG (9th) and the defense is one of the nation's best, allowing 14.2 PG (3rd) on 286.0 YPG (4th). Ohio State does have road wins at Oklahoma and Wisconsin on its resume but the Buckeyes were a two-point conversion away from losing to an awful Michigan State team and were inches away from losing to Michigan in overtime in the team's regular season finale.
Clemson: Although not undefeated this year, Clemson is back in the playoff for a second consecutive year. QB Deshaun Watson's passing numbers are similar to last year (3,914 yards with 37 TDs and 15 INTs so far in 2016 over 13 games, compared to 4,104 yards with a 35-13 ratio in 15 games last season) but didn't run as much as he did last year. Watson has a more modest 529 yards (4.1 YPC and 6 TDs), after running for 1,105 yards last season on 5.3 YPC with 12 TDs. RB Gallman (1,002 yards on 5.1 YPC with 15 TDs) leads a rushing attack averaging 173,4 YPG (67th) on 4.5 YPC. That's nice balance and while Clemson has averaged almost 30 YPG more than Ohio St, it scores 40.2 PPG to Ohio St's 42.7 (not much of a difference). The defense is very good but not quite in Ohio St's class, allowing 18.4 PPG (17th) on 313.9 YPG (9th).
The pick: Clemson brings an impressive resume into this game, as its fifth-year seniors are 58-9 SU, including bowl wins over Ohio State, LSU and Oklahoma twice, before falling to Alabama in a highly-competitive championship game last year. It's true that four of Ohio State's last six games were way too tight (including the loss to Penn State) but going against Urban Meyer at this stage is a tough one. He led the Buckeyes to the 2014 title after 'sneaking' into a Final Four spot in the final CFP poll. Now this year, Ohio State becomes the first team to be selected for the College Football Playoff without winning its conference championship. Urban and his crew (players and coaches) just may also remember that 40-35 Orange Bowl loss to Clemson in the 2013 season, as well. Make Ohio State a "strong" 10* play.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes have an excellent running game (258.3 on 5.5 YPC ranks 9th) led by RB Weber (1,072 yards, 6.1 YPC & 9 TDs) and J.T. Barrett (847 yards, 4.4 YPC & 9TDs). Of course, Barrett is the starting QB and has thrown for 2,428 yards with 24 TDs and just 5 INTs. The offense averages 42.7 PPG (9th) and the defense is one of the nation's best, allowing 14.2 PG (3rd) on 286.0 YPG (4th). Ohio State does have road wins at Oklahoma and Wisconsin on its resume but the Buckeyes were a two-point conversion away from losing to an awful Michigan State team and were inches away from losing to Michigan in overtime in the team's regular season finale.
Clemson: Although not undefeated this year, Clemson is back in the playoff for a second consecutive year. QB Deshaun Watson's passing numbers are similar to last year (3,914 yards with 37 TDs and 15 INTs so far in 2016 over 13 games, compared to 4,104 yards with a 35-13 ratio in 15 games last season) but didn't run as much as he did last year. Watson has a more modest 529 yards (4.1 YPC and 6 TDs), after running for 1,105 yards last season on 5.3 YPC with 12 TDs. RB Gallman (1,002 yards on 5.1 YPC with 15 TDs) leads a rushing attack averaging 173,4 YPG (67th) on 4.5 YPC. That's nice balance and while Clemson has averaged almost 30 YPG more than Ohio St, it scores 40.2 PPG to Ohio St's 42.7 (not much of a difference). The defense is very good but not quite in Ohio St's class, allowing 18.4 PPG (17th) on 313.9 YPG (9th).
The pick: Clemson brings an impressive resume into this game, as its fifth-year seniors are 58-9 SU, including bowl wins over Ohio State, LSU and Oklahoma twice, before falling to Alabama in a highly-competitive championship game last year. It's true that four of Ohio State's last six games were way too tight (including the loss to Penn State) but going against Urban Meyer at this stage is a tough one. He led the Buckeyes to the 2014 title after 'sneaking' into a Final Four spot in the final CFP poll. Now this year, Ohio State becomes the first team to be selected for the College Football Playoff without winning its conference championship. Urban and his crew (players and coaches) just may also remember that 40-35 Orange Bowl loss to Clemson in the 2013 season, as well. Make Ohio State a "strong" 10* play.
