Tag: Clemson Tigers

Fox College Football Crew predicts Ohio State vs. Clemson in Fiesta Bowl

Former Ohio State head coach and his FOX College Football crew including each picked the winner of Clemson and OSU in the Fiesta Bowl.

We’re now less than a week away from the Fiesta Bowl that’ll showcase No. 2 Ohio State against No. 3 Clemson. And of course, as we get closer, you’re going to run into more and more predictions. We’re not immune to it, and in fact — we’ve already put together ours.

But guess what crew also did? How about the one that’s seen more than half of the Ohio State games this year — the FOX College Football crew. Brady Quinn wasn’t a part of it, but Matt Leinart, Joel Klatt, and of course Urban Meyer gave their thoughts individually on who wins the titanic clash in the desert.

You can probably guess who Meyer went with, but click on the below and see what the three individuals said, and ultimately decided to go with to move on to New Orleans.

Ohio State’s rush defense away from home could be a mild concern in the Fiesta Bowl

Ohio State has struggled to defend the rush on the road, and that could be an early red flag for their Fiesta Bowl matchup with Clemson.

Ohio State has not had the same success defending the rush away from home, and that could be a bit of an early red flag for their Fiesta Bowl matchup with Clemson.

The rush defense for the Buckeyes has been a tale of two stories in some ways. While at home, they’ve thrived; on the road, they’ve failed to match that same elite success found at Ohio Stadium.

The numbers speak for themselves. Ohio State gives up 73.4 rushing yards at home and 130.7 on the road. At-large, that makes them a top-five rush defense in the nation, but by taking the effort away from Columbus, it would make the Buckeyes an average No. 37 in the country.

Oddly enough, Ohio State’s home performances have seen names like Jonathan Taylor and have included top-tier teams like Penn State and Cincinnati.

On the road, it’s been a completely different story.

The second time facing Jonathan Taylor the Buckeyes allowed him to let loose with 148 yards, as the Badgers notched 200 as a team. They even gave up 150-plus rushing yards to Northwestern in a 52-3 blowout victory.

Traveling to Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl, the Buckeyes will have to face Travis Etienne and a potent and balanced Clemson offense. With an elite combination under center, on the edge and in the backfield, Ohio State must be ready for a lethal attack.

Etienne, the 5-foot-10 junior back, is experienced. He has eight 100-yard performances with two of them being for over 200 yards. He has over 1,500 yards on the season.

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He has the skill set, and although Clemson will try to do plenty of damage through the air, if the Tigers can use him to expose some chinks in the armor on the defense, it could hinder the undefeated Buckeyes from moving on to New Orleans.

Knowing what’s at stake, expect Ohio State’s front, led by Chase Young, to be ready on December 28. It has better be.

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College Football Futures: National Championship Best Bets

Previewing the College Football Playoff futures including National Championship best bets.

The College Football Playoff kicks off Dec. 28 with the semifinals. Top-ranked LSU Tigers (13-0) faces the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0) will battle the No. 3 Clemson Tigers (13-0) in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Below is my best bet and rationale for who will be crowned the national champion on Jan. 13.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. ET.

CLEMSON +200

It’s amazing how relatively under-the-radar defending champion Clemson has flown in 2019. A bonafide dynasty, the Tigers have played in four of the five College Football Playoffs, winning two titles in their three Championship Game appearances, including last year’s 28-point blistering of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence. (Photo Credit: Jamie Rhodes – USA TODAY Sports)

Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence received Burrow-esque hype following Clemson’s 2018 title run, but has been largely missing from the national conversation because of a shaky start to 2019 –  he threw eight interceptions in his first seven games. However, he finished strong with 20 passing touchdowns and NO interceptions and ended up with 41 total touchdowns. While LSU’s Joe Burrow is getting all the buzz heading into the CFP, make no mistake, Lawrence should be the No. 1 pick whenever he enters the NFL Draft, presumably in 2020.

Led by coach Dabo Swinney and defensive wizard Brett Venables, Clemson has the best coaching staff in the Playoff. No other coach in the CFP has a national championship appearance or title. The Tigers have been here before and the moment will not be too big for them. Despite all the defensive players drafted back in April, Clemson’s defense is still stout, allowing the least passing yards per game (138.5) in the country, and ranking ninth in rushing yards allowed (106.2 YPG).

Another random tidbit that I cannot explain but thought was worth mentioning: The No. 1 seed in the CFP has never won the national title. I don’t know if that’s because the top team is really feeling themselves during the extended break, grows complacent or the opening-round matchup against the No. 4 team isn’t difficult enough to get them ready for the title game. Whatever the case is, Clemson entering the CFP as the 3-seed only makes me feel better about my CLEMSON +200 ticket.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on Clemson to win the National Championship would profit $20 if the Tigers prevail.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Ohio State vs. Clemson 2019 Fiesta Bowl Preview: Get to know the Tigers’ five best players

What players on Clemson could make life difficult on Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl CFP Semifinal? Here are the Tigers’ five best players.

We’re less than two weeks away from the College Football Semifinal matchup in the Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Clemson. As a Buckeye fan, we know you’ve been up at night thinking about this matchup and what to be aware of. So, we’ll be bringing you things leading up to the game, and first up is a cliff notes version of the best five players on this Tigers’ squad.

It’s not Clemson is the great unknown opponent. You don’t win a couple of national titles over the last three years and go under the radar, but still, with the schedule and lack of coverage of the ACC Champion’s year, you may not be completely up to speed on who has been the biggest playmakers for Dabo Swinney’s club.

Here’s the Clemson Tigers five best players of 2019 so far, and ones that the Ohio State coaching staff will no doubt have to have an answer for.

Next … No. 5

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Ryan Day talks Clemson, Fiesta Bowl prep press conference

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with the media in Columbus to provide an update on preparations for the Fiesta Bowl. Watch and read here.

It’s not your normal game week around on the banks of the Olentangy. In fact, there’s not a game at all this weekend, but there is a big one coming up after all the Christmas shenanigans on the 28th. Because of that, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day took some time out to talk with the media and provide and update on the Fiesta Bowl prep.

There’s also a little thing known as the Early Signing Day coming up on Wednesday, so there’s plenty to discuss.

In case you missed any of the comments he made on Monday, we’ve got the entire presser and the transcript of it thanks to the Ohio State Buckeyes website and Twitter account below.

Click and listen to Day give an update on his team’s preparation for the Fiesta Bowl, the departure and potential replacement of Jeff Hafley, Joe Burrow, and much, much more.

Next … Full Ryan Day transcript of Fiesta Bowl prep press conference

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Winning the College Football Playoff is a shot at redemption for Ohio State

Ohio State has had recent high profile losses to the other three teams in the College Football Playoff field. Winning could be a redemption.

Ohio State is unique among its four colleagues in the College Football Playoff. That’s because the Buckeyes’ lost against all three teams the last time they matched up with each. Some are more recent than others, but all aren’t that long ago.

In case you needed a reminder, the last time Ohio State went out to the desert and played in the Fiesta Bowl, it suffered arguably the worst loss of Urban Meyer’s coaching career — a 31-0 shutout at the hands of Clemson in 2016 with all the country watching.

Start the narrative.

Of course Buckeye fans will also remember the infamous planting of the flag by Baker Mayfield in a 31-16 loss to Oklahoma the following season. It was at home and was the spring board for Mayfield’s run to the Heisman in 2017.

Last but not least, Ohio State lost to LSU in the BCS National Championship game in January of 2008 by an underwhelming score of 38-24. That obviously kept the Buckeyes from securing another national title, but it continued the narrative of SEC dominance as well.

So, aside from history at stake, you have to wonder if there is extra motivation with all the recent sour moments Ohio State has had against these teams. If the Buckeyes were to win their matchup in the desert, it could potentially set up a rematch in New Orleans against an LSU team that beat them last time stakes were that high in The Big Easy.

And in the event that it’s not LSU lying in wait in its home state, it’ll be a Sooners’ squad that got into the 2018 College Football Playoff over Ohio State, and likely ruined a shot at getting into all the fun in 2017 as well.

This is by no means a self-proclaimed “revenge tour” similar to the one carelessly dreamed up by The Team Up North, but you could say there will be extra motivation as the Buckeyes prepare to finish off a season to remember.

If they pull it off, it could be redemption on things gone wrong in the past.

The X Factor player for Ohio State Against Clemson is …

If Ohio State hopes to dethrone Clemson and get into the national championship game, it’ll need this player to come up big.

While it seems that everyone is picking Clemson to win the titanic struggle in the desert, maybe there is one specific player that can make all the difference in the world for Ohio State.

In the Big Ten Championship game, KJ Hill was crucial to the success of Ohio State with his ability to catch the underneath routes to balance the deep threat ability of Chris Olave. Everyone has raved about Olave since he emerged last year against That Team Up North, but KJ Hill is as reliable as it gets and is often overshadowed and underappreciated.

In the Wisconsin game, Hill had a game-high seven receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns. His performance in the second half is what allowed Ohio State to open up the deep passing game to Olave.

The tandem of Olave and Hill is crucial to the success of Ohio State, but without the underneath routes, the safeties can stay high and limit the deep threat. Hill is second on the team in touchdowns, but he often gets the tough and dirty underneath yardage that isn’t nearly as glorious.

In order to reach the pinnacle of where this Ohio State team hopes to end up in 2019, it’ll need to rely on the experience of Hill to keep the defense guessing in the passing game. The fact that Hill is Ohio State’s all-time leader in receptions says he’s up to the task.

Here’s where Ohio State can cause issues for Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl

The Ohio State football team has its work cut out for it against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. There’s one area that could be the difference.

While Vegas odds have Clemson as the favorite over a higher seeded and higher ranked Ohio State squad, it may just play to the advantage of the Buckeyes to play the underdog role in a game where virtually everyone is picking the Tigers.

It’s interesting how the narrative has changed from just one half of football even though everyone was on the OSU train during the regular season as the most complete and dominant team. Now, it must embrace the role of being slighted and find those advantages to pull one off against the defending national champions.

But here’s the deal. This will be a game in which the talent is equal. That means winning will come down to execution of advantages you have over other teams, and for Ohio State, the one thing that could cause issues for the  Clemson attack, is its ability to get to the quarterback.

It is clear that both teams have electric offenses and stout defenses, but with what we’ve seen, there’s a good chance we see some decent scoring in the desert night. So, a play here and a game changing play there could mean the difference between moving on to New Orleans vs. turning the page to the early signing period in recruiting.

If you’re looking for that one area that can change the game, it’s on the defensive line for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State is leading the country in sacks with an impressive 51 sacks in thirteen games. While everyone knows that Chase Young has racked up a plethora of awards and leads the country in sacks with a total of 16.5, you can bet Clemson will look to limit him by double and triple teaming him. That’s okay. His dominance should allow for the emergence of other players up front.

That’s where Zach Harrison, BB Landers, Davon Hamilton, Jashon Cornell and gang come in. If you look at the film in the games against The Team Up North and Wisconsin you could say that teams were able to limit Chase Young, but that didn’t stop others from getting in on the act.

While it is easy to forget about the rest of the defensive line with such a big name as Chase Young, it is certainly important to recognize the others who have been such a big factor in the trenches. It may seem like everyone else’s stats seem quite small compared to Chase Young, but let’s realize that they all feed off each other.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a difference-making talent at quarterback. In order to win this one, Ohio State has to disrupt the flow of the passing game. The Buckeyes are more equipped to do that than any other team in the College Football Playoff.

Buckeye Battle Cry: What makes this matchup with Clemson different?

It’s our latest Buckeye Battle Cry and we’re talking Fiesta Bowl against Clemson. What makes this game more winnable for Ohio State?

Ohio State has yet to crack the Clemson code. There’s only three meetings between the two programs, but the Buckeyes have yet to breakthrough, losing in 1978 in the infamous Woody punch game, in 2013 at the Orange Bowl, and then again in 2016 in the now infamous 31-0 turd that resulted in a lot of assistant coaching changes.

It’s a small sample size, but there’s many Ohio State fans a little apprehensive about the prospects of laying another egg against a program clearly at the top of the college football world right now. The Buckeyes are also close to the pinnacle, but Clemson has two national titles in three years, and are the reigning champs after administering a public flogging to big, bad Alabama in last year’s national title game.

So, we decided to ask ourselves what makes this year different. Can we talk Ohio State fans off the ledge just a bit by providing reason why the Buckeyes might have a better shot at slaying the Tigers on December 28.

We’ll let Mark kick it off first.

Next … Mark says …

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Ohio State favored over Clemson according to ESPN’s FPI Matchup Predictor

Ohio State may be the underdog according odds makers, but per ESPN’s FPI Matchup Predictor, it’s favored to beat Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl.

Well, not everyone believes Clemson will beat Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Just most everyone. Despite the avalanche of media analysts and websites predicting the Buckeyes’ inevitable defeat at the hands of the defending national champions, we found one metric that actually favors the Big Ten champions.

According to ESPN’s FPI matchup predictor, it’s not Clemson that has the best chance to win, but rather Ohio State. In fact, it gives the scarlet and gray a 54% chance at winning the Fiesta Bowl once all the confetti falls in the desert night on December 28.

So why does the FPI like Ohio State? Because once all the game metrics and play had time to roll into the big, bad machine that analyzes all the data, the Buckeyes broke records for some of the metrics used to determine just how good a team is. So, you’re seeing a carryover.

Of course, this is all just on paper, and we could go on and on about how flawed ESPN’s measurements are (it had Ohio State outside the top ten preseason), but it’s still a nod to how dominant this year’s OSU team has been.

Now it’s all about putting all those analytics to work when the rubber pellets meet the desert air.