College Football Playoff Predictions: Ohio State vs. Clemson 12/31/16

Ohio State vs. Clemson Playoff Pick

Is Clemson a smart bet to pull off a small upset versus Ohio State tonight at 7:00PM ET in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl?

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Tigers are now just 1.5-point underdogs versus the Buckeyes after the line had been Ohio State -3 virtually since the bowl odds were released three weeks ago. As for the total, the number hit the board at 61.5 but has been bet down to 58.5 at the majority of online and Vegas sports books.

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OHIO STATE KEY TRENDS: The buckeyes are 4-0 against the spread in their last four non-conference games and are 5-0 against the number in their last five neutral site contests. They’ve also covered in six of their last eight bowl games and are 15-7-1 against the number in their last 23 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous contest. That said, they’re just 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games overall.

CLEMSON KEY TRENDS: The Tigers are 5-0 against the spread in their last five bowl games, are 7-1 at the betting window in their last eight neutral site games, and are 5-1 against the number in their last six games played in December. They’re just 2-5 against the spread, however, in their last seven games overall and have failed to cover in five of their last six games when playing an opponent that owns a winning record.

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OUR PREDICTION: The last time Ohio State was in the college football playoff, Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes upset Alabama and Oregon to win the national title. But that OSU team was chockfull of NFL talent that was experienced and was peaking at the right time. This Buckeyes team is talented, but highly inexperienced and doesn’t have the same explosiveness on offense. Clemson, meanwhile, is the more experienced team and it might be finally ready to peak as it attempts to reach the title game for the second straight year. Ohio State’s defense is outstanding, but thanks to DeShaun Watson, Wayne Gallman and Mike Williams, Clemson can move the ball on any team in the nation (save for maybe Bama). I like the Tigers to win outright.

 

PLAYSTATION FIESTA BOWL PREDICTION: CLEMSON TIGERS ML