Fansided

Predicting every 2016 college football bowl game

By Cody Williams

Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A general view of the logo and end zone marker prior to the the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A general view of the logo and end zone marker prior to the the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) takes in the touchdown run during the 2nd quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes lead 24-10 at half. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) takes in the touchdown run during the 2nd quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes lead 24-10 at half. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal): Ohio State vs. Clemson – Dec. 31, 7 p.m. ET

In the second College Football Playoff semifinal, we are treated to a much closer, far more intriguing clash between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Clemson Tigers. With just one loss apiece entering the Fiesta Bowl, both of these teams earned their spot in the playoff and present great challenges for their opponent.

Deshaun Watson and the Clemson offense present a challenge for any team they come up against. Watson, despite his draft stock slipping a bit throughout the season, finished with his strongest showings of the year at the end of the season and now looks poised to turn it on even further in the CFP. However, the best-kept secret of this Clemson offense is that it’s not all about Watson and Mike Williams in the passing game, but also Wayne Gallman on the ground. Gallman was tremendous in the postseason one year ago and you can bet that Dabo Swinney will look to control the clock by feeding him in this game.

With that said, Ohio State may be the best defense the Tigers have seen all year. From Nick Bosa and Raekwon McMillan in the front seven to the likes of Gareon Conley and Malik Hooker in the secondary, there are playmakers at every level for the Buckeyes defense. You also can’t discredit what J.T. Barrett has done this season, proving that he likely should’ve been the starter all along a year ago. With Curtis Samuel and Mike Weber anchoring him, they could be a nightmare for a Clemson defense that has been generous at times this season.

Frankly, this one is going to come down to which defense can get the most stops (obvious, I know), which gives the advantage to Ohio State. Their defense has the most top-end talent and has been more consistent than the Tigers’ all season. That’s the deciding factor, punching the Buckeyes’ ticket for a date with Alabama.

Prediction: Ohio State: 42, Clemson: 37

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