College Football Playoff 2016: 5 keys to victory for Clemson in Fiesta Bowl

1. Deshaun Watson has to be careful with the ball

Deshaun Watson may be the top player on Clemson, but he is also the most important player due to his flaw: forcing passes into double and triple coverage. This led to 15 interceptions over 12 games, something that Ohio State is probably well aware of heading into the Fiesta Bowl.

It’s not often that the best player can also be a team’s potential flaw. When he’s great, the Tigers usually crush their opponents. When he’s not, the team either loses or barely squeaks out a win. In the four games that Watson threw multiple interceptions, Clemson either won by six points or less or lost. Is that enough to say that his performance dictates the final score? Possibly, as teams usually live or die by the quarterback position. He’s not the only key, though, with the defensive line needing to pressure Ohio State and shutting down the running game, among other factors.

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If Watson turns the ball over once or twice, though, the Ohio State offense will capitalize. They have a running game that can overwhelm an opponent within minutes, especially if they get the ball with great field position. If so, this could mean a lot of points being scored early on by the Buckeyes. So, can the Heisman Trophy runner-up keep the ball away from the defense?