Ohio State vs. Clemson 2017: Early Prediction, Spread, Preview For College Football Playoff Semifinal

Widely perceived as the tightest matchup of this year’s College Football Playoff semifinals, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes are slightly favored over the reigning national runner-up No. 2 Clemson Tigers ahead of their Fiesta Bowl showdown on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

With each side making their second appearance in the three-year-old tournament, the Buckeyes are three-point favorites over the Tigers, who fell 45-40 to current titleholder Alabama in last year’s national championship game. It’s a far closer point spread than No. 1 Alabama’s 16-point advantage over No. 4 Washington.

The Buckeyes, led by head coach Urban Meyer, enter the matchup after taking their last five games, including a controversial 30-27 double-overtime victory over archrival Michigan, but couldn’t manage to wrangle the Big Ten crown from Penn State. Ohio State’s the only team in this year’s tournament not to claim their conference’s championship.

But with one of the country’s most explosive offenses, Ohio State can’t be labeled “the last team in.” The Buckeyes rocked opponents for 42.7 points per game – ninth-best in the country – and 479 total offensive yards, most of which came from their 258.3 rushing yards a contest thanks to freshman rusher Mike Weber and junior quarterback J.T. Barrett. Junior running back Curtis Samuel also played a critical role by averaging 7.7 yards per carry and scoring eight touchdowns.

Barrett complemented his 24 passing touchdowns, including a team-best seven receptions from Samuel and sophomore receiver Noah Brown, by gaining 847 rushing yards with nine more scores. Weber blew past the century mark in four games and finished with 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns.

Ohio State and Meyer’s ground game could have a decided advantage against the Tigers, who are No. 22 in the country in rushing defense.

But as good as the offense is, the Buckeyes defense was even stronger and was third in the nation behind Michigan and Alabama with 14.2 points allowed per game. Sophomore safety Malik Hooker led the team with six interceptions and sophomore corners Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward each broke up nine passes, allowing junior Tyquan Lewis some extra time to record a team-best 7.5 sacks.

Clearly, the Buckeyes have the personnel to hang with Clemson quarterback and Heisman Trophy runner-up Deshaun Watson and Clemson’s No. 15 ranked offense. The Tigers averaged 40.2 points per game while toppling three ranked opponents, and proving most of their stars right for coming back for another year after narrowly losing to Alabama for the title.

The junior Watson was among the country’s top performers with 3,914 passing yards and 37 touchdowns to 15 interceptions while gaining another 529 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Running back Wayne Gallman was even stronger on the ground, snapping up 1,002 yards and 5.1 yards per carry and 15 touchdowns. And Watson’s favorite target was junior Mike Williams, who blew past opponents for 1,171 yards and 10 touchdowns off 84 receptions.

Defensively, Clemson can rightfully be compared to the Buckeyes dominant units. Together they were No. 12 in the nation with 18.4 points allowed per game and finished tied for seventh with 18 interceptions forced, with five coming from senior safety Jadar Johnson and three from senior corner Cordrea Tankersley.

Betting Odds: Ohio State -3 via Bovada.lv

Prediction: Clemson over Ohio State, 27-24