OK. It’s almost game time and Ohio State is right where it wanted to be when it had that bitter, bitter taste in its mouth walking out of the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale last season. The Buckeyes are right back in the College Football Playoff and facing the team that took them out of a chance for a national title, Clemson.
If this one is anything like the game last year, we’re all in for a treat. However, not many are giving OSU a chance in this one despite a lot of the talent from last year still being in place.
We think otherwise and think this is going to be one whale of a game with plenty of highlights and bright spots to remember. Will Ohio State pull it off? Well, we’re not sure about that but did provide some predictions ahead of game time.
And on that note, we’re also going bold and giving you five bold predictions you might see coming to you on a streaming device or television set near you.
So, here we go …
NEXT … Ohio State will hold Clemson RB Travis Etienne to under 80 yards on the ground
Ohio State will bottle up Travis Etienne on the ground
The Buckeyes have been very stingy against the run this year, giving up less than 100 yards total per game. OSU has a scheme that plays downhill in support against the run, and the front seven is very violent and gap sound.
Ohio State kept the wraps on Etienne on the ground last year, and look for that to be the case again in this one. The Buckeyes will have to do a better job finding the All-American back in the passing game, but he won’t get loose too often with handoffs.
NEXT … Justin Fields will have over 300 yards passing
Justin Fields will light it up through the air
The last time we saw Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, he was struggling a bit against a Northwestern defense that forced him to check down and be patient. It didn’t go well and you would think that Clemson has taken notice. The problem there is that the Tigers aren’t built for that type of defense.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables is going to be aggressive and challenge the OSU receivers. There will also be multiple looks and a ton of pressure packages built on getting to the OSU quarterback. There will be some sacks and misfires because of it, but it’s a risk/reward that Fields will take advantage of with 1:1 matchups and open receivers that get separation.
He’ll be much better in this one and sling it around for over 300 yards.
NEXT … Trey Sermon will go for over 150 total yards
Trey Sermon will have a big game again
Ohio State found something against Northwestern, and we still don’t know if Master Teague has cleared concussion protocol. Either way, Sermon showed he’s a difference-maker against a good defense, and OSU will need to be balanced in this one against an athletic Clemson squad.
Look for Sermon to have some running lanes on the ground, and to be present in the passing game out of the backfield. With the aggressive tendencies we’re likely to see from the Tigers, hitting the running back out in the flat is going to be there. Sermon is ready to continue his climb with confidence in this one.
NEXT … Trey Sermon will go for over 150 total yards
Trevor Lawrence will be picked off twice
There’s no doubt Lawrence is one of the most electric players in college football. He stands poised in the pocket, has a big, accurate arm, and can get free with his legs if he has to.
However, this is the best front seven Clemson will have played this season (Notre Dame included). The Buckeyes are going to get home on more than one occasion and speed up the clock in Lawrence’s head. He’ll rush a few throws or get hit making some passes. As a result, some throws will find the breadbasket of the wrong team in Ohio State’s favor.
NEXT … Justin Fields will have over ten designed runs
Justin Fields will get things going on the ground
The days of Justin Fields sitting back in the pocket and trying to force too much against a quality defense will change the coaches’ gameplan in this one. We’ve seen the Ohio State quarterback hold the ball too long at times when he could have taken off in open running lanes.
Because of that, and because the Clemson defense somewhat dictates the need for an added dimension in the running game, look for Fields to get more designed running calls in this game. It’s one area of his game that isn’t taken advantage of as much as others, and we’re calling for at least ten designed runs that are a part of things in this one.
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