Glendale, AZ
Clemson rides into the desert on a 28 game win streak and defending it’s National Title as they run head on into a 13-0 Ohio State squad loaded with Heisman talent on both sides of the ball. The Tigers and Buckeyes will meet for the 4th time in history. Each of the three previous meetings have resulted in a Clemson win. With the last meeting in this same setting resulting ina 31-0 Clemson destruction of the Buckeyes.
The game which is being pointed to by national analyst as the “Game of the Year” pits two teams that had no issue in cruising through their seasons and managing to dominate teams all year. Both these teams feature stars at Quarterback, as the two Georgia natives Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields have been the talk of College football the entire season. You knew all season if Lawrence or Fields had a good day or made a simple mistake. Regardless of the hyperbole the two QB’s are the best two signal callers in the nation. And the nation will be watching with nervous anxiety as these two trade offensive drives all night long. It will make for a great night of college football.
Now let’s talk rushing games and wide outs and offensive Line versus defensive line.. these sub-plots of which there are so many in this game… will play out just as the quarterback situation.. with battles like Chase Young versus Jackson Carman. Or the JK Dobbins and Travis Etienne duel that is gonna be fun t watch. How does the Clemson defense keep dobbins in check and corrall the very dangerous Fields in the RPO (Run, Pass, Option) game? Can Ohio State keep travis Etienne from breaking off huge chunk runs ? Can the vaunted Ohio State secondary keep the Clemson “WRU” brand of Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross and Amari Rodgers and crew in check? Can the Clemson safeties stay disciplined and not get sucked into the play action of the Buckeyes and not let guys like Chris Olave to get behind them for big plays?
Watching these two Titans of College football meet face to face is what the entire country has been looking forward to all season. Now that the game is here and the Tigers and Buckeyes are done with the practices, interviews and press conferences… It’s time to lace up the cleats, strap on the helmet and put your finger in the dirt and prove who is the best team in the desert on 12/28/19. The chess match that will be the coaches making adjustments thought out this game is going to be one of the biggest storylines to keep up with all evening. I point to the matchup between Clemson’s Brent Venables and the Buckeyes offensive staff and QB Justin Fields who will see some looks from this Tigers defense unlike anything he has ever seen in his college career.
As we watch this one play out, I see the Tigers able to stop the Buckeyes run game and at the same time corral Fields and keep him from being able to get outside the pocket and create a big play downfield. While at the same time I think Clemson is able to affect the Buckeyes secondary and strike deep early and start to also attack the middle of the field today. Ross and Higgins will just as in last years playoff run, make their presence known in a big big way. Clemson plays Clemson football and adjust to the counter punches that will come from the Buckeyes (and there will be a few big plays and scores ) but the Tigers with all the experience and being a team that was built for games like this will pull away late and take the Buckeyes down.
PREDICTION:
CLEMSON 34 OHIO STATE 24
