Clemson has all the pieces to be one of the best teams in the nation, but inconsistency almost doomed the Tigers on several occasions. This inconsistency has also made Clemson an iffy bet, as the team has gone just 1-5 ATS in its past six games against teams with winning records. Will this trend continue when Clemson takes on Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl with a spot in the national championship on the line?
- Ohio State is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games.
- Urban Meyer-led teams are 10-2 SU in bowl games.
- The total has gone OVER in Clemson's last 4 games.
There have been multiple examples of Clemson building a big lead and then coasting to the finish, with the AAC championship game being the most recent. In that game against Virginia Tech, Clemson was up 35-17 in the third quarter only to allow the Hokies to score two quick touchdowns and almost win the game in the final minutes. The Tigers can’t expect to win in the playoffs if they continue to give half efforts.
Clemson is great on both sides of the ball and has the ability to win if struggling in one aspect, but there is no doubt that Deshaun Watson is the key player. Though many people are down on Watson this season compared with his performance last year, his numbers are similar when it comes to the passing game. The only place the junior has seen some downturn has been in his rushing, as he has stayed in the pocket more this season and there have been fewer designed runs for him.
J.T. Barrett gets the headlines for the Ohio State offense with the quarterback accounting for over 3500 yards and 33 touchdowns between his arm and his legs. The quarterback has command of the offense and has proven that he has that “clutch gene.” The offensive player flying under the radar for the Buckeyes is Curtis Samuel. The jack of all trades leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns while also tallying 7.7 yards per carry on 91 rushes this season.
Ohio State’s offense ranks fourth in the nation in yards allowed and third in points allowed. The likes of Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker solidify a great front seven, but it’s the secondary that is truly the strength. The Buckeyes are allowing an average of 164.5 passing yards per game and have only allowed 10 passing touchdowns while nabbing 19 interceptions.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
On the betting Sportsbook line for this matchup, the Clemson Tigers sat as 3-point underdog, according to Sportsbook. The total had not been posted early in the week, so check the lines pages for the latest.
Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game pointed to a potential 37-36 result in favor of the Buckeyes early in the week. That outcome may change during the week, if injuries alter the models, so check the college football picks page before game time. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NCAAF matchups here.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Clemson Tigers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Clemson Tigers sport a record of 12-1 and 6-7 ATS heading into this betting matchup, while the Ohio State Buckeyes sit at 11-1 and 6-6 ATS on the season. The over under totals records are 7-6 for the Tigers and 6-5-1 for the Buckeyes. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Clemson vs Ohio State injuries news.
The power rankings show a disparity between these teams, with the Clemson Tigers rated this week at No. 4 and the Ohio State Buckeyes sitting at No. 2.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Clemson's No. 15-ranked offense, averaging 40.15 PPG, against a Ohio State defense that ranks No. 3 this week at 14.17 PPG. The Clemson aerial game is averaging 332.31 yards per game, more than the Ohio State Buckeyes secondary allows through the air, 164.5 YPG per game.
In comparing defenses, the Ohio State Buckeyes own the league's No. 42-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 157.2 yards per game when on the road. Clemson, on the other hand, rates No. 90 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Last time we saw the Wolverines, they had no answer for J.T. Barrett as the Buckeyes rolled to a 30-27 victory at Ohio Stadium.
The Tigers grabbed a Week 14 victory over the Hokies in their last game, winning 42-35 at Camping World Stadium.
- Ohio State is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
- Ohio State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- Clemson is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
- Clemson is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Clemson's last 6 games
