NO. 2 OHIO STATE (13-0) VS. NO. 3 CLEMSON (13-0)
Line:
WHEN OHIO STATE HAS THE BALL:
Clemson by 2.
QB Justin Fields (40touchdown passes and one interception) was a Heisman finalist, but J.K. Dobbins might be the Buckeyes’ offensive MVP. “He is the catalyst,” Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said of Dobbins.
Dobbins is tough inside and out and ran for 1,829and 20TDs. He is also effective as a receiver with 17catches for 200yards and two scores. Dobbins will be attacking a Clemson defense that has been overhauled by coordinator Brent Venables this year. The Tigers don’t dominate with their front four as they did last year. The back end of the defense is where the stars are, especially versatile All-American Isaiah Simmons. He is listed as a linebacker but shows up all over the field.
“They’ve evolved to kind of a threesafety defense,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. “They blitz a lot of more. They pressure a lot more.” And they rely on cornerbacks A.J. Terrell and Derion Kendrick to win on the outside against receivers. The Buckeyes will be the first team this season that can really challenge Clemson with power up front behind All-America guard Wyatt Davis and third-team All-America guard Jonah Jackson. Venables is not afraid to commit extra defenders to stop the run. That’s where Fields’ running ability can come in. A sore knee kept the 6-3, 225-pound Fields (10touchdown runs) under wraps in the Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin.
“I think there’s still a little bit more in the arsenal,” Fickell said.
WHEN CLEMSON HAS THE BALL:
The Tigers are making their fifth straight playoff appearance and have won two national titles in the last three years. Still, this is the best Clemson offense the Tigers have had entering the playoff. The Tigers have gone from solid to elite along the line, led by second-team All-America guard John Simpson and sophomore left tackle Jackson Carman.
“If you ever try to lighten the box now you’re dealing with a great offensive line and Travis Etienne” (1.500yards rushing and 8.24per carry), Clawson said. That line, especially Carman, will be tested by college football’s best pass rusher. Heisman finalist Chase Young, above left, had 16.5 sacks in 11games. As teams began scheming to slow down Young, Ohio State moved him around the formation, particularly on third down. Extra attention on Young means defensive linemen Davon Hamilton and Jashon Cornell have to be handled one-on-one. The Buckeyes challenge will be to get enough pressure to fluster Trevor Lawrence, above right. “I don’t know that they have another dynamic rush guy,” Fickell said. “They’ve got some really, really good ones.” Lawrence led Clemson to a national title last year as a freshman. He has pinpoint accuracy and big targets in Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross, both 6-4. The Buckeyes are used to cornerbacks Jeff Okudah, an All-American, and Damon Arnette locking down outside receivers. That might be too much to expect against Clemson, which has confidence in Lawrence to work the middle of the field like few other college quarterbacks do.
CLEMSON
RALPH RUSSO’S PICK:
42-35.