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Fiesta Bowl: Everything you need to know for Ohio State-Clemson
Urban Meyer and the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to upset #2 Clemson tomorrow at the Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff. Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Fiesta Bowl: Everything you need to know for OSU-Clemson

Now where getting to where the bowls matter; the College Football Playoff. Clemson might be the No. 2 team in the country on their second title run in a row, but don't think Ohio State doesn't have the National Championship right in sight. What you need to know; strength, weaknesses and who has the extra edge tomorrow.

Fiesta Bowl
#3 Ohio State (11-1, Big Ten) vs #2 Clemson (12-1, ACC)
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
Time: 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Channel: ESPN

What are the two biggest advantages Ohio State have over Clemson?

Sam Greszes: First, ball security. Say what you want to about J.T. Barrett, but he only threw five picks so far this season. That's more than Deshaun Watson can say for himself. Secondly, defensive discipline. Ohio State hasn't been penalized very much this year on the defensive side of the ball, averaging three less per game than Clemson. If they can slow Watson without getting flagged, they should have no problem winning.

Daniel Tran: The Ohio State rushing offense has been one of the best in the country, gaining over 258 yards per game on the ground. Clemson has taken advantage of ACC opponents who haven’t rushed the ball well, and when it has faced opponents who have formidable running games it has given up big chunks of yards.

The Buckeyes’ passing defense is also a force to be reckoned with, forcing 19 interceptions this year. They will be tested against Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, but they may play a big part in stopping the vaunted Tiger offense.

Shiloh Carder: Urban Meyer is a champion multiple times over and there's little that will rattle him. Not to say Clemson's Dabo Swinney isn't a great coach but Meyer has done things on elite coaches have done. Another huge advantage is that Ohio State values the ball much more than Clemson does. When playing for a championship, turnovers are huge momentum changers.

What are the two biggest advantages Clemson have over Ohio State?

Sam Greszes: A dynamic passing offense. Clemson is averaging over 100 more passing yards per game than Ohio State is, mostly thanks to their second advantage, Deshaun Watson. Lamar Jackson stole some of his thunder, but Watson is probably the second-most dynamic playmaker in the NCAA – at any position. Ohio State is going to have its hands full with him."

Daniel Tran: Quarterback play has been a major key to Clemson’s success and Deshaun Watson has been the engine driving that train. He has thrown for nearly 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns this year.

The Tigers pass rush has also been exceptional this year, ranking third in the nation in sacks with 46 for the year. J.T. Barrett may be a dynamic threat, but if Clemson can put consistent pressure on him, they’ll have an easier time winning this game.

Shiloh Carder: Experience is one, since Clemson just played in last season's championship game. Sure, Ohio State won the title the year before that but most of that roster is gone. DeShaun Watson is a two-time Heisman finalist and has seen it all before.

Clemson's defensive speed is also a huge advantage. The front can cause a lot of problems for the Buckeyes and we have seen that this season.

Biggest weakness for Ohio State

Sam Greszes: J.T. Barrett generally not being a particularly exciting QB.

Daniel Tran: Ohio State’s rushing attack has been so good, it masks a lot of things on offense – mostly the Buckeyes’ lack of playmakers at the receiving position. Running back Curtis Samuel actually leads the Buckeyes in receptions and receiving yards while best wide receiver Noah Brown lagged far behind with 385 yards. If Ohio State somehow gets shutdown in the running game, they could find themselves on the losing end of this game with no one to depend on in the passing attack.

Shiloh Carder: The offensive line hasn't been the greatest and if Clemson can put some pressure on J.T. Barrett, it can put a huge wrench in Ohio State's offense.

Biggest weaknesses for Clemson

Sam Greszes: The tendency to turn the ball over occasionally.

Daniel Tran: While Clemson has found itself on the winning end 12 out of the 13 games it has played, it still has problems with ranked teams defensively. Clemson can score with anyone, but ask them to stop a team with a number attached its name and they can’t seem to do it for an entire game. In their three games against ranked opponents, they gave up an average of 35 points per game. Against a seemingly unstoppable rushing attack, Clemson could find themselves bowled over quickly.

Shiloh Carder: Focus. Sure, when a team gets all the way to the championship game and loses then it's hard to keep up the intensity the following season when the same expectations are placed on you. Clemson hasn't looked like a focused team until after they lost to Pitt late in the season. They turn the ball over and commit a lot of penalties.  hey need to limit those kinds of mistakes against a team like Ohio State.

Players to watch

Sam Greszes: Ohio State's Mike Weber. Barrett will need help getting the offense going, and if Weber can chew up some yardage early against a stout Clemson run defense, the playbook will open up.

Daniel Tran: Ohio State's Malik Hooker has drawn rave reviews this year after logging six interceptions and taking three back to the house for scores. Hooker has been compared to Ed Reed in his ability to ball hawk and with a juicy matchup against one of the best quarterbacks in the country, fans will get to see what he is really made of.

Shiloh Carder: Clemson's Dexter Lawrence was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and could spend a lot of time in Ohio State's backfield.

Picks to win

Sam Greszes: I think Ohio State wins comfortably, relying on a Kansas City Chiefs-style offense that kills Clemson via one million cuts. And by cuts I mean passes that go for about eight yards, rushes that go for around six, and offensive drives that last, like, 30 minutes.

Daniel Tran: With such a long layoff, offense takes a little while to get in rhythm. Clemson has a great offense, but it won’t take long for Ohio States’ defense to jump on them early and for the Buckeye rushing attack to keep the ball away from the Tigers. Expect Ohio State to take this game.

Shiloh Carder: There's a reason why the Fiesta is listed as the best bowl – it's filled with two talented teams and a field full of talented players. I think I'll be rooting for Clemson but my head says Ohio State. Clemson's penchant for turning the ball over just scares me.

Can you name every Ohio State Buckeyes player inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame?
SCORE:
0/10
TIME:
3:00
WR 1987-02
Cris Carter
Coach1955-74
Sid Gillman
OT/K 1946-67
Lou Groza
E 1946-56
Dante Lavelli
CB 1959-72
Dick LeBeau
T 1997-09
Orlando Pace
G/T 1957-67
Jim Parker
Founder NFL Films 1964-95
Ed Sabol
WR 1964-77
Paul Warfield
G 1946-53
Bill Willis

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