Sugar Bowl Betting Preview: No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 2 Clemson Tigers

After saying goodbye to the wretchedness that was 2020, enjoy the New Year by taking in the College Football Playoffs. In the evening game, it will be the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0) squaring off with the No. 2 Clemson Tigers (10-1) in the Sugar Bowl. This game will be played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 P.M. Eastern.
For Ohio State, they come into this one undefeated but played an abbreviated schedule due to complications with COVID-19. Still, they dominated the games they did play, including a 22-10 win over No. 14 Northwestern in the Big Ten championship. Head coach Ryan Day will look to get his Buckeyes into the national championship game with a win Friday.
The Tigers come in with one loss, but it comes with the caveat that they were missing their best player. Without star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, they fell to No. 4 Notre Dame, 47-40, in overtime. Clemson got its revenge with a 34-10 win over the Irish in the ACC Championship with Lawrence under center.
The Tigers are the favorites in this matchup. They are -320 to win while the Buckeyes’ moneyline sits at +245. The spread features Ohio State +7.5 while the over/under for total points is 66.5.
By The Numbers
Offensively, both teams have been elite this season. Clemson ranks third overall, averaging 44.5 points per game. The Buckeyes rank sixth, averaging 42.5 points.
Defensively, Clemson again holds the edge. They rank 18th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 19.3 points per game. The Buckeyes rank 28th overall, allowing an average of 21 points per game.
Buckeyes Look To Pull Upset In Semifinals
It is undeniable that Ohio State has a talented team, but there is an argument for their merits of being here. The Big Ten had to make an exception to let them into the conference championship because of their lack of games, and they hardly had an easy schedule with only two opponents finishing over .500.
Still, they are here and out to prove that they deserve it. To win, the Buckeyes need a great game on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they will be led under center by star quarterback Justin Fields. In six games, Fields threw for 1,521 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also rushed for 274 yards and another five scores.
On the ground, Ohio State has a two-headed monster in Trey Sermon and Master Teague III. Sermon rushed for 675 yards and three touchdowns this season, while Teague rushed for 449 yards and six scores.
Defensively, the Buckeyes lean on Pete Werner (37 tackles), Tommy Togiai (three sacks), and Shaun Wade (two interceptions).
Clemson Out To Prove It’s The Best In The Country
As good as the Buckeyes played this season, they haven’t seen anything like the offense they will see Friday. With arguably the best quarterback in college football under center, the Tigers are out to prove they are the best in the nation.
After last weekend’s NFL games, Lawrence is almost assured to be a Jacksonville Jaguar next year if he decides to go pro as they are guaranteed the top pick in next year’s draft. If he does go pro, he will be doing it on the heels of a fantastic season.
This year, he has thrown for 2,753 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just four interceptions in nine games (he did not play against Boston College or in the first Notre Dame matchup due to COVID-19). He also rushed for 211 yards and another seven scores.
Through the air, his best targets are Amari Rodgers (966 yards, seven touchdowns) and Cornell Powell (743 yards, five touchdowns). On the ground, it is Travis Etienne leading the way with 882 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.
Defensively, Clemson relies on Baylon Spector (61 tackles), Nolan Turner (three interceptions), and a pair of players with four sacks each (Trenton Simpson and Myles Murphy).
Clemson Wins And Covers
With no disrespect to Northwestern or Indiana, the Buckeyes have not seen a team like Clemson this season. I anticipate the Tigers coming out fast and furious, and Ohio State might not have enough to keep up.
For my money, I am taking Clemson not only to win but to cover the 7.5-point spread.
BETTING PICK: Clemson Tigers (-7.5).