Fiesta Bowl 2016: Full Preview and Predictions for Clemson vs. Ohio State

After countless hours of debate and speculation, the College Football Playoff is finally set as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds will battle on New Year's Eve in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl.

Clemson and Ohio State switched spots in the finial rankings, but that really only affected the uniforms each team will wear since this game will take place on a neutral field. What remains the same is the electric matchup this provides between two of the most talented teams in the nation.

Let us take a look at the schedule for this epic national semifinal, as well as a full breakdown and preview of the matchup. The latest spread is courtesy of OddsShark.com.

Date	Location	Matchup	Time (ET)	Network	Spread
Dec. 31, 2016	University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona	Clemson vs. Ohio State	7 p.m.	ESPN	OSU -3

Game Preview

With Ohio State sitting idle last week, Clemson was able to jump the Buckeyes with a win over Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game. Although the Hokies made a late push, the Tigers led the entire night to win 42-35 and clinch their second straight conference crown.

The play of star quarterback Deshaun Watson is a major reason why Clemson is now No. 2 in the rankings. He shredded Virginia Tech for 288 yards and three passing touchdowns to go with 85 yards and two scores rushing.

Watson has made a run at the Heisman Trophy down the stretch of this season, as his ACC title game outing comes on the heels of a stellar November, per Clemson athletics' Tim Bourret:

Granted, Pittsburgh was the only quality opponent Clemson faced in that stretch, and the Panthers handed the Tigers their only loss in a 43-42 home contest. The other foes included South Carolina, Syracuse and Wake Forest, but Watson's November numbers are still noteworthy considering the inconsistency he showed in the season's first two months.

Ohio State's quarterback has also battled some problems with consistent play. J.T. Barrett has 2,428 yards and 24 touchdowns passing this season along with 847 yards and nine rushing scores, but he has not thrown the ball well against many of the Buckeyes' top opponents.

He went for 152 yards and four touchdowns on the road against Oklahoma, but Barrett's had some tough outings in conference play. Here are his notable performances, which highlight his up-and-down play:

Opponent	Completions	Attempts	Passing Yards	Passing Touchdowns	Interceptions	Rushing Yards	Rushing Touchdowns
Indiana	9	21	93	1	1	137	1
Wisconsin	17	29	226	1	1	92	2
Penn State	28	43	245	1	0	26	0
Nebraska	26	38	290	4	0	39	0
Michigan State	10	22	86	1	0	105	0
Michigan	15	32	124	0	1	125	1

The game that stands out is Penn State, since this was Ohio State's lone defeat. Barrett was not terrible throwing the ball in Happy Valley, but the Nittany Lions took away Barrett's running ability, which negatively affected Ohio State's offense. Clemson will undoubtedly try to replicate this on New Year's Eve.

Both offenses have quality weapons surrounding their quarterbacks, but Clemson has the edge in this regard. Watson has a potential All-American in receiver Mike Williams, who has 84 catches for 1,171 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year. The Tigers also have a loaded receiving group with Deon Cain, tight end Jordan Leggett and Artavis Scott to go with star running back Wayne Gallman.

Clemson ranks 15th nationally with 40.2 points scored per game as an offense.

As for Ohio State, it leans heavily on Curtis Samuel, who leads the team with 822 yards and seven touchdowns receiving to go with 704 yards and eight scores rushing. Outside of running back Mike Weber—1,072 yards rushing and nine touchdowns—no other player has consistently performed for this offense.

Yet, the Buckeyes score more points a night than Clemson, averaging 42.7 per game.

With both defenses among the best in college football—Ohio State allows 14.2 points per game; Clemson yields 18.4—two key areas to watch for are turnovers and red-zone offense.

Despite all of its talent, Clemson turned the ball over 24 times this season, which is tied for the 109th-worst mark in the country. Watson's 15 interceptions are a direct culprit, as the junior has been careless with the ball for much of this season.

Ohio State takes better care of the ball, ranking third nationally with a plus-16 turnover margin. By contrast, Clemson is tied for 67th with an even mark. 

In the red zone, Clemson is converting with points on 83.8 percent of its drives, good for 68th in the country. Watson's turnover issues have been a problem in this area, since he threw five picks inside the opposing 20-yard line this season. 

Ohio State is a solid 38th nationally in red-zone offense at 87.1 percent. The Buckeyes are also excellent in this situation defensively, ranking fifth in the country, while Clemson comes in tied for 27th.

This is important to note because while both offenses are sure to move the ball at an effective rate, it is the team that can finish drives with touchdowns instead of field goals that will win the Fiesta Bowl.

Clemson may have more experience having been in the playoff last season as opposed to an Ohio State team with a plethora of new starters, but the numbers suggest the Buckeyes should be favored to advance. The Tigers have not proved that they can get out of their own way this season, and while this may have allowed them to squeak by during the regular season, it may come back to bite them against the Buckeyes.

Prediction: Ohio State 34, Clemson 30

Statistics are courtesy of NCAA.com unless otherwise noted.