ESPN makes pick for Ohio State-Tennessee in first round of College Football Playoff
ESPN is putting the pressure on Ohio State. Specifically, the pressure is on Buckeye head coach Ryan Day to rebound from another humiliating loss to Michigan with a run in the expanded College Football Playoff bracket.
“Most coaches in the CFP can feel fairly secure about their employment status,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg wrote this week. “Ohio State’s Ryan Day is in a unique and difficult spot after the team’s stunning home loss to 6-5 Michigan, his fourth consecutive setback in college football’s most pressurized rivalry.”
Now Ohio State (10-2), the No. 8 seed in the new 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, has to bounce back against No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) in the first round on Saturday, December 21 (8 p.m. Eastern Time, ABC/ESPN) at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Ohio State opened as 7.5-point favorite vs. Tennessee
The Buckeyes opened as a 7.5-point favorite against the Vols to start the week, after losing 13-10 to Michigan on November 30 as a three-touchdown home favorite.
“Day is 66-10 overall at Ohio State,” Rittenberg wrote, “but his struggles against Michigan and in the CFP are pronounced. Two years ago, Ohio State responded from a home loss to Michigan and played one of its best games under Day before falling to eventual national champion Georgia.
“The Buckeyes will need a similar rebound, especially on offense, against a very talented Tennessee defense led by Jermod McCoy, Joshua Josephs, James Pearce Jr. and others.”
Still, Rittenberg predicted Ohio State to withstand the pressure and beat Tennessee 26-19, advancing to the Rose Bowl to face No. 1 Oregon on New Year’s Day.
“Will Ohio State’s superteam tap out in the first round of the CFP? I don’t see it,” Rittenberg wrote. “Tennessee hasn’t been great away from Knoxville this season, and Ohio Stadium will be a difficult setting for Nico Iamaleava and the Vols offense.
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“Ohio State’s defense has performed well since the Oregon loss, and will rise up again, as Caleb Downs collects a takeaway. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly won’t forget about Jeremiah Smith again as the Buckeyes win a close one.”
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, Saturday, December 21, 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
ESPN predicted Notre Dame, Texas and Penn State to also win in the first round, then Notre Dame to beat Penn State in the first semifinal and Oregon to beat Texas in the second semifinal, with the Ducks beating the Longhorns for the national championship.
Day himself sounded confident during his press conference on Sunday addressing the playoff matchup and how Ohio State has to move on from the Michigan loss.
“Getting this first win will be critical in building momentum as you head into the teeth of the playoffs,” Day said. “And when you look at tournament play, you look at playoffs, we all know that that first game is very, very important.
“So it’s not a bowl prep. It’s very different. It’s a quick turnaround. And all of our focus is on these guys.”
