College Football Playoff Picks: National media taking Ohio State over Tennessee
Tennessee is a 7.5-point underdog at Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff next week, but the Vols are even bigger underdogs in most of the expert playoff picks this week.
Picks from ESPN, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, Athlon and The Athletic mostly all have the Buckeyes advancing to face No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) goes to No. 8 Ohio State (10-2) next Saturday in an 8 p.m. Eastern Time start on ESPN and ABC at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
“This is the premier pairing of the opening round,” USA Today’s Paul Myerberg wrote while picking Ohio State, “and a nice barometer of how playoff games could unfold between the best of the best in the Big Ten and SEC.
“Given two evenly matched teams with similar traits, two factors will make the difference in Ohio State’s favor: homefield advantage and a more credible offense.”
Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava ‘could easily shift this game in the opposite direction’
Myerberg isn’t completely sold on Ohio State, though.
“Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard has more experience and better skill options,” Myerberg wrote. “But another big game from Volunteers signal caller Nico Iamaleava could easily shift this game in the opposite direction.”
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg picked Ohio State in a close game, beating Tennessee 26-19.
“(Ryan) 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.”
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‘How does a SEC school fare in Big Ten country in December? We can’t wait to find out’
Sports Illustrated’s picks were split. Pat Forde took Tennessee to pull the upset and advance to the Rose Bowl. Bryan Fischer went with Ohio State.
Athlon Sports also had split picks. Kyle Wood went with Tennessee while Steven Lassen picked Ohio State.
The Athletic used picks from nine writers, with seven taking Ohio State and two taking the Vols, with Scott Dochterman and Chris Kamrani picking Tennessee.
The Sporting News took Ohio State, calling the matchup “the best game of the first round.”
“How does Ohio State – which leads the FBS in scoring defense that allows 10.7 points per game – bounce back after the loss to Michigan?” Bill Bender wrote. “The Vols have a power-rushing attack led by Dylan Sampson, and Tennessee is good on defense, too.
“There is a lot of pressure on Ryan Day here. How does a SEC school fare in Big Ten country in December? We can’t wait to find out.”
