On3's Andy Staples, Ari Wasserman pick Tennessee-Ohio State winner College Football Playoff
On3’s Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman were in agreement throughout the first round of the College Football Playoff. They both like Notre Dame, Penn State and Texas to advance to the quarterfinals
Then the spotlight turned to the final game Saturday night, when No. 9 Tennessee goes to No. 8 Ohio State.
Wasserman picked the Buckeyes. Staples went with the upset, taking the Vols.
“I’m not as worried about vibes as I am strategy,” Staples wrote. “Ohio State tried to beat Michigan at Michigan’s game, and that’s how you wind up targeting Jeremiah Smith just twice. That’s coaching malpractice, and if Ohio State lets Tennessee dictate the tempo and tone of the game, the Buckeyes will lose.”
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Tennessee (10-2) and Ohio State (10-2) are scheduled for an 8 p.m. Eastern Time start Saturday night at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on ESPN and ABC. It’s the final game of the four-game playoff weekend.
No. 7 Notre Dame hosts No. 10 Indiana Friday night, No. 11 SMU plays at Penn State at Noon ET on Saturday and No. 12 Clemson faces No. 5 Texas at 4 p.m. ET.
For the nightcap at Ohio State, Wasserman focused on the vibes surrounding the Buckeye program after a 13-10 upset loss to rival Michigan in the regular-season finale on November 30.
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“We all know Ohio State has enough talent to win a national title, but will the Buckeyes be successful in moving past the embarrassing loss to the Wolverines?” Wasserman wrote. “Tennessee is much better than Michigan and I expect the Volunteers to give Ohio State all it can handle. The Buckeyes edge it out.”
‘The Alabama game is the template Tennessee seeks’
Wasserman picked Tennessee to cover a 7.5-point spread in the loss, while Staples took the Vols outright.
“Ohio State’s best shot is to make the most of its dynamic athletes on the perimeter on offense and try to harass Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava into mistakes on defense,” Staples wrote. “Tennessee, meanwhile, needs to take advantage the depth on its defensive line. If the Vols are fresh up front, it will be more difficult for Ohio State to get Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson into a rhythm. It also should allow Tennessee to get pressure on Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard.
“Tennessee’s best chance to win is to keep pounding with Dylan Sampson and hope Iamaleava and the receivers connect on a few deep shots. The Alabama game is the template Tennessee seeks.”
