I think OSU just has a smaller hill to climb then Clemson. OSU attacks space as well as any team in College today. Yes, LSU is pretty good at it too, no coincident they are both likely meet in champ game. Yes, Clemson is a very good team, they will put points up in this game. The issue I see is with their Defense vs OSu offense. Clemson has a 6'4 245Lb Whip and a slightly smaller clone at Mike. The Whip is Chad Smith, a 5yr player who only started outside of special teams in his 5th year. While not unusual, except his body frame and hips are more suited as a DE. How he stayed at Lb under Venables is very strange. He was a LB all thru high school, and was listed at 6'4 back then.
OSU is a team that exploits space. You better have a special 2nd step, and very good hips to take on Fields and Dobbins in space. From what I've watched on film neither of Clemson's backers fit that formula. Now looking at Clemson's schedule I see no teams that have the skill players on offense to come close to Fields or Dobbins in space. Now I have great respect for Venables, he knows exactly what he will be facing I can assure you of that. How will he scheme with either safeties or corners, to cover the space that OSU will be attacking all night?
Changing out players at the end of the season, asking them to play positions they haven't all year is nearly impossible to pull off. So he has to stick with his starters at Whip and mike as far as I can see.
I see a lot of points getting scored in this game. Trevor Lawarence, if he wants to sit out next year, will need a great playoff this year. Clemson desperately wants him back next season. Seems like they have different agendas heading into the playoffs. Will be a very good game.
Clemson played no one last year and beat Bama like a rented Mule. It's a very different team this year especially on defense. They just are not as good in the front 7, and Bama's style of offense played right into Clemson's strength.
Any other thoughts are welcome.