The 2019 Fiesta Bowl (January) was a college football bowl game that was played on January 1, 2019. It was the 48th edition of the Fiesta Bowl, and was one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. This year the Fiesta Bowl will play host to one of the two CFP Semi-Final games!

Teams:  Ohio State (B-10) 13-0 / Clemson (ACC) 13-0

Bowl Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ 

Day, Date & Time: Saturday, December, 28, 2019, 7:00 CST

Network: ESPN

Best Win(s): OSU: beat Wisconsin (2) 38-7 & 34-21, Clemson: beat Texas A&M (7-5) 24-10!

Worst Loss(es): OSU: Undefeated; Clemson: Undefeated! 

Common Opponents: None

Vegas Hot$heets Favorite: Clemson -2.5 (Current Line)

Sully’s CFP Game Simulator is a statistical analysis / predictor of how these teams will preform, based solely on their numbers, when they face off on the gridiron! Keep in mind, these stats were established against different teams and conferences and these differences must be taken into account to get a complete picture when attempting to predetermine a winner. If you are interested in how the Simulator works … read this part … if not … skip it! The process used is, say Notre Dame is playing Wisconsin … we take ND’s total yards on offense, add it to the number the Badgers give up on defense, we get a total and then divide the total by 2 to get an average. We then invert the process, we now take Wisconsin’s total offense, add it to what the Irish give up on defense, get a 2nd total, and then divide that number by 2, to get the second average! The greater number (with the exception of Turnovers, lower # wins) is then determined to have the advantage ( please note …. statistical advantage). We repeat this process in each of the eight statistical categories assessed: 1) Total Yards, 2) Rushing, 3) Passing, 4) Scoring, 5) 3rd Down (Conversions /Stops), 6) Turnovers, 7) Red Zone Scores (TD’s & FG), & 8) Red Zone TD’s (only TD’s)!  That said… here are the results of the Head to Head Analysis:

These teams have lined up against one another on 3 occasions! The 1st meeting was in 1978, the Tigers  won 17-15. The 2nd meeting was in the 2014 Orange Bowl, another Tiger win, 40-35. The final meeting was in the 2016 CFP Semi-Final in Glendale, AZ; Clemson pounded OSU, 31-0!

Turnover Margin: Clemson: 28 Take-A-ways to 14 Give-A-ways = +14 / OSU 25 Take-A-ways to 14 Give-A-ways = +11! Advantage Clemson

3rd Down Conversions: OSU: 94 conversions on 165 attempts (57.0% / Ranked 1st in the Country) Clemson: 74/156 (47.4% / Ranked 14th Nationally) Significant   Advantage OSU

3rd Down Stops: OSU: 55 stops on 192 attempts (73.4% of the time OSU gets off the Field on 3rd Down / Ranked 4th Nationally) Clemson: 60/198 (69.7% of the time Clemson gets off the Field / Ranked 11th Nationally) Slight Advantage: OSU!

Total Offense: Clemson: 547.7 YPG; Ranked 3rd in the Country / OSU 531.0 YPG; Ranked 5th in the Country. Advantage: Clemson

Total Defense: Clemson: is giving up 244.7 YPG (Ranked 1st) / OSU: allows 247.6 YPG (Ranked 2nd) Slight Advantage: Clemson

Rush Offense: OSU: rushed the ball for 272.2 YPG (5th) / Clemson rushes the ball 252.9 YPG (9th) Advantage: OSU

Run Defense: OSU: is giving up 99.5 YPG (7th) / Clemson: is giving up 106.2 YPG (9th) Advantage: OSU

Passing Offense: Clemson is averaging 294.8 YPG (2oth in the Country) / OSU is 258.8 (41st in the Country) Advantage: Clemson

Passing Defense: Clemson allows 138.5 YPG  (1st)/ OSU is giving up 148.1 YPG (2nd). Advantage: Clemson

Sully Says: Clemson wins & covers the 2.5