Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State TV info, live stream, betting odds, prediction
By Gabe Encinas
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes meet in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day. Here’s the complete game preview for the two marquee programs in college football.
The last time Notre Dame and Ohio State met was back in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State came out on top by a final score of 34-20 as the Buckeyes took a 3-2 lead in the all-time series.
Related Story: Picking Every Bowl Game Against The Spread
Once the favorite to repeat as national champions, Ohio State had a few early season scares including vs. Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois and Indiana. But they were still undefeated and when the Michigan State Spartans kicked a field goal as time expired to win the game, and eventually the Big Ten.
Ohio State just missed the playoff due to a loss to a playoff team, just as Notre Dame can relate with a two-point loss to No. 1 Clemson after a failed two-point try and a last-second loss to Stanford, moments after taking a late lead.
Both teams will look to show the rest of the nation on New Year’s Day that they’re every bit as good as the playoff teams and end the season with a win over a marquee opponent.
- Date: Friday, January 1, 2015
- Time: 1:00 PM Eastern
- Location: Glendale, AZ
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Spread: Ohio State -7.0
- Over/Under: 57
Keys to Victory
DeShone Kizer leads a balanced Notre Dame attack that’s scored 36 points or more in six games this season. The sophomore quarterback has two standout weapons in running back C.J. Prosise and receiver Will Fuller. The Irish also have one of the best offensive lineman in the nation to protect Kizer from the Ohio State defensive line in left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who many consider to be the best tackle prospect in the NFL draft.
But on defense, the Irish have many NFL talents, including linebacker Jaylon Smith, defensive tackle Sheldon Day and corner KeiVarae Russell. Together, the three hold down a top 30 defense, allowing just 22 points a game.
The Buckeyes also have a well-balanced attack as well, with a roster lined with NFL prospects of their own. It starts on offense with running back Ezekiel Elliott, quarterback J.T. Barrett and receiver Michael Thomas and look for the offense to get Braxton Miller more involved in his final college game.
On the defensive side of the ball, they’re led by Joey Bosa, Darron Lee, Raekwon McMillan and Vonn Bell, but they’ll be without defensive tackle Adolphus Washington, who is suspended after an off-the-field issue. The Buckeyes had the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense, allowing only 14 points per game, so they should be able to make up for the loss of Washington with the surrounding talent on the roster.
Prediction
Notre Dame played a challenging schedule this season and came up just short in road games vs. Clemson and Stanford and I think they’re more ready for a game of this magnitude than Ohio State who lost their only tough game of the year. And I think the Buckeyes could have a hangover effect with so many players focused on the NFL Draft and the disappointment of not winning the Big Ten and having a chance to repeat as national champions.
The only problem is the Irish offense up against Ohio State’s defense, which can make life tough for Kizer and the Irish running game with Prosise recovering from injury.
More saturday blitz: 30 Best College Running Backs of All-Time
With both of these defenses being among the best in the nation, this could be a low scoring affair that is decided in the final two minutes of the game, giving us one of the best bowl games of the season.
I am taking Notre Dame to come out on top of a close game after suffering some heartbreakers earlier this year, while Ohio State ends their season with a thud.