CFP Semi Finals at the Fiesta Bowl Preview: vs. #6 Ohio State Buckeyes
Record: 12-3, 8-0 Big Ten Champions
Head Coach: Ryan Day
Offensive Scheme: Spread
Defensive Scheme: 4-2-5
Team Schedule
vs. #8 Georgia (10-3): L 52-41
vs. Youngstown State (FCS): W 56-10
at #2 Stanford (12-1): L 42-21
at #11 Houston (10-4): L 31-28
at Wisconsin (6-6): W 50-36
at Rutgers (3-9): W 52-21
vs. Purdue (3-9): W 49-7
at #15 UCLA (10-3): W 42-34
vs. #20 Washington (9-4): W 59-6
vs. Minnesota (6-6): W 42-10
at #11 Miami (11-3): W 38-21
vs. USC (8-5): W 55-24
B10 Championship Game vs. #11 Miami (11-3): W 45-10
CFP R1 vs. #11 Houston (10-4): W 34-13
CFP QF vs. #3 Pittsburgh (12-2): W 45-28
Team Leaders
Passing: Henry Delos 72 cmp%, 4678 yards, 57 TD, 9 INT, 192.3 passer rating
Rushing: Ian Gee 1258 yards, 5.7 ypc, 10 TD
Receiving: Randy Rossi 103 receptions, 1500 yards, 19 TD
Defense: Jalen Fuller 68 tackles, 2 TFL, 5 INT, 10 PBU
Injuries
WR Lee Wonnum (Junior) Torn Rotator Cuff (Season) EDGE Addrian Huval (Junior) Foot Fracture (Out) RT Kalen Cooper (Junior) Ruptured Disk (Out) CB Tobias Montague (Junior) Foot Fracture (Out)
G Shaquille Marks (Senior) Torn Pectoral (Season) T D.J. Baas (Junior) Torn Rotator Cuff (Season) T Joe Nunn (Sophomore) Torn Pectoral (Season) IOL Wayne Hoffman (Junior) Broken Fibula (Season) QB Earl Nienhuis (Sophomore) Bruised Ribs (Probable)Players to Watch
QB Henry Delos (R-Jr) | 6′1″, 214LBS | 93 OVR, 86 SPD, 93 ACC, 91 COD, 93 THP, 94 SAC, 96 MAC, 84 DAC‣ Since the loss to Stanford where he threw four interceptions, Delos has been arguably the best quarterback in football. He hasn't thrown an interception this post-season with eleven touchdowns in three games and completing 72 percent of his passes. He avenged his earlier loss to Houston by beating them in the playoffs and will look to do the same to Stanford who accounts for nearly half of his interceptions on the season.
WR Randy Rossi (R-Soph) | 6′1″, 173LBS | 96 OVR, 96 SPD, 96 ACC, 96 COD, 96 CTH‣ Lee Wonnum was one of the highlights of their earlier matchup with seven catches for 128 yards and a touchdown while Rossi was held to fifty nine yards on four catches. With Wonnum sidelined, Rossi will need to continue being the WR1 he's been down the stretch for Ohio State with at least a touchdown in seven of their last nine games, including an 180 yards performance against USC and then two touchdowns in the Big Ten Championship Game.
CB Jalen Fuller (Sr) | 6′1″, 192LBS | 91 OVR, 95 SPD, 99 ACC, 94 COD, 72 MCV, 92 ZCV, 73 PRESS‣ The senior had an interception against Stanford in their first matchup and will look to follow that up with another strong outing as he also held Rodney Cookus to just two catches for sixteen yards.
Hard Rock Bet™
Spread: Ohio State -4.5
Moneyline: Stanford +230
Over: 71
Place your bets and I'll keep track of your winnings/loss throughout the season. The winner's (by percentage with a minimum of 16 bets placed) team of choice will get a rating's bump and choose which conference to be the commissioner of for the following season to select my schedule. The second place will have second choice on which conference and third will get the remaining conference.
The Bookie
1. Captain Canada 18-4 (82%)
2. Caesar 20-5 (80%)
3. djp73 18-5 (78%)
4. redsox907 17-8 (68%)
5. ShireNiner 13-7 (65%)
DNQ - toysoldier00 6-2 (75% - need total of 16 bets placed by end of year to qualify)
DNQ - YaBoyRobRoy 5-3 (67% - need total of 16 bets placed by end of year to qualify)
DNQ - James 2-1 (67% - need total of 16 bets placed by end of year to qualify)
