Can Tennessee beat Ohio State? Predicting the best possible result for Volunteers against Buckeyes 

The Tennessee Volunteers make their College Football Playoff debut as the No. 9 seed. They haven’t had much success in the playoff era, with their last national title coming in 1998. They used a staunch defense that allowed opponents to score only 14 points per game to propel them to a 10-2 record which ranked third in the SEC.

Standing in their way is the Ohio State Buckeyes, who also have a 10-2 record, but their second loss to bitter rival Michigan may have cost them a shot at a first-round bye. They also employ a rugged defense which allowed only 11 points to their opponents.

The game will be played at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET. The winner will play the No. 1 seed Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

Can Tennessee beat Ohio State?

While it was the defense that carried the Volunteers, the offense did their part as well. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava may not be flashy with his numbers, but he did a good job taking care of the ball, only logging five interceptions along with 19 touchdowns this season. Their workhorse has been running back Dylan Sampson, who rushed for 1,485 yards and scored 22 touchdowns.

Coach Josh Heupel hopes for another monster performance from his SEC offensive player of the year to provide a spark for his inconsistent offense. Heupel’s defense will be important as well if he is looking to score an upset, with his defensive line capable of neutralizing the Buckeye’s run game.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day will also have a lot on his mind in this game. Other than figuring out the Tennessee defense, he is on the hot seat after another loss to Michigan sent them out of bye contention and into the first round of the CFP. Quarterback Will Howard will have to step up his passing game if the Buckeyes want to avoid the upset.

Who is favored in the CFP game between Tenneessee vs. Ohio State?

FanDuel and BetMGM have the line set with the Buckeyes going in as a 7.5 favorite. DraftKings and Ceasar’s set their lines at -7 for Ohio State. The over/under is set at 46.5 which suggests a defensive slugfest between both teams with not a lot of points being scored on Saturday. The money line is set at -280 for Ohio State and +230 for Tenneessee.

How many national championships does Tennessee have?

The Volunteers have won six championships in their history, winning them in 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967 and 1998. All their championships were won during the poll era, and they are still looking for their first one during the CFP era. This will be the Volunteers’ first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

How many national championships does Ohio State have?

The Buckeyes have won eight national championships, doing so in 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002 and 2014. They will look to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of that win against the Oregon Ducks with another national championship. This is the Buckeyes’ sixth CFP appearance.

Who do you think will win when the Tennessee Volunteers face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.