LSU Defeating Clemson Favored as Most Likely CFP Championship Game Scenario

• The College Football Playoff semifinal games will be played Saturday December 28th
• LSU faces Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl followed by Ohio State and Clemson meeting in the Fiesta Bowl
• LSU defeating Clemson in the final on January 13th is the favored result at +250

The College Football Playoff semifinal games will be played this Saturday as #1 LSU faces #4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl and #2 Ohio Sate plays #3 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl.

While the result of those games are yet to be determined, sportsbooks have released odds on each possible outcome of the National Championship game in New Orleans on January 13th.

CFP National Championship Game Exact Result Odds

*Odds taken Dec. 26th

The CFP Championship Odds show LSU are the favorites and this prop bet has them listed as the favorite as well – winning the championship game over the Clemson Tigers.

All of the results that include Oklahoma are at the bottom and for good reason, the Sooners are 13.5 point underdogs and will likely be one and done. For my money though, it isn’t LSU that will ultimately hoist the trophy.

Ohio State Ranks 1st in Efficiency Rankings

The Buckeyes sit atop the efficiency rankings thanks to the 2nd best offense and 2nd best defense in college football. Their opponent in Clemson is ranked 2nd, with Trevor Lawrence and the offense ranking 5th and their defense being the top ranked unit.

As for LSU? They are 3rd, four spots ahead of Oklahoma.

Chase Young. 😤 pic.twitter.com/DZ2TF6Cg2V

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 24, 2019

The Sooners have by far the worst individual unit in the playoff with the 34th ranked defense and that’s why LSU’s path to the championship final seems to be clear. That said, the rankings show LSU should actually be a slightly underdog on a neutral field against whoever wins between Ohio State and Clemson.

Fields, Young & Dobbins Future NFL Stars

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow has stolen the spotlight thanks to winning the Heisman Trophy and likely being selected 1st overall in the upcoming NFL draft, but most talent evaluators have Buckeyes defensive end Chase Young as the top rated prospect.

He led college football with 16.5 sacks despite missing two games due to suspension. He was one of two players on Ohio State who joined Burrow as Heisman Trophy finalists.

'Fields is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks we've graded since Cam Newton…'

Justin Fields ranks No. 3 in our bowl pro potential QB list pic.twitter.com/rSbAarpaym

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 20, 2019

The other was quarterback Justin Fields. He completed 67.5% of his passes and had 40 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns and threw only one interception. While not playing at 100% since suffering a knee injury, all indications are he will be close enough to full strength by kickoff that his production shouldn’t suffer.

J.K. Dobbins is the 3rd future star in Ohio State’s stable. He ran for 1,829 yards and 20 touchdowns and closed the season with a bang. The Buckeyes finished with 3 games against top 15 opponents in Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin – and Dobbins totalled 540 yards rushing and seven touchdowns in those games.

Ohio State Over LSU is the Best Value Play

The Buckeyes winning two straight games over the Tigers – Clemson and then LSU – is the play here. Ohio State was deservedly ranked #1 heading into the conference championship games and are more than capable of winning this playoff for the 2nd time.

If you make this bet and they beat Clemson, you’ll have intriguing hedge possibilities in the final or you can let it ride and hope head coach Ryan Day can complete an undefeated first season as Urban Meyer’s replacement in Columbus.

PICK: Ohio State over LSU (+375)