The argument could be made that both the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish have two of the best four teams in America.
They both fell apart in crucial spots this year though, and that's why they're headed to the Fiesta Bowl instead of the College Football Playoff.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Ohio State Buckeyes -6.5
Notre Dame Fighting Irish +6.5 Over/Under 53.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
Considering just how good these two defenses are, it shouldn't be surprising that the total in the Fiesta Bowl is somewhat low by bowl standards at just 53.5.
It also shouldn't be shocking that the Irish are relatively sizeable underdogs at +6.5. For as great of a year as they had, it's worth remembering that DeShone Kizer was the third string quarterback heading into the Spring and was never really expected to play, let alone start the mass majority of the season for the Golden Domers.
2015 IN REVIEW – OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes came off of last year's National Championship and were supposed to waltz to 13-0 this year. They had not just one, but as many as three prospective Heisman Trophy candidates at quarterback, though Braxton Miller moved to wide receiver to leave Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett to battle it out for the top slot.
In the end, the offense never really settled into its dominant form from the end of last year, and that's what really cost the team against Michigan State in its decisive loss to the season. When you go back and look at it, the Buckeyes really only had one truly impressive showing this year, that being the season-ending 42-13 win over Michigan.
2015 IN REVIEW – NOTRE DAME
My, what could've been had this team stayed healthy. Notre Dame's defense was top notch this season, but the offense made too many mistakes. Kizer only threw nine picks, but he wasn't great in the red zone at times.
The fact of the matter is that the losses for the Fighting Irish weren't bad ones this year. They were beaten by two points by what ended up being No. 6 Stanford on a last-second field goal and by the same two points by what ended up being 13-0 No. 1 Clemson when they couldn't complete a two-point conversion in the dying seconds. Both losses came on the road.
The big problem we have with Notre Dame is that though losses were good, the wins weren't great. Sure, there were a lot of Power 5 schools on this list, but the only real wins which mattered came against Navy, USC, Temple and Pitt, all of which are pretty good, but none of which are true signature victories.
BOWL HISTORY – OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes became the first team in college football history to win two games in January last year when they won the first College Football Playoff. That actually ended a run of four straight years without a bowl victory dating back to the 2010 Sugar Bowl.
All told, OSU is used to being on this sort of stage. It has been to the Fiesta Bowl five times since 2002 and has played in BCS bowl games nine times plus the two playoff games since that point as well.
BOWL HISTORY – NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame almost never fails to reach a bowl game, but you have to go back a while to find the last time it won a game of this importance. Sure, the Golden Domers won the Music City Bowl last year over LSU, a thrilling 31-28 game which constituted a big upset, but go back and look at the results in recent big bowls.
The Fighting Irish were crushed 42-14 by Alabama in the 2012 title game. They were beaten 41-14 in the 2006 Sugar Bowl, 34-20 in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, 41-9 in the 2000 Fiesta Bowl, 31-26 in the 1995 Orange Bowl and 41-21 in the 1994 Fiesta Bowl. That history isn't exactly stellar, and it's one that Notre Dame surely wants to change this year at the Fiesta Bowl.
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take place Friday, January 1, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium. The contest will be televised nationally on ESPN.
