CFP National Championship Quick Preview: Ohio State vs. Alabama
2020 was a year with no guarantees and no one could’ve predict how things went. However, we still ended up with a semi-predictable matchup in the College Football Championship Game.
Monday night a National Champion will be crowned. Will it be Alabama or Ohio State?
Let’s dive into our quick preview.
Spread: Alabama (-9) | O/U: 74.5
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide are led by some of the best players in the country.
Before the semifinals, quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver Devonta Smith were Heisman finalists. Now, Smith is the Heisman Trophy winner.
Jones finished the regular season second in the nation for passing yards (3,739) and third in passing TDs (32). Meanwhile, Smith led the country at the end of the regular season in receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,511), and he was second in receiving touchdowns (17).
Not to be forgotten, running back Najee Harris who led the nation with 24 rushing TDs, and he was No. 3 in rushing yards (1,262) after the Tide’s 11-game regular season.
Alabama is the favorite for a reason. The defense is also good. They’re not as good as years past, but the Tide is still in the top 10.
Don’t forget though, Clemson was a 7.5-point favorite over Ohio State, and the Buckeyes smacked them, 49-28. So, watch out for this Ohio State team. Speaking of…
Ohio State Buckeyes
After Clemson coach Dabo Swinney voted the Buckeyes 11th in USA Today Coaches Poll, I knew the Buckeyes were going to bring it to the Tigers. I still picked them because of Trevor Lawrence, and boy did I underestimate how much Ohio State wanted to beat Clemson.
The Buckeyes lost to Clemson the year before, and Swinney’s easy bulletin-board material provided enough extra motivation for Ohio State to play their best game.
Against Alabama, they’ll need their next best game. Justin Fields got busted up against the Tigers, and who knows how big of an impact that will have on Monday. Until he gets hit, we really won’t know.
If Fields is limited, the Buckeyes will need to rely even more on their stud, two-headed running back monster of Trey Sermon and Master Teague III.
However, if Fields can give 80-90 percent, the Buckeyes will have a legitimate shot.
This game should be one of the best. I also said that about Ohio State-Clemson, and then the Buckeyes thumped the Tigers so maybe it’ll be a blow out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Prediction
I’m not going to get cute. I think Alabama wins. Justin Fields is hurt, while the Tide have all three of their studs healthy and ready to go on offense.
I’ll happily be wrong because I can’t stand Alabama — truthfully not an Ohio State fan either — but this is just how I think it’ll play out.
Alabama 42, Ohio State 38
