Game To Watch: #1 Alabama vs #3 Ohio State: January 11, 2021

Alabama and Ohio State will play in the College Football Playoff Championship Game this Monday at 8:00 EST in Miami. The Tide are the undefeated SEC Champions at 12 – 0 and defeated Notre Dame 31 – 14 in their semifinal game. The Buckeyes are the undefeated Big Ten Champions at 7 – 0 and avenged their loss to Clemson with a dominant 49 – 28 win in their semifinal game. The two storied programs will face off for the College Football National Championship.

Recent History

Alabama and Ohio State last played each other in the Sugar Bowl during the inaugural College Football Playoff. Alabama jumped out to a 21 – 6 lead before the Buckeyes stormed back to win the game 42 – 35. The Crimson Tide had won all three games between the teams before that match-up in 2015. Ohio State and Alabama have not played each other often, but with the direction both teams are going this could become a regular sight in the Playoff.

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What To Watch For…

Does Alabama’s offensive line dominate again?

Alabama’s offensive line won the Joe Moore Award which is given to the most outstanding offensive line in the country. All five of Alabama’s starters are among the Top 25 at their respective position and even without starting center Landon Dickerson they performed well against Notre Dame. The Crimson Tide controlled the line of scrimmage, running for 5.6 yards per carry and only allowing one sack in the game. Alabama played methodically and built a big lead and then salted the game away. Alabama’s dominance upfront was apparent throughout the game, Najee Harris had big holes to run through and Mac Jones had plenty of time to find open receivers. When healthy, Ohio State’s defensive line is among the best in the country. They were without two contributors at defensive end against Clemson, but were still able to dominate the Tigers’ offensive line. There are rumors that the Buckeyes may be without a few key defensive linemen in the National Championship Game due to Covid, but the Buckeyes have a deep rotation and should provide Alabama with the biggest challenge they have gotten at the line of scrimmage. If it will be enough to keep the Alabama offensive line from dominating at the point of attack will be key in determining who wins Monday night’s game.

How will Ohio State try to slowdown the unstoppable Alabama offense?

Alabama’s offense is much more than just a dominant offensive line. They have the Heisman Trophy winner at wide receiver in DeVonta Smith and he will be joined by John Metchie and speedster Jaylen Waddle who appears to be returning from his injury to play in this game. In the backfield, Najee Harris is an athletic specimen at running back who does impossible things, like his hurdle of Notre Dame’s Nick McCloud, on a weekly basis. Quarterback Mac Jones is an accurate passer who makes good decisions and gets the ball to the Tide’s many weapons. The 31 points Alabama scored against Notre Dame were a season low, but the Crimson Tide appeared to take their foot off the gas and milk the clock away rather than keep scoring. Alabama averages 48.2 points per game and has scored more than 30 points in every game this year.

Ohio State’s defense has had it’s moments but also struggled at times this year. The secondary has given up big plays, but managed to do a good job of limiting Clemson’s big plays. The Buckeyes have to keep Devonta Smith and company from making the explosive plays they have become accustomed to. They can live with Smith making a bunch of catches as long as those catches are in front of the defense and they make the tackle. If the Buckeyes do that they will force Alabama to drive the length of the field and could force mistakes or get sacks to push the Tide off schedule. The Ohio State front seven has to contain Najee Harris in the run game and make Alabama one dimensional offensively. If they can limit the ground game, they can pin their ears back and pass rush on third and long and try to force mistakes from the Alabama offense. Nobody has been able to successfully slowdown the Alabama offense this season, so it is obviously a daunting task.

Can Ohio State’s offense outscore Alabama?

Ohio State has a talented offense of their own. They have had players in and out of the lineup because of Covid this year but still put together a good season. The Buckeyes averaged 43.4 points per game themselves this year, that number includes a subpar performance against Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game when Ohio State only scored 22 points. Against Clemson the Ohio State offense was firing on all cylinders. Quarterback Justin Fields showed how talented he is and even an injury to his ribs could not stop the talented quarterback from setting a Sugar Bowl Record with 6 touchdown passes. He has two excellent receivers who can both take over a game in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, and there is plenty of young depth at the position to make plays. The Ohio State offensive line was also a finalist for the Joe Moore Award and dominated Clemson’s defensive line in the semifinal. The biggest improvement over the course of the season is the emergence of Trey Sermon. The transfer running back has been on a tear the last three games, running for 536 yards and four touchdowns on 70 carries during that stretch. The Buckeyes have plenty of firepower and have the capability to score with Alabama if need be.

Alabama’s defense has been very good most of they year but did struggle against Mississippi and Florida. Ohio State has a more talented and complete offense than both of those teams and will be a good test for the Crimson Tide. Alabama recruits as well as or better than anyone in the country and has plenty of talented players on the defensive side of the ball. They have allowed just 19 points per game this year, and outside of those two bad games have not allowed an opponent over 24 points. They will attempt to pressure Justin Fields early and find out if he is truly healthy and if he is comfortable running after being injured against Clemson. Alabama’s playmakers have the ability to take advantage of any mistakes Ohio State makes and flip the momentum of the game quickly. Fields struggled with his decision making against Northwestern this year and Alabama is sure to try to duplicate some of the things the WIldcats did to throw the Ohio State quarterback off his game and force mistakes. Ohio State has the firepower to keep up with the Alabama offense, but Alabama’s defense is capable of putting together a strong game and will make it tough for them.

Prediction

Both teams will score points this game. It’s hard to see either team scoring less than 30 on Monday night. Alabama has had a longer season to get into rhythm and fine tune and Ohio State is apparently battling Covid issues this week. Expect a back and forth shootout on Monday Night with both offenses scoring plenty of points. Mac Jones is a good quarterback, but Justin Fields in on another level, if he is healthy enough to do most of what he can do, Ohio State will outscore Alabama and pull off the upset. Ohio State 45 Alabama 42.

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