OK. It’s getting ever so closer. After over a week of buildup with press conferences from both Ohio State and Alabama, a thousand different ways to preview the game, and everything else that goes with the biggest college football game of the year, we’re about to hopefully witness one whale of a final act to a crazy and bizarre college football season. Yes, the College Football Playoff national championship game is on the doorstep.
The Buckeyes will once again be a heavy underdog against a team perceived to be much better than they are. That was the case against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, and they are again about a touchdown dog to Alabama.
But OSU seems to do its best work when it is completely counted out. Add that to the fact that Ohio State seems to be playing its best football at the right time and there’s reason to believe that this one could go the other way than what the experts think once again.
Here are five reasons the Buckeyes will beat Alabama in the CFP national championship game on Monday night.
NEXT … The offensive line
The offensive line is playing at a high level
Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses says he believes the offensive line has been the key to Trey Sermon and Ohio State's success in the running game. “Any great running back would say that.” pic.twitter.com/D0l9QybMye
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 7, 2021
The big guys up front that protect quarterback Justin Fields and pave the way for the running backs were supposed to be a significant strength for this team. Things got out to a bit of a slow start for OSU standards, but boy has the offensive line been finding its groove at the best of times.
It’s going to be hard for any team to completely stop the Ohio State ground game with the holes being cleared for the running game, but it’s not just that. The pass protection — even against an aggressive Clemson unit — has improved and solid as of late.
This might be the best defensive line OSU has faced all year, but I’d be surprised if it manhandles the Buckeyes up front.
NEXT … Trey Sermon
Trey Sermon has turned into a dynamic option on the ground
TREY SERMON DOES NOT GO DOWN EASY 😤 pic.twitter.com/DHCX3kwykp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 2, 2021
To beat a team like Alabama, you have to have balance. Early in the year, Ohio State was getting yards on the ground, but it wasn’t always coming out of the backfield with the traditional running back options. The one-two punch was solid, not dynamic.
That has changed with the emergence of Trey Sermon. He is clearly a more confident difference-maker that is much more confident, assertive, and explosive when he touches the ball. He has rushed for 636 yards over the last three games and is on one of the best postseason runs for a running back in OSU history (remember Ezekiel Elliott in 2014).
Sermon’s rise has led to a more dangerous Ohio State squad, and it makes life much more difficult on an opposing defense. Alabama is no doubt feeling that as it prepares for this game.
NEXT … The Florida recipe
Ohio State’s passing game can replicate what the Gators did
WOW! JUSTIN FIELDS LET IT FLY FOR A 56-YARD TOUCHDOWN 🎯 pic.twitter.com/9z8zy0qEJC
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2021
Alabama was in trouble for much of the Ole Miss game, but definitely in hot water against Kyle Trask and the Florida Gators. That’s because Florida had a bevy of playmakers that could match up well in the passing game with the back end of the Alabama defense.
Ohio State has arguably better weapons. If Fields is Justin Fields Monday night, he’ll pick from Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and others down the field. There’s no Kyle Pitts on this team, but Jeremy Ruckert and Luke Farrell have also shown they are more than capable of being another option across the middle of the field when matched up with linebackers.
NEXT … The Ohio State linebackers
Ohio State’s experienced linebackers can run sideline to sideline
Leatherwood said Ohio State’s linebackers will be tough to go against because of their experience.
“We’ve just got to attack them directly, because they are smart and they are good.”
— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) January 6, 2021
I don’t know that we’ll ever appreciate what this veteran and versatile linebacking corps has meant to the OSU defense down the stretch here. Baron Browning, Pete Werner, Tuf Borland, and the emergence of Justin Hilliard gives Ohio State a group of playmakers that can fill gaps, but more importantly, set the edge but more importantly, run things down on the outside.
The OSU secondary is going to have its hands full in the passing game, and that means there has to be some success stopping the running game. We don’t know if the rumors of COVID-19 issues on the defensive line are true yet or not, but, but if so, it’ll be even more of a luxury to have this group of playmakers to back things up and get in on a ton of tackles.
NEXT … Justin Fields
Go get ’em Justin Fields
QB grades in the College Football Playoff
🔸 Justin Fields, Ohio State – 92.9
🔸 Mac Jones, Alabama – 84.0
🔸Trevor Lawrence, Clemson – 62.4
🔸Ian Book, Notre Dame – 55.4 pic.twitter.com/pdH24aK5PG— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 2, 2021
All things being equal, if Justin Fields plays at the high level he played at against Clemson, that could be enough to win the program’s ninth national title. There have been times this year in which Fields has tried to do too much, but things clicked against the Tigers, and it sure feels like the light went on.
If the Ohio State signal-caller is checking down, using his legs when the opportunity arises, and then taking advantage of mismatches deep, it’ll be a great day for the Buckeye offense.
Sometimes you just have the dude that makes plays, and Fields has that ability. He absolutely could be the difference in this one when you look at athletes going into the backyard and make plays.
Ohio State vs. Alabama college football national championship preview and prediction
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