Ohio State vs. Alabama CFP national championship game Buckeyes Wire predictions

Here. We. Go.

Ohio State and Alabama will square off in the College Football Playoff national championship game down in Miami, and the whole football world will be watching. It’s expected to be a shootout, but you never really know how teams match up with each other until kickoff.

The Buckeyes have historically thrived in situations where it’s them against the world, and that appears to be the case yet again against a Crimson Tide squad that is as dangerous as they come on the offensive end.

All that being said, we asked our writers to provide their predictions and a short rationale on who wins down in Miami, and here’s what they said.

Next … Phil’s take

Ohio State vs. Alabama CFP national championship game staff predictions

Contact/Follow Phil Harrison

Justin Fields and the offense will be able to make hay against the Alabama offense in a back-and-forth affair because of the balance resulting from the emergence of Trey Sermon on the ground, and the bevy of weapons in the passing game.

However, the Ohio State defense will struggle to stop the Alabama attack like every other team the Crimson Tide have faced this season. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to which defense can get one or two more stops than the other, and I just can’t quite see the Tide’s offense being contained enough for OSU to pull this one out without some unexpected turnovers, and you can’t predict those. There will be a lot of offense, but more from Alabama in a fairly high scoring affair.

Final Score: Alabama 38, Ohio State 31

Next … Mark makes his pick

Ohio State vs. Alabama CFP national championship game predictions

Contact/Follow Mark Russell

New week, same feel. Not too many are giving Ohio State much of a chance against mighty Alabama in the national championship game. That’s actually good for the Buckeyes; they like to prove the so-called experts wrong.

This is a proud group of young men and they feel the disrespect. They took it personally when Dabo Swinney ranked them No. 11 in the country. And don’t think for one second they don’t know Nick Saban didn’t think they belonged in the College Football Playoff either.

Although it’s been an up and down season for Ohio State, it finds itself one game away from the ultimate prize. And while there have been distractions aplenty during a COVID-19 plagued season, all it took was a lack of respect to wake this team from a sleepwalk.

Don’t listen to what the national media will tell you all week, that Alabama plays in the superior SEC and Ohio State just will not be able to hang. The Buckeyes match up very well with The Tide.

As the disrespect mounts, the focus becomes sharper. Ohio State goes toe to toe with the bully of college football in what will be a back-and-forth battle. And when the clock strikes zero, the Buckeyes end a most bizarre season in a most spectacular way… champions.

Final Score: Ohio State 45, Alabama 38

Next … Dan wraps it up

Ohio State vs. Alabama CFP national championship game predictions

Contact/Follow Dan Ruppert

I went against Ohio State against Clemson because of how the defense had performed over the course of the season. I will not make that mistake again as the Buckeyes not only showed up, but surprised everyone with their performance. One of the biggest matchups to me is the defensive tackles for Ohio State against the Alabama backup center Chris Owens. My gut is telling me this matchup could be the deciding factor in the game. I just think Ohio State will be able to make one additional stop than the Crimson Tide.

Offensively, Ohio State will be able to move the ball and keep up with the firepower of Alabama. Notre Dame didn’t have the same firepower on offense the Buckeyes have. The really good offenses Alabama faced were able to throw up points and keep pace. As long as Justin Fields plays within the game, the Buckeyes should be able to pull away at the end.

Final Score: Ohio State 41, Alabama 34

 

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