Buckeyes by 50.
Buckeye Bron #LakeShow x @beatsbydre pic.twitter.com/4tWwPXbjiH
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 5, 2021
Word of the Day: Increscent.
“I'M THROWING THIS BAD BOY.” With all due respect to Dolodale, the most beautiful pass thrown by a Buckeye that entire postseason run came out of the hand of a wide receiver.
And that wide receiver ain't ever going to forget.
You remember the trick play, and will never forget it.
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) January 5, 2021
But did you know @OhioStateFB called it earlier in the 2014 season, at MSU?
Against Bama, @E_Spencer6 was determined to let @Cantguardmike make a play.
"I thought to myself, 'I'm throwing this bad boy, no matter what.'" pic.twitter.com/nfqQdwVXRa
Personally, I can't wait for that Jameson Williams to Chris Olave connection this year. Bama ain't ready.
REMEMBER LAST TIME... Nick Saban's daughter lost her mind online yesterday, essentially accusing Ohio State of faking COVID-19 cases to force a postponement and buy more time for Justin Fields to heal up.
It's a neat theory, but there's one massive hole in it – Ohio State has no problem rolling Alabama with a backup (or third-string!) quarterback.
sure you wanna face another backup from OSU? You know what happen last time right.... pic.twitter.com/gYkA8bQ5m0
— Cardale Jones (@CJ1two) January 5, 2021
There is not a doubt in my mind that CJ Stroud would slice apart the Crimson Tide defense like a toddler with safety scissors. I've seen that movie way too many times.
CAN'T STOP THE BUCKS. I'm gonna be real with you – Ohio State isn't going to stop Alabama's offense consistently on Monday night. It's just not going to happen, and the sooner you can accept that, the less stressed you'll be on game day.
But I have good news: according to 12 rival coaches familiar with the Crismon Tide, Alabama won't be stopping Ohio State's offense, either.
“I don’t think their defense can stop that offense,” said one SEC offensive analyst. “They’re talented, don’t get me wrong. But they’re not as good as what they have been. They just don’t have those same types of guys. They don’t have those elite players up front. They’re not as stout as they’ve been in the past. That’s the glaring thing you see on film.
...
Another SEC offensive line coach said of the Alabama defensive line: “They’re good, but there wasn’t that freak that really scared you. Auburn and Georgia have a freak. Alabama didn’t have that guy.”
“They don’t have that dominant pass rusher like they’ve had in the past,” said one SEC East coach. “(Christian) Barmore is a hell of a player though.”
...
Ohio State’s pace of play. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are expected to go fast. “As has been the case with them in the past, tempo hurts (Alabama),” said an SEC coach. “They’ve struggled getting lined up. They get gassed easily, and you see times where they don’t get the signal in quick enough.”
So... first team to 50 wins?
The reality is, nobody is going to consistently stop or really even slow down anybody in this game. But one of these defenses is going to come up with one or two absolutely crucial plays or stops, and that's going to be the difference.
And maybe this is my homerness, but if I have to rely on one of these defenses to make a play or two, I'm picking the Buckeyes.
KEVIN WARREN STILL OBLIVIOUS. We're less than a week away from the national title game after we've gone through an entire college football season, and Ohio State is the lone Big Ten team still playing football.
... and you'll be shocked to learn that Kevin Warren still has no idea what's going on.
“We had them before the Big Ten football championship game, and then the Sugar Bowl semifinal game, and then this week,” he said. “You just have to communicate always. We’re playing football in a COVID environment."
He added, "It's COVID. We have to remain day-to-day. But I'm getting ready to travel down to Florida, and the game is scheduled for January 11 and I'm looking forward to a great game on Monday.”
Warren's flight is scheduled to leave from Chicago on Friday.
College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock also told outlets that there had been no scheduling change for the championship game.
Asked if he had a sense of how widespread Ohio State’s current coronavirus outbreak is, or if there is one, Warren said, "I don't even know if there is one."
Imagine being the commissioner of the Big Ten during a global pandemic and not knowing the health status of the Big Ten team about to play for the damn national title in less than a week.
Regretfully, though, that's painfully on brand.
SONG OF THE DAY. "More Than a Feeling" by Boston.
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