Preview & Predictions for Every Bowl Game, Including the National Championship

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Sugar Bowl

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #4 Ohio State Buckeyes

Remember back when Alabama lost to Ole Miss, then struggled against Arkansas, and the narrative was that the “dynasty was over”?

Yeah, that was funny.

Alabama has adjusted their style to the point-heavy juggernaut of college football, and have, in the process, become an offensive juggernaut themselves. The Crimson Tide set a school record this year by gaining 490 yards per game and lighting up the scoreboard, scoring 59 vs. Texas A&M, 55 vs. Auburn and 42 vs. Missouri in the SEC Championship Game.

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Alabama’s defense, while not the unit it has been in recent years, is still among the best in the nation. The Tide are immune to big pass plays, but that’s the lone true weakness of this Alabama defense.

Alabama has an embarrassment of riches offensively, with the likes of Blake Sims, T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry, Amari Cooper, DeAndrew White, Christion Jones and O.J. Howard.

On the other sideline in the Superdome will be the Ohio State Buckeyes, who haven’t let their terrible luck with QB injuries stop them from crushing their competition.

“Oh, Braxton Miller is out for the season? We’ll just put in J.T. Barrett, who will lead us to an 11-1 record and finish 5th in the Heisman voting. Oh, he got hurt? We’ll put in Cardale Jones, who will lead us to a 59-0 win in Indianapolis against a good Wisconsin team.”

The Big Ten’s worst fears are being realized, as Urban Meyer is starting to roll in Columbus. The recruiting isn’t going to slow down, so unless some drastic changes occur, this is only the beginning of the Buckeyes completely laying waste to the conference.

However, this is a different beast they’ll be facing here. Alabama is #1 for a reason.

Cardale Jones will hit some deep plays, and Ezekiel Elliot is a solid running back, but with a national title game appearance on the line, I expect Alabama’s offense to move on the Buckeyes’ defense and for Alabama’s defense to get more comfortable as the game goes on.

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide 42, #4 Ohio State Buckeyes 24

Next: CFP National Championship Game