This is the 7th version of the CFP! Alabama has won 2, Clemson 2, LSU 1, & OSU won the 1st one, in 2014! If the Buckeyes win tonight, 3 teams will have won 2 of the 7 championships. A good balance until you consider that 130 teams have had 780 chances to win the CFP Championship!
So here we go; Brutus vs Big AL
On offense the Bucks have the 4th best Total Offense in the country @ 544.9 YPG! The Tide rolls into the game as the 6th best Total Offense @ 535 YPG! Bama will counter OSU high powered Offense with 32nd ranked Total Defense allowing 353.2, while the Bucks D is ranked 41st nationally giving up 370..3 YPG! Advantage: Alabama!
Scoring: Alabama is the nations 2nd highest scoring team, putting up 48.2 PPG to Ohio’s, 5th rated scoring machine, @ 43.3 PPG. Factoring in Scoring Defense, Bama D’s (13th Nationally) allows 19.0 PPG to Ohio State’s surrendering 22.0 PPG or the country’s 31st best! Advantage: Alabama!
3rd Down conversions, Alabama leads the nation @ 59.3% (80/135), a truly amazing percentage. That said OSU is the 6th best converter in the country @ 50%. Both of these teams can score from anywhere on the field, coupled with how difficult it is to get them off the field. This game looks to be high scoring affair! Ohio is the 25th best defense on stopping its opponent on 3rd down. Bama is 76th in the country in the country getting their opponents off the field. A potential issue for the Tide! Advantage: Ohio State!
In the Red Zone Alabama is the 9th rated and scores (TD/FG) 91.1% of the time they penetrate the opponents RZ! OSU is ranked 100/130 most likely to score in their opponents RZ @ 76.9%, A shocking number when one considers the weapons they have on offense! In defending the RZ, Bama is ranked as the nations 15th best (34 penetrations, 25 scores, 17 TD to 8 FG) RZ Defense allowing scores 74% of the time. While OSU comes into the game as the country 54th best in defending the RZ (23 penetrations 19 scores, 15 TD to 4 FG) OSU allows scores 83% of the time. Advantage: Alabama!
Passing : The Tide is raked as college football’s 5th best passing team @ 349.3 YPG, while OSU rolls in rated as the 31st best passing squad in America, at 272.3 YPG! On defensing the pass, Bama is the nation’s 79 best allowing 245.3 YPG, while the Bucks have struggled defending the pass, ranked at 116th allowing 281.1 YPG! This is a huge concern for Buckeye defense, given the strength of the Bama air attack! Advantage: Alabama
Rushing the ball, this is where OSU has to play well, the Bucks have the 5th best rushing attack in the country, pounding the ball for 272 YPG! Bama is the 46th best rushing team in the nation! The Tide is averaging 185.7 YPG and yet they have one of the top running backs in the country! Ohio State has the nations 2nd best run defense, giving up a meager 89.1 YPG. Alabama has the 13th best run D in all of college football! They are allowing 110.2 YPG. The run game is where OSU must dominate, not on defense but on offense> To have a real shot in this game they must keep Bama’s high powered offense on the sideline while they run the field & the clock! Advantage: Ohio State
Sully Says: Alabama wins and covers the 9 points!
And as Always Enjoy the Game!
Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Subscribe