Bama vs Buckeyes

Same spread as the Sugar Bowl.

Alabama is really, really good. If I was a betting man, I'd lay my money on Bama. But they haven't faced what they are going to face in ten days.
 
I'll be interested to hear what Nick Saban has to say .

I'm sure he has seen more film on Clemson and sorta had a game plan on Dabo and company in his mind . On the other hand he may be relived he does not have to play Clemson yet again.

Be interesting to see what his take is on it .

Clemson without Lawrence next year will be much like LSU but not as bad .. a team likely dropping out of the top 10 if not the top 20 .
 
Not going to be surprised to hear that field has a couple of broken ribs and they gave him some topical medicine or steroid to get him through the game .
He sure played great but that one look on the sideline where he was in the bike was a young man in a lot of pain.
 
PillsburyDoughboy said:
Not going to be surprised to hear that field has a couple of broken ribs and they gave him some topical medicine or steroid to get him through the game .
He sure played great but that one look on the sideline where he was in the bike was a young man in a lot of pain.
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Yeah, that was a heck of a hit that he took ... I was surprised he was only out one series. I agree, some cracked ribs and/or a bruised kidney wouldn't surprise me at all.
 
Yeah and a bulls$&t call on the linebacker also. Not that it would have mattered has OSU was obviously the better team. Bama by 10 in on the 11th
 
And then there were two. Love this match up between two "old money" blue blood programs. To be the best, you have to beat the best and Alabama in the Saban era and historically is the best. But that's why they play the games.

QB - slight edge to Bama due to Fields' ribs. Jones has been unbelievable this season, but he won't be throwing out of a clean pocket on 1/11
RB - slight edge to Bama. Harris is incredible, but Sermon has been playing real well.
WRs - slight edge Bama. Mainly because of Smitty. He's going to eat. A lot.
OL - slight edge OSU. Both teams have great O lines, but I give the edge to OSU given the injury to Bama's center.
TEs - edge OSU.
DL - clear edge to OSU.
LBs - clear edge to OSU
DBs - clear edge to Bama.

HC - edge Bama
OC - equal
DC - edge OSU

I just wonder what Covid has in store for this game.
 
Who knows I'm sure on paper Clemson looked like the better team. Hard not to bet against Alabama but then again that's why I don't bet!
 
Clemson was #7 against the run,
They are now #16. Clemson was #25 against the pass. Bama
Is #13 against the run and #77 against the pass. OSU is #2 against the run and shut down Etienne and Lawrence, but #104 against the pass. It's going to be a violent game. My hope is OSU shuts down the Bama run game. Smitty is going to get his, but I'm hoping its not enough. Jones hasn't seen any pressure except some against Georgia. How he manages the four quarters of pressure from just four rushmen will be a key. OSU has to limit big plays, but Bama will get some against that OSU secondary.

This was the match up I wanted for the semi-final just from a match-up perspective. Like I said. This is going to be a violent game with a lot of points scored. I'm thinking the last team to score wins, but I wouldn't put any money on this game until around 2 hours before game time after both teams have released their availability reports.

I'm just really happy that we won't have to hear from Dabo Swinney or Brian Kelly for the next week!
 
Clemson might have been #7 and #25 against the run and pass, but keep in mind that they did that in a conference that went 0-6 in their bowl games.

That being said, if I was a Bama fan I'd still be a little worried. Both offenses are going to score often, but I believe OSU might have a little better defense and if they get an extra stop or two Bama will get behind and not able to catch back up.
 
Numbers are fun to kick around for discussion but at the end of the day, the thing to remember is: the players are just early 20 year old kids. Anything can happen. It will be a good game. Bama has been having discipline problems lately on the defense side of the ball that keeps hurting them. What I mean is, for example, they will get to 3rd down with some good stops...maybe even tackles for loss and it be 3rd and really long...almost sure to be 3 and out. But then they push somebody and get a penalty after the play, or get really good coverage and get pass interference on what would have been an uncatchable ball anyway. I've seen that happen a lot this year. Should have been 3 and outs but end up giving the other team a fresh set of downs.

With both teams having explosive offenses, I think it will come down to forcing turnovers and really trying to pop the ball loose during tackles. But anything could happen. That's why we watch. Sermon is good...Teague is great. Fields has a cannon of an arm and was a dual threat, deadly on his legs...although the rib jolt hit put a stop to that during the Clemson game. If he is better on the 11th, that will give Bama some trouble if he runs it but it may put him in jeopardy of taking a hard hit. Jones under pressure does better than Tua under pressure but Mac isn't a runner for sure. I can't wait.
 
O/U 76?

I will take the Under on this game. I really don't think it will be as high of a scoring game as people think. I think both teams will do a good job at shutting down the QB ability to throw the ball deep and the Run Game will come into play moreso.
 
If the Tide has a weakness...its defense. Najee Harris is a freak. Not to mention DeVonta Smith. I believe this will be their toughest challenge.
 
LY said:
Clemson might have been #7 and #25 against the run and pass, but keep in mind that they did that in a conference that went 0-6 in their bowl games.

That being said, if I was a Bama fan I'd still be a little worried. Both offenses are going to score often, but I believe OSU might have a little better defense and if they get an extra stop or two Bama will get behind and not able to catch back up.
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True regarding the ACC. How did that conference get two teams in the playoff? Clemson's CFP record speaks for itself, but I think Brian Kelly is now 0-7 in BCS, NY6, and CFP games. And this one may have been his closest loss and only because Saban took his foot off the gas in the third quarter.
 

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