Like It Or Not, The Crimson Tide & Buckeyes Play For College Football’s National Championship
The Tide is high and the Buckeyes are blooming.
Alabama and Ohio State are playing in college football’s National Championship on Monday, Jan. 11, at Hard Rock Stadium outside of Miami, tho potential COVID issues that came up during week with one of the challengers almost put officials between a rock and a hard place.
While bystanders moan from Cincinnati to College Station and media who must have something to complain about in order to be happy sit in front of their keyboards and go blast in columns and on sports shows clamoring for a playoff that, if they have their way would resemble the field for March Madness, the two stories programs quietly prepare for the grand finale.
Except Kristen Saban, of course, who left a little rat poison on OSU’s doorstep, only to have Master Nick make her promptly clean it up with a mop and bucket.
Justin Fields has sore ribs that might make Alabama defenders go after them as if they are slathered in Dreamland BBQ sauce while a top Tide receiver – other than the one that just won the Heisman Trophy – may Waddle back onto the field after a mid-season ankle injury.
Steve Sarkisian is headed to Austin afterward so one has to wonder if he will have his eyes on Texas or the Ohio State defense.
And now onto the game.
The time is Pacific because The Pigskin Prognosticator lives in San Diego.
Alabama vs. Ohio State (5 p.m., ESPN, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL)
The Acorns have blasted through the Big One conference and sent Trevor Lawrence to the NFL Draft a week early and Dabo Swinney to the trash talking locker room, yet still remain as mysterious as Big Foot.
Are they a monster ready to terrorize the Tide or a quiet buck in the woods, about to be gunned down by the bulls-eye hunters from the South? Their sample size is that of one of those travel-sized shampoo bottles you find in CVS or Walgreens while Alabama’s is that of the the extra-large “look, 25% more!”
The Pachyderms have stomped their way through the Serengeti of the SEC, kicked dust on Notre Dame and have won just about every major offensive award from Tuscaloosa to Tanzania. Its offense is both Mac (Jones) truck powerful and as beautiful as a ballet. Defending it is as confusing as watching a magician perform the cups-and-balls trick.
The Great Wall of China could not hold back the Tide-al wave of points that comes from this team. Especially if Jaylen Waddle-s onto the field; just his potential presence is causing a lot of late-night extra strategizing headaches for the OSU defensive coaches.
In spite of all this, the Acorns from Columbus are no easy Nuts to crack. Even an injured Fields is as dangerous as a lion on a hunt and the bruising running of the “Preacher Man,” Trey Sermon, could bring Bama’s front-line defenders to the alter on their knees.
Still, it will take a wing and a prayer for the Midwesterners to bloom in the warm gardens of Miami, for the crest of the Tide is too high to hold back. The combination of the offense, the ability to return a punt for a TD at any time and a secondary that can make big plays as often as it gives them up will have Bama back on top of the college football world.
As a result, the Bucks stop here. Winner: Alabama
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