The 2021 college football season has been unusual to say the least. This year is one of many firsts, some of the most notable including a seven-win team competing for the title game, a wide receiver winning the Heisman, and a team without a winning record beating the No. 11-ranked team in the country.
Through all of the COVID cases and struggles of this season, Alabama and Ohio State have set themselves apart from the competition. These two offensive juggernauts will face off against each other on Monday, Jan. 11, for an entertaining matchup. Alabama’s Crimson Tide is scoring on average 50 points per game and the Ohio State Buckeyes average 43.4. The over/under for this game is a historic 75.5 points, and the college football world eagerly awaits this game.
The last time these two teams met, they battled in the 2015 national semifinal game. Now Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot exploded for 230 yards en route to a 42-35 victory over the Tide. The current running back for Ohio State, Trace Sermon, has averaged 211.5 yards per game in their last two matchups, so expect him to play well versus the Tide defensive front.
Ohio State, while only playing five regular season games, has solidified their reputation as a championship team following their blowout win against the Clemson Tigers in a matchup on New Year’s day. Quarterback Justin Fields and wide receiver Chris Olave lead the offensive corps, and the defensive line showed out in their last game. Fields suffered a tough hit against Clemson, and there were questions about his availability for the championship game. In an article published by Bleacher Report, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said Fields will be playing on Jan. 11.
Alabama has the best offense in the country by miles and there is a possibility that wide receiver Jaylen Waddle could play after a brutal ankle injury earlier in the season. Their defensive group has been led by Patrick Surtain, a lockdown corner who will look to counter Olave, the Buckeyes star receiver.
If Ohio State wants to take down the Crimson Tide, they will likely need to outscore them. This is a wildly daunting task, and with Ohio State’s best receiver being covered by a first-round-quality corner, the Buckeyes are underdogs heading into this game. Both teams are riding a massive wave of momentum into this one, and one can only hope it’ll be as good as their last game.
