ZT was looking at the AP weekly Top 25 last week. Preseason Poll from August 24??…. Clemson, Ohio State, Bama, Georgia & Oklahoma were the Top 5. Notre Dame was #10 ( because ZT thinks that is written in the NCAA by-laws ) but outranked by LSU @ #6 and Penn State @ #7. Fast forward to December 20 and note teams such as the CCC Chanticleers, Liberty Flames, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, and the San Jose State Spartans all in the Top 25! Yep, fits 2020 for sure!!
And now it all comes down to this…… 5th meeting of the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide with Bama holding a 3-1 lead but OSU with the most recent 42-35 win in the 2015 CFP semi-final. Interesting paths in the Year of Covid with Bama going wire-to-wire in an all-SEC 10 game schedule & Championship. Ohio State has navigated a more restrictive Big 10 plan, that almost didn’t happen, but they did all they were asked by winning 5 in the regular season & the Big 10 Championship. Bottom Line, these are the best 2 teams in College Football this year!
Let’s look at the Buckeye’s first……..ZT is a fan of QB Justin Fields. He is the kind of QB that gives Bama ( and most teams ) trouble with his ability to pass ( noted by 6 TDs vs. Clemson ) and run if you don’t contain him. The O-line has the size/talent to make trouble for opposing defenses. They did this against a Clemson Defense ZT believes is better than the Bama squad. Skill players are not a problem for OSU with RB Trey “I can deliver a” Sermon who has over 630 yards in his last 3 games. ZT watched WRs Chris Olave and Jameson Williams ( love a guy who’s entire name references liquor ) slice the Tigers secondary and yes, RB Sermon can catch out of the backfield as well. WR Garrett Wilson and a few others are all at OC Kevin Wilson’s disposal. All of this can spell trouble for a Bama D who has given up some big points to Florida and Ole Miss.
Defensively, Buckeyes are similar to the Bama D. Good but not “slam the door on you” great. Key vs. Clemson was winning at the line of scrimmage. Tough task vs. Bama O-line. Critical for the Buckeye D? 3rd down stops and they are very capable of this. Bama will move the ball and score points but if you can get them off the field and hold them to some FG’s, it will be huge!
At this point, if you don’t know about the Bama Offense, you have likely been in a basement without internet since Labor Day ( and may have better mental health than the rest of us! ). ZT will start with the Offensive Line. Maybe the best Bama squad ever. Yes, EVER. They did lose Center and Rimington Award winner Landon Dickerson in the UF game. Still have Outland winner Alex Leatherwood at tackle and solid group that works together like those synchronized swimmers you see at 2 AM during the Olympics.
They protect Davey O’Brien winner QB Mac Jones and open holes for Doak Walker winner Najee Harris & RB Brian Robinson. That protection has resulted in Jones only being sacked on average once per game. What does he do with all that time? Practices clogging and throws for over 4,000 yards and 36 TDs. I would too with Heisman winner WR DeVonta “slim reaper” Smith, John Metchie III, and possibly an old friend back on Monday night for a catch or 2, WR Jaylen Waddle ( cleared to return from an ankle injury vs. UT ). Don’t forget the TEs Forristall and Billingsley. Ok, this Offense only scored less than 40 twice this season and you can see why. One more weapon….. Bama actually has a Kicker!!! ( another 2020 anomaly!! ) Will “no need for Advil” Reichard is 77 for 77 in XPs and 13 for 13 in FGs with a long of 52! OC and Broyles Award winner Sark the Shark will be heading to coach the Texas Longhorns but for his final Bama game, he knows what to do with all these weapons vs. almost any style defense.
Speaking of Defense, this is the Bama concern. Hope the training staff didn’t have any Swiss cheese on the table this week but, like OSU, Bama D is good but not great. Decent front with Barmore and a few others but most of the QB pressure comes from the LBs. That will be a challenge against the Buckeyes as ZT notes the Bama LBs are not the greatest cover guys in man-to-man. Decent secondary anchored by DB Patrick Surtain II but sure helps to have some pressure up front. Biggest help is an opposing offense becoming “1-dimensional” trying to catch up when the Bama Offense is lighting up the scoreboard.
Lots of “chatta and data”……what does it mean? You got to play the game!! ZT believes Bama will score. ZT believes Buckeyes will score. ZT believes this will be one heck of a game for all the reasons noted above. Was a little concerned how OSU responds after a year-long focus on taking care of Clemson. This is why ZT noted all the Bama individual awards because VERY GOOD teams ( and OSU is certainly better than very good! ) get extra focus and motivation when playing a team of “all-stars.” Just what the doctor ordered for OSU. Not that anyone would have a let down for a National Championship but this helps for a quick emotional recovery. Bama has had its eye on the prize since not making the CFP last year. ZT sees a tight game at the half, Bama going up 2 scores in the 3rd and Buckeyes tightening it up in the 4th with Bama picking up #18 in an epic battle. Bama 41 Buckeyes 34
ZT notes January 11 is National Milk Day and National Hot Toddy Day…..those are nice but Thursday January 28 is National Blueberry Pancake Day and ZT training to see if he can break the Matt Stonie 2016 record of 113 1 oz. Silver Dollar Pancakes in 8 minutes…..will advise in August. Padre is on sabbatical until he gets “the word” that all is well in Gainesville…….again, will advise in August!!
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