Alabama Football: Final thoughts before the National Championship

What’s left to say about Alabama football vs. Ohio State?

We have covered this game from just about every angle so far. From bold predictions to keys to victory, we have mapped out paths for Alabama football to beat Ohio State tonight. We’ve analyzed positions and momentum, but there’s only so much of that you can do. At the end of the day, all chips are on the table as the game will be played.

With just a few hours until kickoff, here are my final thoughts regarding the CFP National Championship before the game begins.

Injuries could easily tell the story here. Malachi Moore and Jaylen Waddle aren’t guaranteed to play, and their roles might be limited if they see the field at all. For Ohio State, we have no idea who will be out due to COVID-19, and Justin Fields is still recovering from an injury.

The closer we get to kickoff, the more confident I am that Alabama football will win. As long as they avoid the disastrous turnovers, they should be able to outlast the Buckeyes. They are simply more talented at every position, and I don’t believe that the difference in rest matters this late in the season. Both teams are prepared, but Alabama has better coaches and weapons.

At first, I thought that Trey Sermon was Ohio State’s only chance to beat the Crimson Tide. While he was dominant against the Clemson Tigers, he only scored one touchdown on over 30 touches. It will be okay if Alabama bends, but they just don’t need to break when he gets the football.

Garrett Wilson is a true X-factor for the Buckeyes. He loves to line up in the slot, and Ohio State motions him often to give him space. If Malachi Moore is unavailable, it will be crucial for Brian Branch to lock him down in coverage.

At the end of the day, I just don’t see the Ohio State secondary keeping up with all of Alabama’s weapons. Mac Jones has it in him to find the right target, and he will throw an accurate pass. It might be close for a while, but expect Alabama football to pull away late.

When the game is over, make sure you come back to Bama Hammer for our takeaways and analysis of the CFP National Championship.