Hating on the $EC - Mostly Alabama (and a little Georgia too)

[AlabamAlum]

Hurtful...

[AlabamAlum]

I don’t think we have an answer for Sermon or Olave or JF out of the pocket.

We should score, but TOSUC 48, Thin Red Line 41 sounds about right .

[iam416]

Ohio State has no kickers. Down to freshman garbage. The 48 will have to come from 8 TDs.

[AlabamAlum]

Wiz, you’ve been on more wieners than ketchup.

Talknet, you’re two inches from being a woman.

Jeff, you’ve taken more loads than a 25-cent washing machine.

Liney, you moan when you wipe.

Dismissed. All of you.

[AlabamAlum]

Ohio State has no kickers. Down to freshman garbage. The 48 will have to come from 8 TDs.

That actually means you’ll go for it more and eschew FGs. And any kicker -even the Vandy girl- can kick a PAT. Revised prediction: Semi-toxic Nuts 56, Saban’s Last Stand 41.

[THE_WIZARD_]

...just when you thought the sandbaggery couldn't get any more pathetic...AA and Talent...TOTALLY REDEEM THEMSELVES!

[lineygoblue]

Liney, you moan when you wipe.

So you're the one that put the web cam in my bathroom?

Joke's on you. I always use the one for guests. Yes, my double wide has 2 1/2 bathrooms. Nice, eh?

What do you plan to do with the videos of my wife in the shower?

[THE_WIZARD_]

What do you plan to do with the videos of my wife in the shower?

Not worth much liney...I see them nightly on her YouTube Channel...

[lineygoblue]

egads .. you KNOW about that ....

[THE_WIZARD_]

Dude I helped set it up...

[iam416]

This is where I am from an Ohio State perspective:

(1) There are probably 15ish first round picks starting or playing significant roles tonight. That includes all future NFL drafts (Garrett Wilson is probably a 1st round pick....next year). In any event, there's going to 44 starters and probably around 15 of them are NFL first round picks. So, there's some players out there.

(2) For Ohio State on offense, I think the most critical thing they need is a fully functioning Justin Fields. I can maybe live with 90%, but his running threat isn't activated then CRD is already up against it.

(3) OSU Offense-UAT Defense matchup wise, the key, IMO is running the damn ball. This, of course, is made easier if JF is running the damn ball. But, setting that aside, Ohio State has a really good offensive line. It may even be the 2nd best OL in the country. They are just solid up and down, with Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers anchoring it and being really helped with NPF finally emerging at tackle -- he may actually live up to his 5* rating (next season). Sermon has been very good in really all ways a RB can be very good - vision, burst, tough yards. I don't know enough about the UAT DL to really write about them in detail, but my sense is that they aren't a killer group. So, I really think this is a matchp advantage for Ohio State. If it turns out to not be an advantage then this will be a really, really long night.

(4) OSU Passing Offense. So, UAT ain't Clemson. Furthermore, JF threw roughly 4 inch-perfect BOMBS against Clemson. That ain't happening again, either. The dream NFL matchup is Surtain-Olave. Surtain is very likely a top 10 pick and for good reason. Olave, I think, may slip into the bottom of the first round. He has good physical skills, but his technical abilities are just remarkable. So, I'm sure draft guys will watch this closely, but that's not where this game is won or lost. I fully expect Surtain to limit Olave. The question, though, is what can UAT do with Wilson, JSN, Jamo, Ruckart, etc. Ohio State has a really deep WR corps -- much like the OL, probably about the 2nd best WR position in the country behind, goddammit, UAT. Further, nFw really slogged up OSU with painful quarters defense that had JF hesistant. He can't be hesitant. If Joe Kines or whoever is the DC at UAT can make JF hesistant, then it's going to be a long night..

(5) Uggh -- the OSU defense. So, I have almost zero optimism on this side of the ball. But, here is the one way Ohio State has a chance. Their DL has beat UAT's OL. Ohio State's DL has been outstanding this season without too many gawdy stats. But, their DTs have wrecked every team they play and their DEs have been really good. They are, of course, missing Tommy Togiai at DT (huge loss) and Tyreke Smith at DE (a loss). That said UAT is down their center. Ohio State wrecked Clemson's OL. They had zero chance of running the ball. They were able then simply contain TL's passing game (until the game was over) and win comfortably. There's zero chance of making UAT one-dimensional, but maybe they make them 1.5 dimensional. Maybe they mak Najee work for his yards or get enough wins at the LOS to put UAT behind the sticks on occasion. If Harris is running wild then it'll be a really long night.

(6) The single most advantageous matchup in this game is UAT's Passing Offense vs OSU. There's just not much Ohio State can do. They have a really good slot corner playing their lockdown spot. They have a really talented safety that periodocially gets wildly out of position. They have a glut of CBs after Wade. They have a couple LBs that can really run, but meh. I expect Coombs to continue his transition from a single-high safety to two safeties just because OSU has safeties that can play. Latham Ransom is a true frosh who has seen time at the end of the year and has definitely flash. These are, of course, things that would have been worked out over 12 games, but here we are figuring out now. Great.

(7) Coaching-wise, it's hard not to see Sark eating Coombs' lunch.

So, I think Oho State will be able to run the ball and I do think JF will play well, but he won't be anywhere near 100%. I think Ohio State has a modest chance of slowing down the Tide run game and almost no chance of stopping them through the air. Barring gross penalties or turnovers, I think Ohio State hangs around but is always chasing the game. Eventually UAT gets the stops they need to get to that comfortable 2-3 score range and that's that.

Alabama 52, Ohio State 34. Ohio State may get one more at the death, but I think UAT -8' is probably safe.

[THE_WIZARD_]

STFU

[AlabamAlum]

Talent, besides the kickers, any others out with Covid and the DL losses, is that Covid?

[THE_WIZARD_]

...AA...your worst nightmare would be if Terry Porter was the back judge tonite...

[iam416]

Togiai, Tyreke Smith and Blake Haubeil are Covid. I think that's it. I think Togiai is very close to being able to play -- and probably would have under CDC guidelines. Oh, alsoo Harry Miller -- but I have to think he's going to be eligible. That's not much of a concern. His replacement is functionally equivalent.

Fortunately, Ohio State disregarded B10 protocols and quit testing on Thursday or Friday (1 day after whenever UAT did). They're supposed to test up to and including the day of the game.

I guess it's possible that they'll try to squeeze Togiai in. Lots of rumors out there, but I highly doubt it. The real concern was that Taron Vincent and Antwuan Jackson were potential contact trace casulties. That would have left them with Haskell Garrett and 2-3 freshmen DTs. I believe that was the issue that sparked whatever rumors were floating around.

Ohio State releases its available list at 6pm tonight. Heh. We'll know for sure, then.