This is as good an intro as any, I suppose.
Alabama and Ohio State most recently met during the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2015. Behind coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Cardale Jones, the Buckeyes won the Allstate Sugar Bowl semifinal 42-35 and went on to a national title.
Since that loss, Nick Saban and Alabama have won two national championships and played in two other title games. Ohio State, now led by Ryan Day, is making its first trip to the championship game since winning that title in 2015.
Two of college football’s true blue bloods meet again on Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T in Miami Gardens, Florida (8 p.m. ET, ESPN and the ESPN App).
There are many similarities between the two unbeaten teams, from the collection of potential first-round NFL draft picks, to a pair of top-five scoring offenses nationally, to defenses that have uncharacteristically given up points in bunches at times this season.
Alabama and Ohio State have also dominated their conference brethren. Since the start of the 2014 season, Alabama is 59-5 against SEC opponents, and Ohio State is 59-4 against Big Ten foes.
‘Bama is currently an 8-point favorite and the over/under is 75 points. The focus going in has been on both teams’ passing attacks, naturally enough (Alabama is first in passer rating, Ohio State is fifth), but I find myself a little curious about which team has success on the ground.
Here are the relevant yards per rush numbers and national rankings:
- Offensive yards per rush: Ohio State 6.04 (3rd); Alabama 5.08 (24th)
- Defensive yards per rush: Ohio State 3.20 (10th); Alabama 3.21 (11th)
Ohio State averaged 5.77 yards per rush against Clemson, the seventh-best rushing defense (based on defensive ypr) in the country. In his last two games, Trey Sermon’s been an absolute beast, averaging 30 carries a game. I know it’s popular to say that Justin Fields is going to have to have another big game for Ohio State to win, but he’s got an awfully nice backup there whom Alabama’s defense is going to have to account for. Can either defense stop the run in order to put more pressure on the opposing quarterback?
By the way, both teams excelled at turnover margin. Ohio State is third nationally at +1.29 per game; Alabama, at +0.92, is twelfth.
I don’t think the Buckeyes are going to surprise the Tide the way they did Clemson, but I don’t see Alabama running away with this one, either. There’s way too much talent on both teams, methinks. Bottom line, I’ll take ‘Bama to win (it’s hard not to), but not to cover.
Have at it in the comments.
Get The Picture 
Anyone like me who views this as a meteor game and won’t watch?
The most insufferable, arrogant (often without reason), and assholic fanbase in college football are Suckeyes. Yes, I know a couple who are alright, but as a group they can all go to hell.
The second-most insufferable, arrogant (often with reason which is why they’re not No. 1 here), and assholic fanbase in college football are Bammers.
Watching this game would be like 4 hours in the dentist chair from Marathon Man for me. No thanks. #FTMF
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Eh, I’ll watch, but yeah, it’s somewhat of a meteor game. Don’t want to see an 8-0 national champion, and not sure I want Bama to get another (though it will be nice to knock them off next year when they’re riding high).
I think Bama wins a close one as I don’t think aOSU can replicate the desire they had against Clemson.
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I’ll (probably) watch (most of it) as well, and (slightly) hope that Ohio State wins, but if the meteor arrives before the clock ticks zero, I won’t lose any sleep over it either….
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Same here, Russ….I’ll watch. Thinks ole “corch” is just looking for some attention this morning.
Thinks he would have better luck in explaining why Kirby ain’t in the championship game….or coaching up ole Kirby.
I certainly enjoy reading that stuff. A lot can be learned.
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Rent free 24/7, douchebag.
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One of these days you will make it to the mountain top. When you do, I hope it is Georgia as your choice…..just be sure you keep him, he is a helluva recruiter.
The combination would be deadly.
In the meantime, keep on coaching Kirby up…critiquing him. It will eventually rub off on him…I mean, “what do you have to lose”.
Hoping to see your recommendations to prepare for next season soon. I look forward to it.
It is all appreciated, stay at it…..you’re a DGD!
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As always, your obsession with me when all I do is ignore you is noted.
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Not obsession…..just knowledge. And it’s free, can’t ask for more than that.
Keep on keeping on.
Thanks!
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Corch, I think you’ve completely missed the boat at the airport. Your IA&A trophy belongs to the Bags. Sheesh!
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As bad as Floriduh ‘turds are, they can’t hold a candle to Suckeyes or Bammers. The ‘turds are like nuevo riche insufferable. Suckeyes and Bammers are old money insufferable.
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I dunno, dude! I’m 65 and the Baggies have been insufferable as long as I can remember!
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I’ll watch. I don’t get your position. What does insufferable fans have to do with watching some of the best players in college go at it?
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Because I hate them and hate the teams?
Not much more than that.
I also don’t watch any game Floriduh plays that isn’t against us.
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Agreed. My Bama friends are giving me a hard time saying Fields went there to get rings cause he couldn’t get one at UGA.
I told them he went to OSU because he didn’t have a cousin to screw at Bama.
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HAAAhahahahaha!
Careful. With Field’s sister at UGA you set yourself up for a witty retort. But that would require the Gumps to be quick on the uptake and I’m sure they were becoming wistful for their last family reunion.
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He’s not that sharp bud.
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Oh, I do!!! And a root for damn near any of’em!!!
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I’ll tape it and maybe watch next weekend if it ends up being a good game. Not interested in staying up until after midnight and getting hammered by commercials every 5 minutes.
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I just don’t see how OSU covers all the Bama guys if Waddle plays. Smith-Waddle-Metchie was not a solvable problem in games 1, 2, 3, and Billingsley has emerged in Waddle’s absence. If Jones has time to spot the mismatches, and if Sark hasn’t been too consumed with Texas, then there’s going to be someone running free pretty much every snap. I think Metchie and Najee could have huge games.
Probably comes down to who has the ball last, though. Going to be a Modern College Football score-fest
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Yep. AnOSU had a good front 4 showing, but Clemson’s OL is much much worse than Bama’s, and Bama’s WR are better (and Clemson still saw Sunshine throw for 400 yds). That said, if Fields is healthy and Olave plays, An OSU is more dangerous than UF on account of the Buckeyes actually having a running game.
Either way I expect a track meet and I’m going to go to bed early rather than stay up far too late watching a game that likely ends sometime after midnight Tuesday morning.
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I wonder if playing less games helps or hurts OSU? The are less beat up but do they also have less cohesiveness? I will be rooting for Bama.
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My arm chair analysis says it comes down to whether OSU can disrupt Jones’ timing and get him off rhythm. Agreed that OSU won’t have quite the same fire for Bama that they had for Clemson but perhaps the whole “they don’t deserve to be there” chip is still on the shoulder. They have the talent to win for sure, but I see no reason to not pick Bama as they’ve been a machine all season (except for not covering against ND, thanks for that timely no cover 👿).
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I don’t want to see another Bama title, or hear about it from most of my family, but I can’t stand Ohio St, less so than when Corch was there, but still. And this is probably dickish of me, but I don’t want Fields to win a title (in college football). But I’m gonna try to watch if I can find a stream from overseas.
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I despise the fact this game is played on a monday at midnight.
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You live in England?
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You cant do obvious sarcasm? Its a freaking late as hell game regardless. Superbowl is at like 5 even. This time slot and day is all about the NFL and TV, and games this late have a safety issue. Wake up at 7am and dont get to kick off for 12 hrs? its atrocious.
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It appears you can’t do sarcasm either…
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booo hoo. everyone else got it.
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Dude, you really think I thought you lived in England?
Just making fun of someone who can’t stay up past 10. 🙂
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fair enough. i was a little feisty for no reason. case of the mondays (and a bad sunday night)
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Every year we complain about the day and time. The playoff guys don’t care obviously.
It’s Monday, OK to be a little crusty.
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“shit naw man…I believe you’d get your ass kicked saying something like that, man.”
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And The West Coast is big reason it is on so late
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I believe that would actually be the Azores, in which case he’d have little else to complain about…. 🙂
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Yeah, England is 5 hours, but he got the joke..then got mad. 🙂
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I feel like it comes down to OSU’s ability to run the ball. I think Fields will try to prove himself in this game and make a few mistakes that will be hard for OSU to overcome. If Fields comes out and plays 2nd to the running game, OSU will win. I would rather Ala win. I am so conditioned to them winning that it would not move my needle. Whereas an OSU victory would irritate me and require an asterisk by their name in the history books.
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This is about where I am. Yes, they’re both insufferable. But do I root for Fields or against him? Neither I think. What difference is yet one more national championship going to mean for Bama, really? Some recruit is going to choose them because now they have eleventeen as opposed to eleventy-one?
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One reason that I would feel inclined to pull for Bama is that if Saban can win another championship, giving him 7 (6 at Bama tying Bear), at some point hopefully he retires. With 7 there isn’t a whole lot left to do in the sport at 69 or 70 or 71 years old. I suppose that he might secretly want to be not only the greatest college coach ever and get a seventh at Bama and eighth overall so that the discussion about greatest coaches begins and ends with him. Nevertheless, once he passes Bear with his seventh, aside from just continuing on because retiring to Lake Burton isn’t appealing to him, number 7 would certainly mark the culmination of a career.
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Saban’s a football lifer. I honestly don’t believe he’ll ever retire. He’ll continue to adapt to all the rule changes and everything that happens with NIL and continue to dominate and then one day in the next 10-20 years, he’ll be found in his office, dead at a ripe-old age with his 10 or so National Title trophies behind him, finally resting.
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I believe OSU will be missing a few important players, and that plus Fields has to be still sore means Bama wins and covers. If OSU was at full strength I would take OSU and the points, but they’re coming in weakened by Clemson and COVID while Bama had a tune up game against ND.
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i’ll definitelyt watch as its good football and my last chance to watch a legitimate game for the sport i love.
I expect Justin Fields will have a game for the ages because Georgia.
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The weather’s beautiful! Wish we were here.
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The weather is here. I wish you were beautiful.
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Shunny and sheventy-five at Marathon Key right now. I have the money and the time and a great Captain to take me fishing there. Just that damn long drive.
“Could you beam me somewhere, Mr Scott?”
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Ranger is a man who knows how to live.
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Marathan key is a lo.g drive from anywhere
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I’ll watch mainly because I know there will be a great void between now and spring as I’ll try to fill my time with recruiting news and vague medical updates on off-season injuries. And even though the 2020 season didn’t meet my expectations, I am grateful the kids and coaches pulled it off.
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I think Bama wins by at least 10, but I picked OSU in the funoffice pool. I don’t think anyone can score with Bama and OSU’s win over Clemson may say more about Clemson and the ACC than it does about the Buckeyes. Maybe Bama gets their own “2d and 26” or blown out.
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I’m taking the under. 1st Q is either a mess because of nerves or a blowout begins so the scoring is weak in the first or last quarter. Will be a little surprised if they settle into a shootout from the get go.
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Alabama covers the 8, but I also like the over.
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I’ll watch, I expect Bama to win and cover the spread…
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(The “Blueblood Swill” is getting old. I’m still hung over from the Peach Bowl)
But I’ll watch.
I’m conflicted over who to be against the most.
What will likely happen is the announcers (and refs) will piss me off towards one team or the other. Since this is a BiG yankee team, they will probably fawn over anOSU to the point that I start to pull for ‘Bama because I hate the announcers (and the refs).
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we’re gonna need another game day post at this rate, lol
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horse milarkey. osu was fresh & didn’t play anyone with a potent offense until clemson, who’s OC was out. osu still missing one of their top WR while waddle is back. Bama 42-28.
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I detest anOSU. I don’t like the Bammers.
Therefore, I’m rooting for a natural disaster that only affects Hard Rock Stadium. Whether I watch is purely based on whether I want to spend time watching … in other words, it ain’t must-see TV for me.
As others have said, if Waddle plays and is effective, I don’t see any way anOSU will be able to keep up. Smith/Waddle/Metchie with the other guys thrown in (don’t forget Forrestal at TE and of course, Najee out of the backfield) make Bama’s offense almost impossible to defend over 60 minutes. Bama gets enough service breaks to win.
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Watch out ee, this completely reasonable point of view will have some calling you out for “wanting attention,” or some such nonsense.
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Agree on Waddle…
That said, what else is on? I watch most everything on my Divver….or some streaming service…
I hope Bama destroys’em. Not sure why. Not that it matters who any of us “root” for.
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Hang out with the family. Watch a movie. Read a book. Play my PGA Tour 2K21 game (which is outstanding by the way). If I get motivated to watch it, I will. Otherwise, I’ll watch a couple of highlights and read about it tomorrow.
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Can we root for bad refs? I mean we get them all the time. We should redistribute to those less fortunate.
No? Well I’ll root for special teams. I hope they have more shanks than me.
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I here OSU will be missing defensive linemen. I think it will be close until Bama pulls away by running it down their throat with occasional bombs to Smith and company. Hard to root for either team, but I don’t want Fields to win after transferring. I don’t want to hear about the whole “Kirby should have started Fields” thing anymore.
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Substitute “hear”.
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It
s the CFB NC Ill watch. Nor would I shed a tear if tonight was meteor night. It`s my two least favorite teams.I think it will be hard for tOSU to come out as fired up as they were for Clemson. Bama did not have an easy last game and Saban will use that look how bad OU blew out FU and you couldn`t to have his guys ready.
tOSU needs to avoid early turnovers and stay close in the first half. If they do that then which team can stop the others run game I believe to be the difference maker.
As Saban says being able to run when the other team knows it`s coming in the 4th quarter is a requirement to being a champion.
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Najee will have a great game. Kid should have won the Heisman.
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I keep seeing all of these posts and articles about how Bama is a super team, but that defense worries me a lot. And I realize that it was a lifetime ago in football terms, but I can’t forget that we were leading them at halftime with Stetson at quarterback. If I’d watched Ohio State struggle against Northwestern, I’m sure that would be stuck in my head as well, but I didn’t.
I think it’s a toss-up but if I had to pick an outright winner, I’d go with Ohio State by a hair.
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PSA – don’t forget to watch the alternate channel without announcers if you want to remain sane.
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Like every year, I will watch this game start to finish. Even when I hate one or both teams I will watch this game. College football is my first love in sports. And tonight will mark the commencement of the march into the dark days before the start of games again in the fall. As for the actual teams in this game, if I had to declare a rooting interest I would probably say that I am pulling for Bama. But there is something about tOSU that makes me think that for whatever reason they are going to win the game in a close contest.
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Clemson and Bama’s common opponent was ND. The scores were similar. 34-10 and 31-14. Based on that alone you’d think 0 state would boat race the Gumps the way they did the taters. We all know it ain’t that simple. I believe Clemson softened the suckeyes up a bit and it’ll be a tight game. I wouldn’t bet a hard dog turd I had to pick up on either one of them and I’ll enjoy laughing at the loser because I’m petty like that.
Piss on both their fan bases. Hate is all I have at this point.
Go Dawgs!
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It’s the simple pleasures that make life worth living Ranger. I’ll be doing some laughing and hating myself.
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Go Bucks… while I know it wont happen I’d love to see them destroy Bama. Dont get me wrong, I dont care for Ohio State either, I’m just sick of Bama (and I dont do the “root for the conference” thing). If I dont care for the school (Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, tech, and lately Bama) I will not pull for them under any circumstances.
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There are few worse things for UGA than Alabama continuing to win titles.
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I guess I will watch to see the dynamic players all over the field, but I could care less who wins because either way, we lose. SMH, OSU’s two most important players hail from Georgia.
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Anyone agree? Some thoughts (negative, LOL)
Sometime during this evenings previews, game, halftime, etc. there will be preliminary criticism at UGA’s 2121 prospects of making the playoffs because of the schedule. AND their will be justifications for ND getting in, in 20 and a preliminary build up to how much better they will be next fall.
Dawgrading and ND worship.
There will be no mea culpa, “Well ND wasn’t worth a shit and Clemson really played nobody”, even though it’s the truth.
I hate that rat Micky, who BTW is getting one million dollars for each 30 second spot during the game. But you can’t let a kid sell his jersey…
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Because it is not possible for both teams to lose I am hoping for an absolute blowout or if it’s close one of the programs has an all time heartbreaking loss. I’m pulling against Ohio State a bit more than Bama but I won’t be too sad to see Bama fanbase in disarray tomorrow.
For my prediction – I agree with the Russ above I don’t think OSU can get up as high as they did against Clemson. Also don’t think Fields will play as well as the playoff and Bama will be coming for him with his injury. I will take Bama by 8+.
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Transitive property doesn’t work in sports. I thought Clemson was going to destroy everyone with Lawrence back after what they did to ND. Obviously that was wrong. Not sure how Fields’ ribs are, but I like their chances to win straight up. If nothing else the odds with a $50 bet paying out nearly $140 is worth the gamble imo. I’m also curious to see whether Sark being on his way out will have any effect on Bama’s offense.
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An Alabama win is an auburn loss & that’s good enough for me
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I want a najee Harris.
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If your watching and have access to ESPN skycam it’s very refreshing no ESPN announcers just stadium sound. Very nice way to watch CFB.
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Its great for that but its spinning spinny
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And I can say my psa that they can put a transponder on the goal line
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Fields is clearly not 100. That stinks.
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But warming up
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Bama’s plays are just fun to watch.
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Hes hella good. To think we had Cooley.
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Welp. Fields is not even close to being ok. I hate that. Very much. He had his transcendent game last week though.
These are 2 good teams just loaded. Great coaches great players.
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I can’t do it. I can’t pull for Ohio State. Sorry Justin…
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So, have i mentioned najee harris
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Theres the game changing TO
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Shut the fuck up, Herbie!
Russ, thanks for the reminder pal.
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I think Cryin Kirk has been silenced —- halftime
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Pretty amazing when you use creativity to make an offense for elite talent.
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The rout is on. Devonta Smith pretty much owns the state of Ohio now.
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I thought you’d sworn off this one, ee…
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No, I didn’t swear it off. I said I would watch if there was nothing else to do. 🙂
Still can’t stand either of them but have to give Mr. Smith his due.
One daughter and wife watched The Bachelor on the TV while I sat on the room and watched a little of the game with the sound off.
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Because you needed to listen to the bachelor of course.
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Tonight, Bama’s offense looks like the best I’ve ever seen. Better than LSU last year. Just damn.
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I understand it’s hard to cover all their weapons (top award winning QB, RB, WR, OL), but dang, how does D Smith get so open, so much?
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Great designs to help him along with him having high iq in his position
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Damn. Even the SkyCast channel has 2 knuckleheads yammering on between drives. ESPN literally can’t help themselves.
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Alabama’s execution is awesome.
They look like they practice sixty hours a week year round.
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“Justin Fields is the difference maker”…..not tonight….not never folks!
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Ever….lol
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Pretty sure Erk is rolling in his grave at this point. And it’s only halftime.
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Who would’ve known that our walk on 4th string quarterback would play better than Justin Fields against Alabama through 3 quarters?
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Fields is bad hurt. And hes getting little love.
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Fuck his misery.
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Im betting Smith broke his finger
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Robinson comes in and looks like Najee protege
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Since I’ve seen this other places and now here, if you think Stetson is better than fields you’re an absolute moron.
Fields absolutely should have transfered and in 2 years hes been up for a heisman, playing for a NC and absolutely shredded Clemson with an epic performance. Hell be one of the early QBs drafted to boot.
You can put youre silly haye away and root for the kid that loved and loves Georgia. Who has been amazing to watch. And is playing right now when he otherwise wouldn’t if not the NC
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Jesus jumped up Christ, dude. Chill out. I don’t in anyway think SBIV is within Fields skill set, just pointing out the fact that we played Bama better through a half.
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Yea, and then we got our asses royally kicked. Bragging about a better half is like bragging about kissing your sister.
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Score don’t lie, Chuck…
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Transitive property doesn’t work Russ…
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I’m just fuckn with you, ol buddy.
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Oh I knew. I just hate Georgia fans for their unending unwarranted hate of fields. Its small. Hating osu I get though.
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Never said I hated him. Quite the contrary, it was some love for the mailman. Relax.
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I wasn’t even commenting at you there. Geez
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Well Ohio State is getting their ass royally kicked the entire game. I’d find some
oddly incestuous analogy to liken than to, but I didn’t have any brothers or sisters, Chuck. Sorry for striking a nerve, man.
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There’s a redhead in a bikini on Two And A Half Men. IFC.
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Hugging in front of your opponent before snap is pretty in your face
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I dig the Gump hate. Piss on ’em both.
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Oh I hate osu far more. But I like seeing good football and bama sure put on a show with play design and execution. Smith and najee are what college football is.
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Something in the way I was raised, I suppose, but I can’t help enjoying a Big-whatever team and or Notre Dame getting their ass handed to them by an SEC team. Best play of the game was whatever Sarkisian called to leave the linebacker on Smith.
32 had about as much chance of covering that as I did from my house.
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Was that the center who injured his knee against ND?
His teammates seem to love him.
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yes
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The prince of panic strikes again…it wasn’t close.
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2011 Bama was one of the best defenses I have ever seen in college football.
2020 Bama is probably the best offense I have ever seen in college football.
Saban seems pretty adaptable.
That was an ass kicking
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