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Predicting the Final Score of Ohio State vs. Oregon In CFP National Championship

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Before I get started, how great is it to finally see the death of the BCS? The two national semifinal games on Thursday proved the BCS system has been getting it wrong, at least it would have this year, and who knows how many others. If we were still in the BCS era, the national championship game would likely have been a matchup of Alabama and undefeated Florida State, the two losing teams from Thursday’s College Football Playoff games.

Oregon‘s performance in the Rose Bowl was simply historic. The Ducks led 18-13 at the half and used a 41-point second half explosion to turn a close game into a rout in a hurry. Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and his offense is deadly enough already, and Florida State’s perpetual self-inflicted wounds and five turnovers were like pouring gasoline on a fire. In the span of just a little over 15 minutes of game time, Oregon scored their 41 second-half points, securing their place in next Monday’s national title game and likely ending Jameis Winston’s collegiate career.

Entering the Sugar bowl, Urban Meyer and his Ohio State Buckeyes were heavy underdogs. Alabama had everything going for them, and after the Crimson Tide took a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter, it looked as if the game was unfolding as expected and Nick Saban’s team would be on their way to Texas for the national title game.

In just his second career start, quarterback Cardale Jones, along with his new star running back Ezekiel Elliott, then led the Buckeyes to 28 straight points. Ohio State took the lead for good after the opening drive of the second half and never looked back. Alabama’s loss means the SEC won’t be represented in college football’s final game for the first time in nine years.

The matchup of Oregon and Ohio State could not get any better for us fans. There are headlines to be had all over the place and an incredible amount of talent lined up all over the field. Both teams run fast-paced spread offenses that can, and do, put up a lot of points up in a hurry, as we witnessed on Thursday night. We are likely in store for an offensive shootout with a lot of points, and frankly I can hardly contain my excitement as the first national title game in the College Football Playoff era nears.

Both teams are peaking at the right time and playing their best football of the year. Oregon has won their last four games by an average of just under 35 points, while scoring over 40 in every game since their loss to Arizona 10 games ago. Ohio State has overcome injuries to their top two quarterbacks and hasn’t lost since their second game of the season way back in early September.

The Ducks will enter next Monday’s tilt as the favorites, after trouncing Florida State and ending the Seminoles’ 29-game winning streak. Quarterback is the most important position on the field, and with Mariota behind center and Ohio State on their third-stringer, Oregon has a huge advantage in that department and seemingly should be big favorites as a result. But as the great Lee Corso would say, “not so fast my friend.”

Not to discredit Oregon’s win in the slightest, but Florida State was on the cusp of defeat in just about every game all season and finally unraveled Thursday in Pasadena. Of course, Oregon deserves all the credit for capitalizing on the mistakes and proving they truly are an elite team, but the Buckeyes will be a whole different story. Ohio State bludgeoned the vaunted Alabama defense on the ground and exploited them through the air, looking in the process like a team with no weaknesses.

I believe Meyer and his Buckeyes will prove to be too much for even Mariota to handle and will pull off the upset over the Ducks at AT&T Stadium in Dallas next Monday.

Final Score: Ohio State 36, Oregon 34

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