Oregon vs. Ohio State: TV Info and Odds for College Football Championship 2015
Jameis Winston, Amari Cooper and others potentially head to the 2015 NFL draft, while those left behind have something to say about the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship.
Marcus Mariota's Oregon Ducks and Cardale Jones' Ohio State Buckeyes tout plenty of talent set to move on to the next level, but for now, January 12 in Arlington, Texas is all that matters.
There, a team with a supposed third-string quarterback that somehow took down Alabama's dynasty clashes with a team that has yet to hiccup or be too small, slow or shocked in the face of the best of the best.
On such an important stage, a few key names will decide the outcome.
College Football Playoff National Championship Odds and Schedule
| January 12, 2015 | Oregon vs. Ohio State | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN | Oregon -7 |
Early X-Factors to Watch
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Faced with compensating for a third-string quarterback under center, Ohio State sophomore back Ezekiel Elliott erupted against an elite and still-sixth-ranked Alabama defense to carry the Buckeyes to a 42-35 win.
Of course, Elliott is no stranger to pressure or big games. He torched a strong Michigan State defense for 154 yards and two scores in a 49-37 win. He ran for a minimum of 121 yards and two scores against Michigan to close the season and against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Somehow, that all pales in comparison to what he accomplished against the Crimson Tide, though. Backs are lucky to hit around 70 rushing yards against the unit—he ran wild for 230 and two scores.
ESPN Stats & Info puts things into perspective:
Elliott needs one more repeat performance if the Buckeyes are to win the title.
His ability to control the pace of the game on the ground opens things up for Jones through the air. It also means less time on the field for this year's Heisman winner.
The door is open, too—Oregon allowed Florida State back Dalvin Cook to rush for 103 yards and the Seminoles as a whole to gain 180 and a score on a 4.6 per-carry average.
Darren Carrington, WR, Oregon
Oregon freshman wideout Darren Carrington is a hero in the eyes of fans.
The Ducks lost top wideout Devon Allen against the Seminoles. All Carrington did to fill the void? A gaudy seven receptions for 165 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Not bad for a player who only hit seven catches or surpassed the 100-yard mark just one other time all season.
As NFL.com's Bryan Fischer captures, Carrington is now assuming a bit of a leadership role for the offense:
Carrington remains Mariota's top deep threat, hence his average of 19 yards per catch. He proved against Florida State that he can be much more than that, though, which is a requirement for his Ducks to move past a stingy Ohio State defense.
The title game figures to be a shootout considering both teams average more than 45 points per game. Carrington will need to lead the way for the aerial attack.
Joey Bosa, DL, Ohio State
Ohio State needs Joey Bosa at his best to stand a chance against the Ducks.
Make no mistake, Bosa is an elite player—he is a sophomore, but he already generates NFL buzz. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native owns 14 sacks this season but will need his best performance to date in order to fluster Mariota.
Look at it this way. Mariota is the best passer under pressure in the collegiate game. Despite the loss of key linemen such as Tyler Johnstone, he threw just two interceptions all season long.
Thanks to designed rollouts and his sheer running ability—he has 731 yards and 15 rushing scores this year—Mariota is deadly enough to evade Bosa and hurt the Buckeyes deep down the field.
Bosa and Ohio State flustered Alabama's Blake Sims into a trio of interceptions to go with two scores, another 29 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Mariota is more experienced and will hurt a questionable Ohio State secondary in a big way if Bosa does not hit home in a consistent manner.
Betting information courtesy of Odds Shark. Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=600 "Report: Falcons, Jags Make DT Trade")
.jpg?w=600 "Brissett Wants Starter Money")
