College Football Playoff Championship 2015: TV Schedule, Odds and Predictions

There will never be a lack of controversy when it comes to deciding who gets to play for the national championship, but the inaugural College Football Playoff certainly isn't short on storylines. 

In the Sugar Bowl, it's No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Alabama. Urban Meyer vs Nick Saban. The Buckeyes' explosive offense vs. the Crimson Tide's star-studded defense. 

And as Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan discussed, via The Times-Picayune's Trey Iles, a whole lot of history:

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The opportunity to host two national powers with such great tradition is a true honor. Alabama boasts 15 national championships and met the challenge of another difficult SEC season, while Ohio State has been a perennial power in the Big Ten and has seven national titles of its own. With all that, we have little doubt that this game will produce another memorable chapter in the great history of the Sugar Bowl.

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In the Rose Bowl, it's No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State. Jameis Winston, the defending Heisman Trophy winner, will exchange offensive haymakers with Marcus Mariota, who is expected to be the next Heisman Trophy winner. 

For everyone not from TCU or Baylor, it's a dream pair of semifinal matchups, as Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage noted:

Buckle up. 

Bowl	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream	Spread
Sugar	No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio St.	Thur, Jan. 1	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN	Alabama (-9)
Rose	No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida St.	Thur, Jan. 1	5 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN	Oregon (-8.5)

While the matchups are tantalizing in terms of narratives, they aren't exactly toss-ups, with the oddsmakers favoring both Alabama and Oregon by more than a touchdown. 

It's not difficult to see why. After inconsistent starts, the Tide and Ducks have been the two best teams in the country since the middle of October. Comparatively, Ohio State (inexperienced QB) and Florida State (only two double-digit wins in its last seven) face fairly large question marks. 

Still, don't expect either to turn into a blowout. Meyer has two national championships and is 7-2 in his career in bowl games. Jimbo Fisher has one national championship and is 4-0 in the postseason. Each head coach, who has loads of talent to work with, will have his team prepared for the semifinals. 

However, while both will cover the spread, neither will earn the upset.

Alabama is just too good on both sides of the ball. It is 11th in the nation in yards per play and 10th in yards per play allowed, per TeamRankings.com. Meyer, via The Tuscaloosa News' Cecil Hurt, put it simply:

Ohio State, even with sophomore Cardale Jones making just his second career start, has the offensive arsenal to keep up (just ask Wisconsin). But ultimately, Amari Cooper and the Crimson Tide offense will be too much for the Buckeyes. 

For the Ducks, it's all about Mariota. With a ridiculous 38-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season, the junior has proven to be the best player in college in 2014. Florida State, which has struggled to contain Justin Thomas and Treon Harris in the past two weeks, will have no answer for the versatile, up-tempo attack.

Predictions: Alabama 35, Ohio State 28; Oregon 38, Florida State 31