Sugar Bowl 2015: Bold Predictions for Alabama vs. Ohio State Showdown

In a game like the 2015 Sugar Bowl, in which every position on the field will be analyzed ad nauseam up until kickoff, the unexpected is pretty much guaranteed to happen at some point.

When two teams with the prestige and coaching staff of Alabama and Ohio State get together for an elimination game, the near month of preparation turns out to be crucial. Known football geniuses like Alabama's Nick Saban and Ohio State's Urban Meyer will undoubtedly have different things up their sleeve, and the game's momentum will hinge on that.

Predicting something like a dominating running performance from Alabama's stable of backs would be moot. Meanwhile, other positions and aspects of the game brushed under the rug will emerge to the forefront and play a much larger role than expected.

Let's take a look at what those will be, breaking down some bold predictions for the Sugar Bowl.

Cardale Jones Will Pass for 300-Plus Yards

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Having one quarterback simply step in for the other will be easier said than done against the vaunted Alabama defense. But despite the tough matchup, Cardale Jones won't blink at the chance to take on a downtrodden Tide secondary.

Alabama as a unit has been on fire to finish the season, but its passing defense has been anything but. The Tide allowed 272 yards passing from Maty Mauk in the SEC title game, 456 from Nick Marshall in the Iron Bowl and even 221 through the air by lowly Western Carolina.

Jones didn't have to do much through the air against Wisconsin, only throwing 17 times. But the Crimson Tide defense will make it a priority to shut down running back Ezekiel Elliott and put the onus on Jones to make the plays downfield.

Although Saban knows the lack of film on Jones will open things up for Ohio State, there won't be much they can do to stop him through the air, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg:

Priority No. 1 for the Tide will be keeping Elliott in front of them, which will create some favorable matchups on the outside for Jalin Marshall and Devin Smith. Jones isn't a polished passer, but he'll make some big-time throws to make for a strong offensive outing.

DeAndrew White—Not Amari Cooper—Will Grab Two TDs

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All the focus around Alabama football has been on Amari Cooper since the season ended, as he ringed in the Biletnikoff Award and a Heisman finalist spot. The focus for Ohio State will fittingly be on Cooper as well in the Sugar Bowl, and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will take advantage.

Cooper has been wrecking foes who game-plan for him all season long, but the Tide will be ready for aggressive packages scheming for him against Ohio State. And they'll have no problem using that extra attention to generate some big plays for their senior wideout DeAndrew White.

White is no stranger to making big plays for the Tide despite Cooper's presence, grabbing four touchdowns on the year—including one each against Missouri and Auburn. In White's long touchdown play against Missouri, it was the threat of Cooper that helped White to get open—spurring some early celebration from Kiffin.

Smart Football's Chris B. Brown is one of few who have noticed White's threat despite Cooper's obvious stardom:

Cooper is simply unstoppable with a single defender, which means the Buckeyes will be mixing things up to complicate routes for the Tide receivers. Even if they have some success in doing so, it will open things up even more for White to make huge plays.

White—at 6'0"—won't be jumping over any defenders to score touchdowns in the Superdome, but he won't have to with Cooper and Kiffin working to get him wide-open looks.

Alabama Will Win a Close One

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Ohio State beat the odds to make it into the College Football Playoff, but that's about as far as many think the Buckeyes will go. In fact, Odds Shark had the Crimson Tide as massive 9.5-point favorites as of December 13.

Alabama will prove its No. 1 ranking true with a victory, but it won't be nearly as easy as the oddsmakers predict.

The Crimson Tide are undoubtedly battle-tested after topping some of the nation's best teams down the stretch, but they rarely have gone up against such a formidable offense. And when they have, struggles have inevitably followed—just look at Auburn's offensive success in the Iron Bowl.

Jones will find the seams down the field early in the game, putting the pressure on Alabama's offense to keep pace. That sort of pressure has stalemated the Tide's offense at times, although they've shown all it takes is one drive to kick the unit back into gear. 

With the Buckeyes featuring stout run-stuffers Joey Bosa and Joshua Perry, Alabama won't be able to run the ball to its liking. The Buckeyes' passing game won't come up big in the fourth quarter but will at least have them in position late.

Prediction: Alabama 31, Ohio State 24