Sugar Bowl 2015: Vital Viewing Information for Alabama vs. Ohio State

The 2014-15 bowl season is full of intriguing matchups, but the game that will steal the show will be the College Football Playoff semifinal between the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes.

The 2015 Sugar Bowl is must-watch television.

With two of the most prestigious schools in the nation going head-to-head in the first round of the inaugural College Football Playoff, fans of the sport will be treated to some of the most exciting action of the season.

Here is all the vital viewing information for the 2015 Sugar Bowl and the biggest difference-maker.

Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans

When: Thursday, Jan. 1

Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Biggest Potential Difference-Maker

Both teams have rosters full of players who will be looking to make a name for themselves on the big stage, but few have the ability to control the pace of the game more than Alabama quarterback Blake Sims.

The senior star has emerged as a serious weapon for the Crimson Tide, and he has the potential to achieve mainstream notoriety with a standout performance.

Sims is not a typical college quarterback in the sense that he doesn't rack up huge numbers every game. Alabama head coach Nick Saban has kept the pressure off Sims by allowing him to thrive in the right situations. With 3,250 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions, Sims is a true game manager with playmaking abilities.

Bleacher Report lead writer Marc Torrence shared Sims on the cover of ESPN, one of several mainstream appearances he has made since the SEC Championship:

Add in Sims' 321 yards and six touchdowns rushing, and he is the kind of quarterback who could give Ohio State trouble.

When asked about the doubts early in the season that Sims could be the No. 1 quarterback, Alabama center Ryan Kelly told John Zenor of the Associated Press, “I don't think anybody doubted him on this team. We knew wherever he was going to go he was going to give it his all. That's the result that came out this year. He gave it his all and look what happened.”

The key for the entire Crimson Tide offensive unit will be exploiting Ohio State's defensive issues. As seen in the marquee matchup against Michigan State earlier in the season, opposing offenses can rack up big points against the Buckeyes.

While the program is ranked a respectable 23rd in the nation allowing 21.2 points per game, the Buckeyes haven’t faced an offensive unit as balanced as Alabama’s. Using star receiver Amari Cooper on the outside and running backs T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry on the ground, the Crimson Tide should be able to advance to the championship game.

As long as Sims protects the football and makes smart decisions like he has all season, Alabama will be victorious and the senior quarterback will have his chance to be the top star on the field.

Prediction: Alabama 30, Ohio State 24

All stats courtesy of ESPN.com.