Sugar Bowl 2015: Alabama vs. Ohio State TV Info, Spread, Time and Injury News

The 2015 Sugar Bowl doesn't have the Heisman-versus-Heisman feel the Rose Bowl has with Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston dueling for the right to play in the national championship game, but plenty of stars will deliver a compelling contest to those at home and those in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Blake Sims and Cardale Jones are the quarterbacks in question for Alabama and Ohio State, respectively, and neither signal-caller was guaranteed a job entering camp this year. Sims had to take the job from Jake Coker, and he never looked back.

Jones only became the starter before the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin, as second-stringer J.T. Barrett had left the previous game with an ankle injury. Barrett had started the season as quarterback, though Braxton Miller was technically No. 1 on the depth chart prior to a chest injury.

Of course, all eyes will be on Heisman Trophy finalist Amari Cooper in what is expected to be his final game before entering the NFL next season.

With so much at stake in what is one of the most important games of the year due to the new playoff system, you're not going to want to miss a snap from the Superdome. Below is all the info you'll need to tune in and follow the action.

When: Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Matchup (Spread): Alabama vs. Ohio State (-9.5)

Over/Under: 58

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark and updated as of Dec. 30 at 10 p.m. ET.

Team Injury Updates

Player	Pos.	Details	Status	Injury
Anthony Orr	TE	is questionable for the Sugar Bowl Thursday against Ohio State	Questionable	undisclosed
Reuben Foster	LB	is questionable for the Sugar Bowl Thursday against Ohio State	Questionable	shoulder
Ronnie Clark	DB	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	Achilles
Kenyan Drake	RB	is out indefinitely	Out	ankle
Denzel Devall	TE	is questionable for the Sugar Bowl Thursday against Ohio State	Questionable	ankle
Kurt Freitag	TE	is out indefinitely	Out	toe

Player	Pos.	Details	Status	Injury
J.T. Barrett	QB	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	broken ankle
Dontre Wilson	RB	is out indefinitely	Out	foot
Rod Smith	RB	has left the team	Out	personal
Devan Bogard	LB	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Johnnie Dixon	WR	will miss the remainder of the season	Out	knee
Marshon Lattimore	CB	will miss the entire season	Out	hamstring
Noah Spence	DE	will miss the remainder of the season	Suspended	disciplinary
Braxton Miller	QB	will miss the entire season	Out	shoulder
Kyle Berger	LB	will miss the entire season	Out	knee

Team injury reports are courtesy of the Sports Network, via USA Today. 

Analysis

Cooper is by far the most explosive player in the Sugar Bowl. There has been no stopping the wideout this season, as he's been held to fewer than eight catches only twice. Buckeyes defensive coordinator Luke Fickell joked that pretty much nothing can slow Cooper down, via USA Today's Nicole Auerbach:

"

The ideal way to defend him is a pouring rainstorm, winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour, but I don't think that's going to happen in a dome.

...

It's not just his ability to catch the ball. It's his ability to come out of the backfield, take a swing pass, take the deep ball, and his ability to break tackles. Those are the things that make that guy special.

"

Cooper truly is a remarkable talent, and one could argue that Sims would not have been as successful this year without Cooper's route-running and catching abilities. Buckeyes defensive back Doran Grant and safeties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell have to figure out a way to contain him. It won't be easy.

Overall, the Crimson Tide's passing game was up there among the best in the country. Much of that success is the result of Cooper's 127.4 receiving yards per game, but a lot of it is because of Sims.

He completed 64.8 percent of his passes and tallied 26 touchdowns. Those numbers are modest and not nearly as flashy as some of the top passers in the country, but the senior proved steady in his first season as a starter. His ability to limit turnovers (seven interceptions) allowed running backs T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry enough opportunities to torture defenses. The two combined for 20 touchdowns and 1,827 yards.

Defensively, the Crimson Tide ranked 12th in the nation thanks to a stifling run defense. The pass defense was also strong, though Auburn's Nick Marshall and West Virginia's Clint Trickett were able to exploit it during the season.

Jones will look to join Marshall and Trickett on the short list of passers who have found success against it. Nick Saban's mature defense won't present Jones with many opportunities to make big plays, but the sophomore must take advantage of any mistakes made.

He looked brilliant in his first-ever start in the Big Ten title game. He passed for 257 yards and three touchdowns, absolutely dismantling Wisconsin in the process.

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer runs a fast offense, and Jones is perhaps one of the best-equipped players to run it because of his ability to run the option or run outside the tackles on designed plays. This versatility will make running back Ezekiel Elliott a weapon, as the defense will keep tabs on Jones more than anyone else on the field.

While both Alabama and Ohio State boast stellar defensive units, fans should expect a shootout on New Year's Day. Sims has the No. 1 weapon in the country, while Jones will only improve after his first start and several weeks of practice.

Still, all signs point to the Crimson Tide advancing to the title game. ESPN's John Buccigross tweeted that history has always been on Alabama's side in this matchup:

Former NFL quarterback Gary Danielson also appears to have confidence in the No. 1 team in the country:

"Handily" might be too strong a word, but Alabama is clearly the favorite here. Jones and Co. will put up a good fight, but it won't be enough in the end.

Prediction: Alabama 38, Ohio State 28

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn