College Football Championship 2015: Odds Outlook for Oregon vs. Ohio St.

Oregon obliterated Florida State. Ohio State sneaked past Alabama in a close one. One team has a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback. One team is starting its third-stringer. One team has a coach who hasn't won a national championship. One team has a coach with two titles under his belt. 

Both teams have peaked at the right time this season, however, setting up what should be a memorable national championship. Below, you'll find viewing and odds information on this contest, along with an outlook for this matchup and a prediction of which team will win.
 

Game Information

Date	Time (ET)	Watch	Odds
Monday, Jan. 12	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Oregon (-6.5)

Game Outlook

Ohio State was overlooked by more than a few folks ahead of its showdown against Alabama. It wouldn't be wise to overlook the Buckeyes heading into their contest against Oregon. 

The storylines for Ohio State might center on the legacy of head coach Urban Meyer or how the team was resilient enough to survive the loss of two quarterbacks this season or how tight-knit this group of players is. 

Make no mistake—all of the above might be true, but this is a really, really talented squad.

Devin Smith and Michael Thomas form an excellent one-two punch at wide receiver. Ezekiel Elliott might be the most underrated running back in the country. Defensive end Joey Bosa has 13.5 sacks this season. Quarterback Cardale Jones might be the team's third-stringer, but he'd start for most programs. Defensive tackle Michael Bennett has been downright dominant late in the season for the Buckeyes. 

Ohio State may have been the last team into the playoff, per the selection committee's rankings, but its talent was never in question. It won't roll over and die for the high-powered Oregon offense; that much is certain.

Ah, but that Oregon offense, led by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, must be admired. The nation's No. 2 scoring offense blew past Florida State's defense, aided by an opportunistic defense. There is a tendency to sometimes credit Oregon's scheme for all of its success, but Bleacher Report's Matt Miller doesn't think you should overlook how good Mariota has been:

The one team that played both squads in the national title game, Michigan State, has a unique perspective on this contest. 

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com spent time talking to Spartans players and coaches, who identified some keys to the game:

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Ohio State and Oregon rank third and fourth nationally in third-down conversions, so the team that better moves the chains will have a significant edge. Ohio State is better (20th nationally, 35 percent conversions) at preventing third-down conversions than Oregon (60th, 39.5 percent). 

"Third downs become very critical, whether it’s third-and-short or third-and-long," [Michigan State offensive coordinator Dave Warner] said. "When you get in the red zone, you want to get touchdowns, not field goals. Those things become even more important when you're going against a high-powered offense."

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In many ways, Oregon and Ohio State are similar. They have excellent offenses and underrated defenses. They don't turn the ball over, and they keep drives alive. They have players who can change a game with one reception or carry. They have gotten progressively better as the season has gone on. 

This is going to be one heck of a game and one heck of a way to usher in the new College Football Playoff era. As for a prediction, Oregon's unique offense is firing all cylinders, and it is led by the best player in college football, Mariota, which will give the Ducks the slightest of advantages here. In a straight-up bet, Oregon is the way to go. But if you are playing the spread, take the points with Ohio State.

Either way, expect a game for the ages.