Oregon vs. Ohio State: Latest Odds and College Football Championship Prediction

The College Football Playoff has already paid massive dividends, producing a high-flying national championship between Oregon and Ohio State.

Had the BCS chosen the championship clash like in years past, the undefeated Florida State Seminoles would have instead gotten exposed by the Alabama Crimson Tide for all the marbles. Instead, the Ducks proved the importance of point differential by ravaging Florida State while Ohio State took the SEC golden boys down a peg.

As a result, the last two teams standing both wield electric, uptempo offenses which score at least 45 points per game. One is led by the runaway Heisman Trophy winner, the other by a third-string quarterback shoved into duty for his third start.

Yet Ohio State has not missed a beat with Cardale Jones under center, and its swarming defense presents Marcus Mariota with one of his toughest challenges to date. This championship showdown will meet the lofty hype.

Oregon vs. Ohio State

When: Monday, Jan. 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET 

Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Watch: ESPN, WatchESPN 

Line (via Odds Shark): Oregon (-7)

Preview

Buckle up for a fun ride, and whatever you do, don't take your eyes off the game. 

The FBS' No. 3 offense in total yards per game (553), Oregon runs the show at a lightning pace, executing 77.4 plays per game. While its hurry-up attack has reached notoriety, it has also inspired others to join the charge.

While working as an ESPN analyst, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer took note of the schemes then run by Chip Kelly. Now he leads a club that runs 74.4 plays per contest, ranking No. 9 in total offense with 510 yards per bout.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

When describing his transition into a quicker spread scheme, head coach Urban Meyer called hurry-up offenses the future of college football to Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod. 

"It is. Everybody says it's not—it is," Meyer said. "It's an advantage for the offense. And if you don't take it, then that's fine. But even I know Alabama is moving in that direction. Is it full-speed all the time? We're not. But certainly that gives us an advantage at times."

Of course, the key is how each side uses those plays. Although Jones has certainly defied expectations replacing J.T. Barrett, who filled in masterfully for Braxton Miller, Ezekiel Elliott has run the Buckeyes to the title game.

The sophomore has rushed for 923 yards and nine touchdowns over the past six games, compiling 450 yards and two scores during the past two tilts alone. Since the season's opening two bouts, he has registered 7.2 yards per rush.

Florida State eventually had to eschew the ground game during a 59-20 massacre, but Karlos Williams and Dalvin Cook combined for 183 yards on 27 carries. During the season, the Ducks surrendered 158.2 rushing yards per game on 4.6 yards per run.

Oregon is susceptible against the run, and Elliott has caught fire. Its best shot at containing him is to rattle Jones and build an early lead off turnovers. The passing game must turn into a distinct advantage for the Ducks, which won't be easy without their emerging wideout. 

According to CSNNW.com's Aaron Fentress, wide receiver Darren Carrington is ineligible to play after failing a drug test. The redshirt freshman, who caught seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns against Florida State, tested positive for marijuana.

ESPN CollegeFootball charted Mariota's efficiency looking Carrington's way, and ESPN Stats & Info measured the impact of those connections.

Nevertheless, Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost doesn't sound too fazed about the loss. Despite missing Carrington, Devon Allen and Pharaoh Brown, he insisted to ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach that the wideout corps remains deep:

"

We have so much confidence in our next guy stepping up that it doesn't bother us like you think it would. It doesn't affect us like you probably might think because we know how much depth we have at that position. It's actually the most healthy we've been at the position in quite a while.

"

Those who aren't used to Oregon's unconventional offense label it soft, but its 301 rushing yards and five scores against Florida State say otherwise. An Ohio State defense that has relinquished 3.9 yards per run presents a stiffer test, but Mariota is not running a one-man show.

To keep up with Oregon's speed, Ohio State needs another huge game from linebacker Darren Lee, who flew around the field for seven tackles—three for a loss—and two sacks against Alabama. Nobody, including the Sugar Bowl's defensive MVP, can shut down Mariota and Co., but neither offense is leaving Texas without a heavy scoop of points.

Michigan State offensive coordinator Dave Warner, who lined up against both Oregon and Ohio State this season, hammered down the importance of finishing drives to ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg.

"Third downs become very critical, whether it’s 3rd-and-short or 3rd-and-long," 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." 

One or two field goals too many will leave either side short-changed, and neither school can afford any turnovers. The Buckeyes needed three Blake Sims interceptions to win a shootout over the Crimson Tide, but Mariota has tossed three picks all year.

By a slim margin, Oregon walks away with the national championship.

Prediction: Oregon 42, Ohio State 37