Casual Spectator previews tonight’s College Football Playoff National Championship game: what you need to know.
_____
This college football preview is brought to you by Casual Spectator a super-simple sports newsletter for busy people.
_____
College Football Playoff National Championship:
Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
The narrative:
The No. 2-ranked Oregon Ducks of the Pac-12 come flying into this game after pounding Florida State 59-20 in the Rose Bowl. No. 4 Ohio State got here by knocking off top-seeded Alabama 42-35 in the Sugar Bowl.
What Vegas thinks:
The professionals like Oregon by 6.5 points.
What we say :
The big question coming in to the game is whether Ohio State QB Cardale Jones is for real. After beginning the season as a third stringer, he was forced into action late in the season after OSU’s top-two quarterbacks suffered season-ending injuries. Jones is now 2-0 as a starter, with a 59-0 win over Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship game and a 42-35 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. He’ll need to be at his best to keep up with Oregon’s high-octane offense that averaged over 47 points per game this season.
The Ducks are led by Heisman-winning QB Marcus Mariota, who will have to be even better than usual. He’ll be without his No. 2 and No. 3 wide receivers after Darren Carrington tested positive for smoking pot and Devon Allen injured his knee in the Rose Bowl.
___
For more from Casual Spectator, visit us or find us on Twitter or Facebook.
Cover Photo Credit: Don Ryan/AP
___
Join our BRAND NEW Good Men Project Sports Facebook Page!
