Alabama vs. Ohio State odds, predictions, betting trends for College Football Playoff championship

No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Ohio Condition meet in the College or university Football Playoff championship sport Monday in a vintage blue-blood matchup.  

The sport is at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for eight p.m. ET on ESPN.  

Alabama (twelve-) is in its fifth CFP championship sport underneath Nick Saban after beating No. 4 Notre Dame 31-fourteen in the semifinals. The Crimson Tide are also looking for a sixth countrywide championship underneath Saban, and the offense averages forty eight.2 details for every sport. DeVonta Smith, Mack Jones and Najee Harris direct that offense, which could possibly get an more raise with the probable return of Jaylen Waddle.  

More: Alabama vs. Ohio Condition players in the NFL

Ohio Condition (seven-) answered any doubts about its playoff credentials with a 49-28 victory against No. 3 Clemson in the semifinals. Justin Fields is coming off a 6-landing functionality despite using a horrible hit in the next quarter. Next-12 months mentor Ryan Working day expects Fields to engage in, and the functioning sport has taken off with Oklahoma transfer Trey Sermon.  

It is trending toward a shootout and an quick vintage.  

Here is all the things to know about betting on Alabama vs. Ohio State, with updated odds, tendencies and our prediction for the CFP semifinal.   

Alabama vs. Ohio Condition odds  

• Distribute: Alabama –7.5 
• Above/underneath: 75.5 
• Moneyline: Alabama –110, Ohio State –110   

Alabama Playoff history  

The Crimson Tide are in the CFP for the sixth time, and they are in the championship sport for the fifth time. Alabama is 2-2 in people prior title online games.  

Ohio Condition Playoff history  

This is Ohio State’s fourth CFP physical appearance and next physical appearance in the championship sport. The Buckeyes conquer Oregon 42-twenty on this phase in 2014.  

3 tendencies to know  

— Alabama has been favored in all 4 prior CFP championship appearances. The Crimson Tide is 2-2 straight-up in people online games, but they are -four ATS.  

— The Crimson Tide is eight-four ATS this time, and that incorporates a 2-1 ATS mark when the distribute is much less than twenty details.   

— The Buckeyes performed the underdog card to perfection towards Clemson, but that has been the regular with Urban Meyer and now Working day as head mentor. The Buckeyes are eight-1 ATS as an underdog due to the fact 2012.  

3 factors to watch  

— Justin Fields’ encore. Fields was breathtaking towards Clemson, even right after using a brutal hit from Clemson linebacker James Skalski. Fields threw three TDs to his receivers — like two to Chris Olave — but it was the three TD passes to restricted finishes Jeremy Ruckert and Luke Farrell that retained the Tigers off harmony. Garrett Wilson figures to be more concerned in this sport, also. Alabama’s secondary functions first-workforce All-American cornerback Patrick Surtain II, but that protection has been exploitable towards substantial-run passing attacks this time. The earlier three quarterbacks to conquer Alabama who didn’t engage in for Auburn had been Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow. That is the stage at which Fields need to engage in, and he is able of performing it.  

— Alabama’s receivers. Quarterback Mac Jones has a tremendous-gifted team to work with in the passing sport. DeVonta Smith is on a two-sport tear in which he torched Florida and Notre Dame. He had 22 catches for 314 yards and 5 TDs in people two online games. Ohio Condition, which makes it possible for 271 passing yards for every sport, cannot lose Smith in the middle of the subject like the Irish did. John Metchie’s 17.eight is a different danger, and if Waddle — who averaged 22.3 yards for every catch right before suffering a leg injuries against Tennessee on Oct. 24 — plays, then offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will have even more wrinkles to add to the playbook.    

— Which significant back again goes huge? Najee Harris and Trey Sermon are two significant-time backs, and functioning the ball stays a precedence for both of those groups. Will Sermon engage in the function of Ezekiel Elliott, who had twenty carries for 230 yards and two TDs in the previous assembly amongst these groups? Sermon’s late-time surge has opened the playbook for the Buckeyes, and he is up towards an Alabama protection that allows 3.2 yards for every have. Ohio Condition also makes it possible for just 3.2 yards for every have, and Harris is a hard, physical runner. Which interior line wins on both of those sides? That will dictate the tempo of the sport.  

Stat that matters  

Pink-zone TDs

Ohio State’s crimson-zone offense was phenomenal towards Clemson, and the problem is to stay that way towards the Crimson Tide. The Buckeyes scored TDs on 25 of 39 crimson-zone trips this 12 months, and Alabama allowed 17 TDs on 34 crimson-zone trips by its opponents.  

On the other aspect, Alabama scored TDs on forty eight of 62 crimson-zone visits, and the Buckeyes allowed 15 TDs in 23 trips by their opponents.  

This is a sport in which TDs, not subject goals, will acquire. Alabama has a tiny benefit listed here, but that can modify in a sport like this.  

Alabama vs. Ohio Condition prediction   

In that previous assembly, Alabama was just 2-of-thirteen on third down. Jones will be more effective than that, and the Crimson Tide will just take a double-digit direct in the next quarter right after Smith’s next TD. Ohio Condition will not go away, even so, and a Sermon TD right before halftime will set up a thrilling next fifty percent. Both equally groups will trade TDs in a frantic fourth quarter. Which groups gets that important score (or end) in crunch time? Which is the final toss-up.  

Last score: Alabama 37, Ohio Condition 34