When No. 1 Alabama faces off against No. 4 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide shouldn’t have a problem rolling over Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes.
At least, that’s what Vegas is predicting.
Moments after the College Football Playoff selection committee announced their four semifinalists, Alabama was projected as a heavy nine-point favorite over Ohio State, according to Odds Shark. That will give Meyer and the Buckeyes three weeks to settle into their role as underdogs.
That should worry Saban and the Tide.
The us-against-the-world mentality is a popular mantra for underdogs, but that particular motivational tactic has worked well for Meyer in the past. He’s turned good teams that were slighted by media and oddsmakers into angry, unstoppable forces.
Ohio State fans became very aware of that in January 2007, when the Buckeyes faced a Meyer-led Florida team in the BCS national title game. With Heisman Trophy quarterback Troy Smith at the helm, unbeaten and top-ranked Ohio State was a 7.5-point favorite over the Gators.
Much of the pregame talk focused on the unblemished Buckeyes and whether Florida even deserved a shot. There were some, such as ESPN’s Gene Wojciechowski, who thought Michigan deserved another shot at Ohio State over the Gators.
Florida eventually got the nod, but all the while, Meyer was keeping tabs on the detractors. He used the negativity to fuel his team, which went on to blast the Buckeyes in…
Continue Reading: Urban Meyer, Ohio State as Underdogs Should Worry Alabama
