Contrary to popular belief in SEC territory, Ohio State’s fortune could not get any better than playing Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1 at 8:30 p.m. EST in New Orleans.
SEC fans, and Alabama fans in particular, are laughing right now. They are pointing to the Buckeyes’ abysmal 0-10 record against the SEC in bowl games. They are highlighting the drubbing Florida and LSU put on Ohio State in back-to-back BCS championships in 2007 and 2008. They are quick to reference Nick Saban’s last two games against Urban Meyer when Alabama beat Florida 32-13 in the 2009 SEC championship game and 35-6 in the 2010 regular season. Their sense of entitlement is palpable.
Guess what? History does not matter when the teams take the field in a few weeks.
For Meyer and the Buckeyes, the stakes could not be any higher. On the line are Ohio State’s reputation, the Big Ten’s image, a potential berth in the national championship game and the title for best coach in college football. The Buckeyes can also extend the SEC’s championship drought to two years.
Despite the stakes for the Buckeyes, more pressure is on the Crimson Tide. With three championships over the last five years, Alabama has had a lock on SEC and college football supremacy. Everyone outside of Ohio expects Alabama to win convincingly. Oddsmakers have Alabama as 9.5-point favorites. Many feel the Buckeyes don’t even deserve to be…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: 3 Keys to Upsetting Alabama in the Sugar Bowl
