CFP National Championship Game: 5 bold predictions for Alabama vs. Ohio State

Alabama and Ohio State are set to face off in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game and we have bold predictions for the game. 

A college football season unlike any before it comes down to this: On Monday, Jan. 11 from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the Alabama Crimson Tide will square off against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Up to this point, neither team has tasted defeat this season, which is what you want to see in a game with this type of stakes. Moreover, the talent is abundant on both sides of the ball. Both quarterbacks, Mac Jones and Justin Fields, are likely heading towards being first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft while the skill-position players with NFL futures are almost too numerous to count. And the list goes on.

These are two titans of the college football landscape and the cream has clearly risen to the top in this pandemic-affected season. But with the lights brighter than they’ve ever been, which team will come out victorious?

To unpack that, let’s delve into five bold predictions for the National Championship Game between Alabama and Ohio State.

National Championship Game prediction No. 5: Jaylen Waddle scores 2 TDs

One of the big storylines coming into the title game is the availability of star Crimson Tide wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The electric playmaker was sidelined with a broken ankle on the opening kickoff return against Tennessee on Oct. 24. However, there have been rumblings about a possible CFP return for quite some time.

Now that he’s listed as a game-time decision by Nick Saban and his staff, it seems like a reality. Yes, it could be posturing to make the Buckeye’s job more difficult in their preparation. But if there’s a chance to get a player with Waddle’s ability to break a game open on the field and not risk further injury, I don’t expect Alabama to let that go by the wayside.

In the four full games Waddle played this season, he was unstoppable, perhaps even more so than newly crowned Heisman-winner DeVonta Smith. The speedy junior had 25 receptions for an incredible 557 yards and four touchdowns over that span. And if he gets loose in the Natty, he’s going to have a similar impact.

Ohio State’s secondary, despite how the defense played against Clemson, is not equipped to hang with the receiving weapons on the Crimson Tide offense. They especially don’t have someone who can hang with the speed of Waddle. As such, Waddle will not only play but will get behind the Buckeyes for two big touchdowns.