The Buckeyes are hoping this is not the final prediction piece of the 2014-15 season as they are closing in on their game with Alabama. Vegas still sees Alabama as a major favorite in the game but not all of our pickers are buying into that hype. Cardale Jones is fresh off of a B1G Championship MVP performance, can he follow it up with something special in the Sugar Bowl and push the season to a 15th game? What are your thoughts? Sound off with your own predictions in The Horseshoe Lounge.

Kevin Noon - Publisher

I have a feeling that I will be in the minority picking the Buckeyes to win this game but I am fine with that. This is not one of the best Alabama teams of recent memory but they are still very good. The Buckeyes at full strength are one of the best Ohio State teams of recent memory but how will Cardale Jones look in game two as the Buckeyes' starter?

At the end of the day I really believe that the Buckeyes will be able to establish the run, Ohio State has to be able to run the ball to win this game. Alabama gave up some yards on the ground against teams that made an effort to run the ball. That doesn't mean that Ohio State can do it one-dimensional and will need Jones to hook up with Michael Thomas, Devin Smith and others to keep the defense honest.

Amari Cooper is too good to be shut down but the Buckeyes will need to find a way to limit what he does while the Alabama run game is good but not great. Ohio State's defense will do enough to break serve and get the Buckeyes in a position to win this game and in a back-and-forth affair, the Buckeyes end up pulling off the three-point upset. Ohio State 31 Alabama 28

Marc Givler - Recruiting Analyst

When Braxton Miller re-injured his throwing shoulder just two weeks before the start of the season most people, including myself, felt that a playoff berth was pretty unrealistic this year for Ohio State. But the Buckeyes overcame the loss of Miller, the suspension of defensive end Noah Spence, and then the loss of J.T. Barrett in the Michigan game to earn their way into the first ever college football playoff field.

While the Wisconsin game will go down as one of the best performances ever by an Ohio State football team, Alabama presents a more balanced attack offensively and a more athletic and aggressive approach defensively.

Ohio State should be able to move the football as the Alabama defense has been vulnerable to offenses that can stretch the field both horizontally and vertically but can Cardale Jones avoid the big mistake as he did against Wisconsin and what will happen if some adversity strikes via a turnover or bad break?

Alabama is just a little bit more experienced where it counts coming into this one and I have the Crimson Tide winning a close, hard fought game. Alabama 27 Ohio State 21

For those of you reading this on the site take heart. I have picked against Ohio State twice this season, and the Buckeyes completely dominated both of those games (Michigan State and Wisconsin). Yet still, here I am doubting the Buckeyes once again. For the first time, possibly since Urban Meyer came to Columbus, Ohio State is matched up with an opponent that has more talent and depth than it does. Alabama is athletic and super skilled all across the field, and is more multidimensional than most give credit for. The Tide can burn you with Cooper and White in the passing game or pound the ball with any number of running backs. Ohio State will hold its own for a while because of Herman and the talent on offense, but in the end Alabama will just be too good and pull out a victory. Alabama 35 Ohio State 27

In the two biggest games of the season (at Michigan State and Wisconsin) the Tom Herman opened up the playbook and the Ohio State offense was nearly unstoppable. I look for him to do this again Thursday and I think Cardale Jones and the Buckeye offense will put up enough points to have a shot at winning.

The defense will need to find a way to slow down a very, very good Alabama offense. Heisman trophy finalist Amari Cooper will get his, but Doran Grant and company will need to find a way to slow him down. They'll also need to the trio of quarterback Blake Simms and running backs TJ Yeldon and Derrick Henry, who are all major threats to do damage on the ground. In the end I think the Buckeyes do just enough to pull off the upset. Ohio State 35 Alabama 32

Ohio State will face what is almost certainly its stiffest challenge of the Urban Meyer era on January 1st when it takes on Alabama and Nick Saban in the inaugural Sugar Bowl college football playoff semifinal. With that having been said, the Buckeyes may not have to look too far to find a winning game plan to take on the Crimson Tide. During the 59-0 drubbing of Wisconsin, Ohio State focused on taking away Melvin Gordon and the Badgers' run game on defense by walking up an extra safety, normally Tyvis Powell, into the box. On offense, they sought to control the game by feeding Ezekiel Elliot and taking off the head of the defense by allowing Cardale Jones to use his prodigious arm strength and air out the football long. Alabama clearly has a much more talented roster on every level than Wisconsin does, and superior coaching to boot, but the general plan of attack will be similar for both teams. New wrinkles will be added to account for this talent difference, notably one Amari Cooper, but the core principles will remain the same. I'm of the opinion that Cardale Jones is going to hit on those long bombs against a weakened Alabama secondary more often than not, and if he can do that, the Buckeyes should have a strong chance to advance to Arlington. Ohio State 34 Alabama 30

On paper, it may appear grim. Alabama's been the premiere program over the last decade while Ohio State enters with a third-string quarterback. But in case you missed the Big Ten Championship, the Buckeyes are more than capable to compete with anyone in a country with Cardale Jones behind center. Remember, the Tide surrendered over 450 passing yards to Auburn and their mobile QB Nick Marshall so Jones and the Buckeye aerial attack have an opportunity to put up large numbers on New Years Day. Equally dangerous on offense, Bama has arguably the biggest game-breaker in Amari Cooper and a running game that will challenge the silver bullets. When the dust settles, Ohio State may not emerge victorious but they won't disappoint the Big Ten conference. Alabama 37 Ohio State 31

The Sugar Bowl - College Football Playoff Semi Final game between our Ohio State Buckeyes and the Alabama Crimson Tide should be a terrific game. While everyone is talking about the Blake Sims to Amari Cooper connection, which is impressive, but I believe the story of the game for the Crimson Tide may be the running of T.J. Yeldon, behind the huge Alabama offensive line. The "Tide" "O" Line averages 315lbs per man versus the Buckeyes at 279 lbs per defensive lineman. I would not be surprised to see Nick Saban have them "pin their ears" back and "lead with the rivets" trying to knock the Buckeyes off the ball. Should the Bucks be able to control that line of scrimmage and also pressure Sims, they have a good chance in this game.

Cardale Jones needs to remain composed and focus on distributing the ball to his talented skill players. Buckeye receivers need big games as does Ezekiel Elliott and Jalin Marshall. I believe in the end, the more veteran nature of Alabama will allow Alabama to prevail in a close game.

Alabama 34 Ohio State 28

Rose Bowl Prediction - National Semifinal

Noon - Oregon 42 Florida State 31

Givler - Florida State 38 Oregon 34

Rogers - Oregon 42 Florida State 39

Joseph -

Donnelly - Florida State 42 Oregon 38

AndyMac - Florida State 34 Oregon 31

Tom - Oregon 42 Florida State 34

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