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On New Year's Day, the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) will attempt to reach their fourth National Championship game in the last four years when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1). Alabama finished the year atop the SEC West, while the Buckeyes were first in the Big Ten East standings.

Alabama earned their playoff spot by routing Missouri 42-13 in the SEC title game on December 6. The Crimson Tide had no turnovers in that win and ended up holding Missouri to just 41 yards on the ground.

Alabama's defense has been one of the best in the country this season by giving up just 16.6 points per game. Quarterback Blake Sims has had a very good year by completing 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,250 yards, 26 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Wide receiver Amari Cooper has caught 115 passes this year for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns.

In the Big Ten title game, Ohio State played about as well as they could have on both sides of the ball and came away with a 59-0 shutout. They had 558 offensive yards in that game and their defense was able to force four Wisconsin turnovers.

The Buckeyes have rushed for 260.8 yards per game this season and are fifth in the country in scoring by averaging 45.2 points per game. Quarterback J.T. Barrett has thrown for 2,834 yards with 34 touchdown passes this year, and he has also rushed for 938 yards with 11 more touchdowns.

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

Ohio State Buckeyes are 8-5-0 Against the Spread

Ohio State Buckeyes are 11-2-0 against the Over/Under

Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Trends

Alabama Crimson Tide are 5-7-1 Against the Spread

Alabama Crimson Tide are 6-6-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

Ohio State Buckeyes

11/30/14 QB J.T. Barrett Ankle out for season
11/10/14 Backup RB Dontre Wilson Foot out for season
10/30/14 RB Rod Smith Personal out for season
10/24/14 LB Devan Bogard ACL out for season
09/25/14 WR Johnnie Dixon Knee out for season
09/13/14 DE Noah Spence Suspension out indefinitely
08/28/14 DB Marshon Lattimore Hamstring out for season
08/19/14 QB Braxton Miller Shoulder out for season
08/16/14 DL Dylan Thompson Knee out for season
08/14/14 WR Frank Epitropoulos Personal has left team
08/14/14 LB Kyle Berger ACL out for season

Alabama Crimson Tide

12/07/14 LB Denzel Devall Foot "?" Thursday vs Ohio State
10/16/14 DB Ronnie Clark Achilles out for season
10/15/14 TE Kurt Freitag Legal problems out indefinitely
10/04/14 RB Kenyan Drake Leg out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Alabama

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