COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP - BUCKS VS. DUCKS

Final Post-Bowl Standings
1) Hoying               52-24    (4-11 upset)
2) Draper                50-26    (7-8 upset)
2) Schweinfurth     50-26    (6-9 upset)
4) Seeberg              49-27    (2-13 upset)

Oregon Ducks vs. THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: This Buckeye team has improved since day one.  One thing I know is that they are unafraid of anything.  They fought the big, bad SEC and took care of business behind the stellar running of Ezekiel Elliot.  The Ducks took care of FSU in what appeared to be stunning fashion, but the scoreboard lies.  The game was close until FSU threw in the towel late.  Mariota has the tools to be a college superstar...but so does Elliot, Smith, Thomas, Marshall, and (maybe) even Jones.  The Buckeyes are facing a mirror of themselves with a key difference...the Bucks have the superior defense (something that hasn't been said about the Urban Meyer Buckeyes very often).  Darron Lee has matured as the season has progressed into a defensive star and that D-line is something of beauty.  The Ducks have been so close in the recent past that I'm sure they will throw caution to the wind but the Buckeyes simply match up better.  Expect a shootout like every sane person, but the OSU defense will get the key stop that will swing the course of the game.  Here's the key for the Buckeye offense: Step 1) minimize/eliminate turnovers, then step 2).... then Step 3) Profit.  This is what we've waited for.  Make it count.  Last game of the year, Brent.  GO BUCKS! BEAT THE DUCKS! Ore: 41--OSU: 48
Hoying: Before bowl season began, I wasn't sure who would win either of the playoff semifinals, but I was pretty sure that whoever won the Sugar Bowl would walk away with the title. After watching the games on New Year's, nothing's changed in my estimation. Ohio State is a nightmare matchup for the Ducks. Not only can our beloved Bucks score just as fast and efficiently if need be (hello, Devin Smith and Ezekiel Elliott), but we bring a power element on both sides of the ball that the Ducks just don't have. Perhaps it's unfair to say the Ducks are still a finesse team, but after seeing the way Cardale was bulldozing Alabama defenders and dragging them out of the endzone three at a time, I think even Wisconsin and Minnesota would start to look a little dainty in comparison. Bosa, Bennett, & Co. should be able to make a big play or two when needed. Even if they can't take Mariota Kart down, they might be able to force a catastrophic decision. Florida State's pedestrian secondary came up with a pick against this guy; maybe he is human after all. We can't afford any late-game breakdowns like we've seen in...virtually every game from Penn State onward, but this is the last game of the year, Brent. Can't hold anything back now. Bucks over Ducks for the 9th time in a row, and the glorious golden lipstick makes its first stop in the STATE OF OHIO! Ore: 31--OSU: 42
Schweinfurth: This Buckeye team has been so much fun to watch this year.  I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Zeke pound the ball and the development of the defense lead by Bosa and Lee.  The underdog role just fits this team perfectly.  Everyone says that Ohio State is a mirror of Oregon, but that isn't the case.  Ohio State pounds the ball first and throws later right now.  There is no reason to think that formula can't work this week. The two suspensions the last few games show that Oregon has a lack of focus and to me, are taking the Bucks lightly.  This defense is built to stop an attack like Oregon, and they will.  This Ohio State team is loose and ready to go.  Urban does not lose at Ohio State as an underdog.  Finish the Chase young men!  Everyone knows the best way to hunt Ducks is with a 12 Gauge.  The Chase for 8 is complete! Ore: 34--OSU: 52
Seeberg:  Alright people, we know what we've gotten ourselves into here.  This game is likely to be a shootout.  In a game where stops will be at a premium, I don't know whose D to trust more.  The Silver Bullets have been roundly praised for their effort against Alabama- except there was still a "35" on the opponents' scoreboard.  Tressel would have had heart failure seeing that number of TOTAL points.  Granted two of those TDs came on short fields as the result of turnovers, but Mariota and Co. are even more likely to capitalize on such mistakes should they occur.  Speaking of those mistakes, neither team is particularly turnover prone, but both are in the top 10 in turnovers forced (Oregon with 30 is number ten, OSU with 32 is number six).  The Ducks, however, lead the country in turnover margin thanks to Mariota throwing a pick about once every other year.  Then again, in somewhat of a reprieve for our secondary, two of the Ducks' top three wideouts are gone due to injury and the ganja, meaning it will be tougher for Mariota to exploit any weaknesses.  Basically, it is very easy to make a very solid case for either team to win this game.  At the midseason point, I took Oregon to win the title because I felt they were about a head above everybody else.  Our beloved Buckeyes have closed that gap to just a few hairs with one of most phenomenally improved football teams I can remember seeing.  I trust Urban Meyer far more than I trust Helfrich, but unfortunately for the Buckeyes it ain't the x's and o's it's the Jimmys and the Joes.  Marcus Mariota is the best JimmyJoe on the field and a marvelous season for the Bucks falls just short.  Ore: 44--OSU: 38