QUARTERBACKS
With J.T. Barrett knocked out for the year with a broken ankle, Cardale Jones took over in the Big 10 Championship Game and was an immediate success as the Buckeyes rolled over Wisconsin, 59-0. Jones is the biggest quarterback Alabama will have faced since Cam Newton in 2010; he’s bigger than Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott at 6’5”, 250 pounds. Pegging what kind of passer Jones is, however, is difficult; he’s thrown only 34 passes so far this season. But his running ability is already a known quantity, as Jones is averaging more than 6 yards per carry on 34 totes on the season. If Alabama should happen to knock Jones from the game, Ohio State could be in real trouble. Jones was already third on the depth chart headed into the fall behind Barrett and Braxton Miller, who was also knocked out for the year. The backup would be either Jalin Marshall, currently at H-back, or Stephen Collier. Both are freshmen, and neither has completed a collegiate pass. Alabama will counter with Blake Sims, who made some Heisman Trophy ballots and whose dual-threat, big-play ability has steadily grown in effectiveness as the season has gone along. Backup Jake Coker has thrown almost twice as many passes as Ohio State’s starter for this game. This one becomes hard to pick simply because of a lack of information. Jones no doubt possesses raw skills and looked superb in his only start, but Sims’ experience counts for much more, and there’s a decent chance Coker is also better than Jones. Advantage: Alabama
