Nick Saban knows a thing or two about winning football games. Like him or not, the man put Alabama back on the map with seven national championships. Saban appeared on the Pat McAfee Show today and gave some perspective on Ohio State vs. Miami in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
He begins by talking about the long layoff for the Buckeyes between the Big Ten Championship and the game at hand. How well did Ryan Day manage that layoff? Saban says sometimes he got it right and other times not so much. But he didn’t seem as concerned about that as his comments quickly shifted toward what Miami needs to do in order to take Ohio State down.
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Miami didn’t have a great showing on offense against Texas A&M. That doesn’t mean the Hurricanes are a bad offensive team. The weather was not ideal, with wind gusts affecting the passing game against the Aggies. Mario Cristobal made a decision that quarterback Carson Beck wasn’t going to be allowed to lose the game, so he just kept pounding the rock with the running game. Saban doesn’t believe the ‘Canes will be able to do the same thing against the Silver Bullets. While Saban didn’t make a pick in the game, it did feel like is leaning toward Ohio State to win the game. Take a listen below, courtesy of ESPN College Football.
Saban also gave insight as to what Ohio State needs to do to win the game, namely, run the ball more consistently than it did against Indiana. He also calls the Hurricanes’ defense pretty simple. Take a listen.
When the G.O.A.T. speaks, it’s probably wise to listen. Miami certainly has the talent to win the game, but as Ryan Day has said many times, can that talent execute? That remains the question at hand. Both teams have the talent, but which team will put it all together to come out on top?
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The Buckeyes and Hurricanes square off on New Year’s Eve at 7:30 pm ET on ESPN.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Nick Saban gives simple declaration if Miami hopes to beat Ohio State
