Oregon Ducks vs Ohio State - All even based on stats

Marcus MariotaWikimedia Commons

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks will face off at the AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 with the Ducks holding a slight edge over the Buckeyes.

A prime reason for this is because of Marcus Mariota although if you check the statistics, both teams seem to be evenly matched up.

However, it may all depend on the condition of defensive end Darren Lee who may have been worn out after the Buckeyes last win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, 42-35.

But Lee was quick to contradict the claim, saying that he has full confidence on his coaches as far as his conditioning is concerned.

"You get a couple good night's rest and we'll be all right," Lee said in an interview with CBS Sports. "But it is a long season, I'll tell you that. The playoff system's great, but it is a wear and tear."

The wear and tear as well as the style of play is apparently something blamed on the new system implemented as far as the new college football championship is concerned. But for his part, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had to drastically change his style of training to make sure that the Buckeys could be fit and ready as they go along.

"You're talking about 14, 15 games, and that is getting very NFL-ish," Meyer said. "We're very leery of it. And there's a part of me that's concerned about the wear and tear on the student-athlete. But I watch our players and they're having the time of their life."

After their matchup, both teams will still have one more game to play under the new system before the college football champion at the national level can be determined.

And as state earlier, the Ducks may be favored but if there is a team which can match their firepower, it is the Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes and the Ducks face off at 8:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised by ESPN. For online viewers, you can watch it through stream here.