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College Football Playoff National Championship open thread: The all-SEC showdown

The Tide are in this thing for the third consecutive season, while their opponent tries to win their first title since 1980.

NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Head Coaches News Conference Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The finale of the 2017-18 college football season is upon us, as the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs compete in Atlanta for the College Football Playoff National Championship, tonight at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN (with options available via streaming on WatchESPN).

While this isn’t another rematch of the last two title games, which featured Clemson and Alabama, I don’t know that it is much of an improvement for the Tide to be facing Georgia instead. The last two tilts between the Tigers and Tide were competitive classics. The fact that this year’s championship features two teams from the same conference - and from the conference which has the reputation for being the most vocally supportive of itself, nonetheless - has surely dampened the appeal of the game for some factions of football fans.

This year again ESPN is going the “MegaCast” route, having a multitude of viewing alternatives available for the game. Below, you’ll find a chart detailing all of this year’s options. The traditional primary telecast will air on ESPN. Other options are also available online via WatchESPN.

CFP National Championship Viewing Options - Monday, January 8, 2018

MegaCast Option What does this mean? TV Featuring
MegaCast Option What does this mean? TV Featuring
Traditional Telecast The main "traditional" broadcast and call of the game ESPN Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstret, Maria Taylor
Homers Telecast Former Alabama and Georgia players, an emphasis on "fan" viewpoints ESPN2 Aaron Murray, Landon Collins
Coaches Film Room Coaches watch and discuss the game (with limited commercial breaks) ESPN News Mike Bobo, Pat Fitzgerald, Kevin Sumlin
Finebaum Film Room Finebaum and crew discuss the game and take phone calls SECN Paul Finebaum, Greg McElroy, Gene Chizik
Expanded Voices ESPNU will jump between five mini-"shows" featuring personalities in different areas ESPNU ESPN personalities
Sounds of the Game A feed with the natural sounds of the stadium, no commenters ESPN 3 / ESPN Classic Both school's halftime presentations included
Command Center A split screen with mulitple camera views and isolated feeds on Saban and Smart ESPN Goal Line
Home Town Radio Alabama and Georgia's home radio broadcasts serve as the commentary ESPN 3 Also has feeds isolated on coaches and players
Data Center On-screen graphics, drive charts, win probabilities, and social media reactions ESPN3 ESPN Radio's call
Sky Cam A continuous feed of the camera that is placed above the field ESPN3
All-22 View all 22 players on the field at the same time ESPN3
ESPN Radio Play-by-play and game analysis, with a rules expert ESPN Radio Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge
ESPN Deportes Spanish language call of the game ESPN Deportes Lalo Varela, Pablo Viruega

As far as rooting interests go, I’m not going to lose any sleep over either outcome. I still do enjoy an impassioned rivalry though, and as such, I just can’t bring myself to root for the Bulldogs (or Seminoles or Volunteers). It might just be a symptom of my time in Gainesville coinciding with the Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow years - which was a time period when the Georgia rivalry seemingly burned hotter than even the Florida State one - but cheering for the Bulldogs is not on my agenda this evening.

Granted, most college football fans of teams other than the Tide are assuredly sick of seeing Bama rack up victories and championships. I’ve never subscribed to the argument that the success of Alabama, or any SEC team, directly benefits the Gators. I haven’t made it my business to root along those party lines. But if I was forced to make the unappetizing choice of deciding between another year of Tide domination, or one of Florida’s fiercest rivals hoisting the trophy — then Roll Tide (or Roll Sigh), I guess.

Who will you be rooting for and why? What viewing option will you be utilizing? Do you care about this game.. like, at all? Tell us in the comments!