Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Crimson Tide were on the top of
the college football mountain. They were poised to play for their third consecutive
national championship after being ranked No. 1 every week since the first preseason
poll was released. However, that all came crashing down with a 109-yard touchdown
return by the Tigers’ Chris Davis on the final play of the Iron Bowl.
The Oklahoma Sooners, on the other hand, finished the regular season with their
biggest win of the year when they defeated then-No.6 Oklahoma State 33-24. The win
kept their in-state rival from winning the conference championship and put the Sooners
back into a BCS bowl.
Will the Sooners carry their momentum into the Sugar Bowl, or will the Crimson Tide
take out their disappointment on Oklahoma?
Why Oklahoma can win this game
The Crimson Tide are simply the better team. However, the better team does not
always win the football game. Moreover, this game greatly resembles the Crimson
Tide’s last trip to the Sugar Bowl when they were defeated by the Utah Utes 31-17.
In 2008, Alabama’s undefeated season ended at the hands
of the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game, 3021, despite the Tide holding a lead late in the game. The
late-game collapse cost them a shot at the national
championship, and they were not mentally prepared to play
the Sugar Bowl. It definitely showed.
The Sooners have a solid defense that ranks 15th against the pass (198.0 yards per
game) and 25th against the run (138.3). Moreover, the Tide have not looked as
dominating on offense as they have in seasons past.
If the Tide do not come out focused on offense, this game is winnable for the Sooners.
Oklahoma has struggled throwing the ball this season but is ranked 18th in rushing
yards per game (235.8).
Why Alabama can win this game
There is the chance of another Sugar Bowl letdown for the Tide, but it is unlikely. The
2008 team that played so poorly against Utah was in Nick Saban’s second season. In
other words, these were not Saban-recruited-and-trained players. This Alabama team is
comprised of players who are very familiar with the process and understand that every
game matters.