Oklahoma has skill players who are talented enough to give Alabama a game. The
problem is they don’t have the type of talent needed in the trenches to beat Alabama.
The Crimson Tide have a major advantage on the offensive and defensive lines.
The Sooners have elite athletes, but the Crimson
Tide are on a different level along the offensive and
defensive lines. They have a legit shot of limiting the
Alabama passing game, but the Crimson Tide’s
running game will eventually wear Oklahoma down.
For Oklahoma to win this game, the Sooners will
have to force turnovers and make plays on special
teams. If they cannot do this, the talent discrepancy will make it impossible for them to
win this game.
Deciding factor for this game
It is impossible to beat the Crimson Tide without solid quarterback play. The Tide have
only been defeated three times over the past three seasons. Two of those opposing
quarterbacks were Johnny Manziel and Nick Marshall.
The problem for the Sooners is they are not even sure who their quarterback will be.
Sooners head coach Bob Stoops recently stated that the choice for his starting
quarterback will be a game-time decision. Stoops is trying to decide which quarterback,
Blake Bell or Trevor Knight, gives the Sooners the best shot to win. Bell is the better
passer, and Knight is the better runner.
Whichever quarterback Stoops decides on, he needs to stick with that guy for the
duration of the game. You will not beat Alabama with a two-quarterback system. In my
opinion, Bell gives them their best shot. Knight has only thrown for 471 total yards this
season, with five touchdowns, four interceptions and a completion percentage of 52.2.
You will not beat Alabama with those types of numbers.
Predictions
I recently interviewed former Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer, who won three
national championships while coaching the Sooners. He stated that he didn’t think there
was any scenario where the Sooners could win this game, and I have to agree.
The Sooners overachieved to get to the Sugar Bowl, and the Crimson Tide are going to
expose them. The Tide are too big, too strong and too well-coached to lose this game. If
the Sooners can keep it under 10 points, that should be considered a victory.
Score Prediction: Alabama 34, Oklahoma 13
Stat Prediction: Alabama has 250-plus rushing yards