Another rematch happens tonight when 8th seeded Oklahoma hosts 9th seeded Alabama in Norman to kickoff the College Football Playoff with the winner heading to the Rose Bowl to take on top seed Indiana while the loser heads home from the holidays with a coach headed to the hot seat. These 2 teams had high hopes entering the season. Bama with 2 dangerous wide receivers in Germie Barnard and Ryan Williams and OU with preseason Heisman candidate transfer QB John Mateer were predicted to have high flying offenses. At season’s end, both offenses had not met expectations.
Series record: Oklahoma leads the series 5-2-1 and holds a 2 game winning streak in the series.
Last meeting: In November, the Boomers steal a win in Tuscaloosa taking advantage of turnovers and special teams blunders. Oklahoma was anemic on offense only generating 212 yards while Alabama passed for over 300 yards but couldn’t run the ball with any consistency against the Sooner defense. A pick 6 and a fumbled punt inside your own 20 gets you beat.
Gambling degenerate facts: Caesar’s installed Alabama as a 1 point favorite with a practically even money line and a point total of 40.5.
How should a refugee watch this game: Theis matchup has all of the potential to be the game of the weekend, but GTP refugees should be watching this game with 2 things in mind. First, can Alabama overcome their availability report and get healthy? If so, I can’t imagine that Indiana is looking forward to seeing an Alabama team finding its footing. The Bama team that beat Georgia earlier this season is dangerous, but the question is whether that team even exists anymore. Second, I want to get a good look at what we’re likely to see in Athens next year when the Sooners come to town.
Interesting statistic: 3.56 and 3.69 (rushing yards per attempt)
Both teams struggle to run the ball with any consistency. The first game bore this out as well with the Tide rushing for 80 and the Sooners for 74. Bear Bryant and Bud Wilkinson are spinning in their graves over how not physical both teams are.
Early outlook: First team to 100 yards rushing wins the game. If that team also wins the turnover battle, they might win easily. Can Ty Simpson play as he did in Athens in September? Can Mateer get back to form where he was in the Heisman conversation prior to his hand injury?
I like the home team to get it done and send the Tide back to Alabama and home for the holidays.
Final Score: Oklahoma 20, Alabama 17
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
I just do not see the turnovers and special teams blunders falling Oklahoma’s way again. Beating the same team twice in a season is tough to do, and even more so when that team is Alabama. Bama rallies from the loss in the SECCG and beats the Sooners tonight. 27-13 Alabama.
That is a totally fair assessment. If Bama plays on offense like they did last Saturday, they’re going to lose.
I like Boomer too!
BEAT BAMA
Bama playing to restore pride…and relevance. Sooners known to choke. But not so fast my friend…we provided more on the playbook on how to beat bama. Blitz/pressure Simpson relentlessly and run your QB effectively. Defense wins championships…Boomer Sooner 24 – 13.
Just maybe during their time off OU looked at their early season film and remembered. When we run our QB the offense can be pretty good.
I don’t think OU can count on another three turnovers from Bama. Bama got embarrassed in the SEC championship game I expect they’ll come out and play inspired to start. Hopefully OU weathers the emotional storm. I want OU to win hopefully in a blow out. I seriously doubt that happens. I expect a four quarter fight to the finish. I’m also counting on Bama special teams field goal team to be less than special. Their kicker is not someone I’d want my season riding on.
If Venables could somehow resurrect the Oklahoma offenses of old, Oklahoma would be a national champion. It is what it is.
In other news, Venables had a birthday yesterday, I believe he turned 55, making him the oldest SEC coach. Shelf life ain’t what it used to be.
Totally agree if he had a serviceable wish bone offense their national champs.
The dude is not your average 55. He gets the value of hard PT and what I hear is he likes it. I’m told he regularly runs the stadium steps. I’d wager his physiological age is much better than his actual age. It’s very achievable if you’re will to put the work in. I don’t see him running away from a hard work out. Just the opposite.
I’m not a fan of his or OU just giving credit where due. One on one I’d wager he crushes Deborah in a cage match. 😉
Pulling for OU but think Bama wins. Sooner got lucky first time around.
I don’t have a clue as to what will happen. But Boomer Sooner!!!
I think OU pulls away in the 4th quarter. Bama has issues and many have to do with the distraction of their coach and those institutions who covet his services.
Bama wins 21-17. It’s ugly and constipated, lots of punts, but they don’t turn the ball over.
Welp, it’s 17-0 in favor of OU and I’m not sure it’s even that close. If your prediction is going come true, Bama needs to wake up.
Meant to add that there is still more than a half of the game yet to play, but right now it’s not looking ugly and constipated for the Sooners.
Quite the change, eh? Not that I’m happy about it.
They look terrible, don’t they? Wow, definitely didn’t see this coming. Simpson running scared, no tackling. Just didn’t show up.
OU’s defense is great. If they play to their standard it will be a long night for Bama.
Tend to agree with others above that if the Bama offense from a fortnight shows up against the Oklahoma defense from the past few weeks, Oklahoma will be able to find enough on O to get it done….
Starting to think we shouldn’t be too excited or confident about the SECCG performance against Bama. They look terrible.
I prefer to think that we broke them.
They looked terrible when they beat us earlier in the season. We just also looked terrible.
Venables is to Bama as Bama is to UGA…or at least was…
The leading response on the RTR board right now is good night see you next season. The first quarter just ended and they’ve totally abandoned their team. Very entertaining I can’t deny.
Here’s a suggestion to ESPN on every blowout game. Feature the losing team’s message board live on their crawl. It’s comedic gold watching fans meltdown.
Then I wouldn’t have a weekly feature.
Of course you would it’s a weekly favorite. Just cherry pick the best of the idiots. There’s no limit to fan stupidity. How many tide fans went to sleep down 17-0.
Way to fuck this up, Sooners.
Choklahoma
One of the greatest choke jobs I’ve seen in quite some time.
Otherwise known as any big game for OU.
#74 for Alabama has held on every single play and not been called for it yet.
But yes. Oklahoma sucks pretty bad.
Watching the sky cast, the Alabama radio network is trash
The FBI may want to take a look at the OU’s punter’s bank accounts. He may have money on this game.
Some beach!! Hoosier daddy time!!
The award winning FG kicker is not why choker Sooners lost nor that award winning punter but…how the fuck are they the award winners, especially over Woodring? Damn the yankee media just hates us. Good. FTMF#. Credit to bama for sucking it up, but those teams looked awful. Mateer may be the worst throwing motion I’ve ever seen.