The Oklahoma Sooners and the Alabama Crimson Tide are two of the 5 finest blue blood applications within the historical past of school soccer, and the 2 groups will sq. off on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa in a game that has massive College Football Playoff implications.
OU upset ‘Bama in stunning style in Norman final 12 months, profitable 24-3 towards the highest ten Tide to get to bowl eligibility. That loss knocked Alabama out of final season’s CFP, they usually’ll be in search of revenge in a matchup that has far more on the road this time round.
The Sooners pulled off the stunner behind a run recreation that regarded the most effective it had all season, and a suffocating efficiency from the protection on Senior Night time. Though this Crimson Tide workforce has a distinct quarterback and a distinct play-caller this 12 months, the recipe for fulfillment stays fairly just like that, although OU will definitely want higher than 9-for-12 passing for simply 68 yards to win this 12 months.
Whereas the run recreation and improved passing effectiveness on offense can be tales to observe on this recreation, Oklahoma’s protection should play a few of the finest ball it has performed all season to enter Bryant-Denny Stadium and get an necessary win.
Listed below are three keys for the OU protection towards the Bama offense.
1. Cease the Run
Final week, Alabama beat LSU at dwelling 20-9, regardless of having simply 56 whole speeding yards. In a win to shut out October towards South Carolina, the Tide ran for simply 72 yards. At this level within the season, Alabama isn’t working the ball extraordinarily successfully, and the Sooners must take benefit. Very similar to they did towards Tennessee, if Oklahoma can eradicate the run and make the Crimson Tide really feel like they will’t rely on it, that’ll bode effectively for this protection general.
2. Stress Ty Simpson
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has regarded like one of many SEC’s finest quarterbacks this season, and he’s very comfy in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s offense. If he has time to throw, which he usually does behind a superb offensive line, he could make you pay within the secondary. He’s been sacked simply 3 times whole within the final two video games. The Sooners must get to him a minimum of that many occasions on Saturday and drive him to rush some selections within the pocket.
3. Turnovers will make the distinction
In opposition to Tennessee, Oklahoma lastly compelled some giveaways at pivotal factors within the recreation, and it aided their possibilities to win tremendously. Alabama is a wonderful workforce with an excellent offense, and the Sooners have given up a number of yards and conversions to the opposite actually good offenses they’ve confronted in Ole Miss and Tennessee. One of many variations between dropping to the Rebels and profitable over the Volunteers was the turnover battle, and the Sooners must win that battle on Saturday towards the Crimson Tide. This recreation is one other huge check for Brent Venables’ protection, but when they’re as much as the problem, there’s a path for Oklahoma to get one of many greatest wins of his head teaching profession.
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