| Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) at Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) | |||
| Game Details: Friday, December 19, 8 p.m. EST | |||
| Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK | |||
| Where to Watch: ABC |
Matchup
It is rare for two college football heavyweights to get this familiar with one another so quickly, like Alabama and Oklahoma, but that is what we will see in prime time.
When Oklahoma and Alabama collide on Friday night, it will mark the third time in just 13 months that these titans have crossed paths. The winner of this showdown goes to the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day to face the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers, while the loser goes home.
Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +1.5 | -104 | Over 39.5 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | -1.5 | *112 | Under 39.5 |
**Statistics from various online sources and courtesy of ESPN and FOX Sports **
Tale of The Tape
| Alabama Crimson Tide | Team Stats – Avg Per Game | Oklahoma Sooners |
|---|---|---|
| 31.2 | Points Per Game | 26.4 |
| 273.2 | Passing Yards Per Game | 229.9 |
| 116.2 | Rushing Yards Per Game | 123.8 |
| 17.4 | Opponents Points Per Game Allowed | 13.9 |
| 157.7 | Opponents Pass Yards Allowed | 192.2 |
| 125.6 | Opponents Rush Yards Allowed | 81.4 |
Statistics from various online sources and courtesy of ESPN and FOX Sports
Key Details
Alabama Crimson Tide
For Alabama, this game is entirely about turning the page and proving they are still a title contender. Quarterback Ty Simpson has put up impressive numbers this season, throwing for 3,268 yards and 26 touchdowns, but the team has struggled to find a consistent rhythm over the last two months.
After getting rolled by Georgia in the SEC Championship and managing a season-low rushing output in that contest, the Tide is looking to regain the form that made them dangerous. To get the win, Alabama will need to spark a run game that managed just 80 yards on 33 carries the last time these two played. If they can’t get the ground game going, the pressure will fall squarely on Simpson and his playmakers on the outside.
Germie Bernard has been a steady hand with 57 catches for 762 receiving yards, while Ryan Williams has added 631 yards and four scores. They are facing a program that seems to have their number, Oklahoma has won five of the last six meetings—but playing in familiar territory gives Alabama a chance to rewrite the script and keep their championship hopes alive.
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma enters this matchup with a defensive unit that has been nothing short of a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Anchored by a front that leads the nation with 41 sacks, the Sooners are allowing a stingy 13.9 points per game, good for seventh nationally. The pass rush is led by the dominant Mason Thomas, who has racked up 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss despite battling injuries this year. This defense proved it could change a game in an instant during the last meeting, when Eli Bowen intercepted a pass and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown—a play that ultimately swung the momentum and the scoreboard in Oklahoma’s favor.
Offensively, things have been a bit of a grind for the Sooners. Quarterback John Mateer hasn’t been at 100 percent since suffering a mid-season hand injury, and the team struggled to move the chains on third down during their last trip to Alabama.
However, they found a way to win ugly, closing the regular season on a four-game winning streak. If the offense stalls, they have an incredible safety net in kicker Gavin Sandell. He has been automatic, hitting his last 23 field goal attempts and nailing all 10 of his tries from beyond 45 yards. In a postseason game expected to be tight, that kind of reliability is a massive weapon.
Prediction
It always seems like Alabama rises to the occasion when they need it the most. Their talent and big game experience will overtake Oklahoma and send them to the next round against Indiana.
