You didn't watch your favorite team play? I think you should know. And every game is different buddy.
Wishful thinking. I'm not saying UT won't win, but the vast majority of objective people have to make 'Bama the favorite. UT won't be able to run the ball and all Saban's defense needs to do (for the most part) is key on the pass, which means a heavy pass rush. The other side of the ball depends on McElroy. If he plays like recent games, 'Bama is going to score some points without a doubt. If 'Bama brings their "A" game, I say they will win by at least 14 points. But if the Heisman ends up being a distraction and McElroy reverts to mid-season form, UT can win. Either way, I think UT will have trouble with 'Bama's defense. That is the one variable on this game I feel most comfortable predicting.
I'm impressed Suh did as well as he did in the voting. I hope this opens the door for some defensive players in the future. He probaly wins it if Nebraska doesnt have quite as many losses as they did. For everybody that says this is 2005 all over again. USC > Alabama UT 05>UT 09 Bush> Ingram Vince> Colt And really none of those are even close... I get why you say that because your an UT fan but I dont think anybody nationally is thinking like this. Its no comparison..... . I really dont think the nation would be shocked if UT won...
I agree with you, but I don't think you're giving UT's defense enough credit. We shall see though... Bama is the favorite, I acknowledge that... but it's not like it'll be a cakewalk for them to score on offense even if they bring their "A" game.
It should be a close low-scoring game with 2 great, great defenses and 2 shaky offenses. Turnovers will decide this game, I'd guess. Of course, It'll probably end up 30-something to 30 something. Predicting games like this is damn near impossible. Aaron Williams vs. Julio Jones (hopefully that's the matchup) should be awesome to watch.
maybe not, but I havent heard a single pundit pick UT to win. To be more specific, most pundits aren't giving UT a chance.
I already want UT to win but if the pundits all pile on the 'Bama train too hard then I will REALLY want UT to win. It made me sick to my stomach in '05 when ESPN asked the question if USC's team was the best ever, before the game was even played. That was incredibly stupid and ignorant because of the obvious greatness of UT's team. To do that this year when 'Bama's QB is so inconsistent makes no sense either. I don't see UT scoring much but it's very possible the game turns into a 13-10 slugfest that could go either way.
The Sugar Bowl last year was the biggest game Alabama had in over a decade, and their first BCS Bowl in the BCS era. It was also a game against a top 10 team, gave Alabama a chance for their highest ranking in a decade, and was pretty important to the seniors. So just to clarify, you're saying he's a master motivator and preparer only in national title games, but can't motivate for other big games? Saban is also 4-6 in bowl games, so that whole "a month to prepare" thing doesn't work so well for him as it did for Pete Carroll (who is 6-2).
True - by 5 points. Which, for what it's worth, is less than what USC was favored by, by all those same objective people. UT can't run on anyone - that's never been that important to their offense the last two years. The key really for them is the short passing game (which basically serves as their running game). Agreed here - McElroy has been the weak link in that team all year. If he can play like he did against Florida, Alabama will be in great shape. But, unlike UT, they really depend on the run to take the pressure off McElroy, and Texas has been extremely good against the run (except against the running QB combo, which they only really faced once w/ A&M and sucked against). If both teams bring their A-game, no one's going to win by 14 points. The defenses are just too good. Both are capable of pitching near shutouts in that scenario. I think Alabama's offense is going to struggle just as much as the UT defense, which is as good as any in the country. While it was just Nebraska, holding any team to basically 3 points and 100 yards in offense is impressive against anyone - Nebraska's bad, but they hadn't been *that* bad. Once they got that wakeup call against A&M, they really really woke up.
Also worth noting, in the Mack Brown era, UT is an astounding 21-4 in close games (3 pts or less), including 3-0 in BCS Bowl Games. On the flipside, I imagine Alabama has a pretty good record in close games the last two years as well (given their questionable offense). My prediction was 24-20 Texas, but in terms of likelihood, I give it: UT close win Ala close win Ala blowout UT blowout In that order.
Wow, I did not know that. Saban's 4-1 at Alabama in those games; was 8-3 at LSU. (though just from scanning the results, his teams seem to play a bunch of games decided by a touchdown or less, and he's 24-11 in those)
