It's CFP time my feathered friends. Tonight in Norman Oklahoma. We have an SEC rematch featuring two of the classic brands in all the sport. 10-2 Oklahoma is a 3.5 point underdog vs 10-3 Alabama. Despite beating the Crimson Tide just four weeks ago.

Alabama has struggled rushing the ball all year, and I don't see that changing against the number one rush defense in the SEC. Oklahoma also sacked Alabama QB Ty Simpson five times, and forced him into multiple interceptions. Something he hadn't done all year. Now Alabama did put up over four hundred yards of offense, out gaining the Sooners by over a yard yards. But the untimely mistakes cost Alabama the game.

The winner of this game will move on to face Indiana in the Rose Bowl. This is the eight vs nine game, and is on the same side of the bracket as Oregon. If one of these programs gets hot, they very well could be the Semifinal matchup vs Oregon, should the Ducks get past Texas Tech. Which I think happens, and what I'm hoping happens.

Who wins? Is Oklahoma as good an eight seed as Ohio State was last year? I personally think Alabama has the higher ceiling, and has the best chance of giving Indiana trouble. But Oklahoma is a bad matchup for Alabama imo. I think Oklahoma vs Alabama will look similar to Indiana vs Ohio State. The higher ceiling team will be dragged down, and forced into a mud fight. Oklahoma is more suited to win a mud fight.

Oklahoma 20 Alabama 16.

This is a tough one. I pulled for OU the first time but I think Alabama/Indiana is a much better round two matchup (I would be interested to see what kind of creative ways DeBoer might come up with to attack IU's pass defense as I think both Oregon and tOSU attacked too much into its strengths). Either way Dan gets another shot at either DeBoer or Cignetti if Oregon can get past Texas Tech, which is fun. So go Bama tonight I guess? 😐

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by AnotherOD

I don’t have a dog in this fight, and don’t see either team lasting long enough to play OBD.

The good thing about this game is an SEC loss. The bad thing about this game is an SEC win.

20-17 Bama pulls out a low score win. Either way the SEC is staring down a beating by Indiana a week and a half later!

It's very hard to beat the same team twice in the same season. Based on that, Alabama wins a close one in Norman.

Personally I want Alabama to go down. A win by a three-loss SEC team somewhat "validates" choosing to put a three-loss SEC team, over several 2-loss teams in a twelve team playoff. HOWever, going to a 16 team PO combined with the SEC and ACC going to 9 game conference schedule probably mitigate much of that validation.

OU offense is generally...uninspiring, but the defense is formable. Alabama is more balanced on both sides of the ball. If OU can turnover Alabama and minimize their own mistakes, at home, then I think OU pulls out a close 17-14 type game. If not, then same score, opposite result.

So. Alabama 17-14.

OOOOOOOOOOOO, Oklahoma! With a D that brings the pain!

And the Sooners fans can make plans to head the Rose Bowl way.

24 to 17, I'll say. 😁

FWIW - Oklahoma is one of the few teams with an overall winning record vs The Tide - 5-2-1 - Venables 2 - DeBoer 0 - Since 2000, Oklahoma has the best home record in CFB.

Low scouring (SIC) affair, probably decided by a late drive or defensive score.

I suspect 'Bama by 17-14.

I expecte Whine will be served, with an unhealthy helping of cultish ESPN genuflection as the main course.

They just matter more.

1 hour ago, sports fan said:

It's very hard to beat the same team twice in the same season. Based on that, Alabama wins a close one in Norman.

There were six rematches in FBS football this season. Five of the first game losers, including Wazzu, which blasted Beavis the 2nd time around, won the rematch.

The team that was 2-0? Texas Tech with two blowouts of BYU.

If the DeBoer to UM smoke is real, it’s enough of a distraction to tip the scales imo

Mateer is finally back to 100%. The OC will adapt the play calling to that reality and Mateer wil be slinging the ball to his NFL wide receivers suddenly giving Oklahoma an offense to match their defense, making them a contender to win it all.

This game is going to look like a repeat of the SEC championship with Alabama not looking like they belong on the field.

Oklahoma. Alabama should never have gotten into the playoff with 3 losses.

There is no winner in this lose / lose situation.

But I wouldn't mind the possibility of Dan righting the ship vs DeBoer.

5 hours ago, PittDuck said:

The good thing about this game is an SEC loss. The bad thing about this game is an SEC win.

Yes, the best thing is that the SEC will lose a game. Too bad they can't both lose.

All that said, I would rather have Bama lose, because if they win they will say, "I told you we belong in the CFP." ...and then they will whine and cry next year too. I have Alabama/SEC Exhaustion Syndrome.

1 minute ago, Steven A said:

There is no winner in this lose / lose situation.

But I wouldn't mind the possibility of Dan righting the ship vs DeBoer.

Good call. But if DeBoer wins in Norman, I don't think he'll be able to put out a Cig in Pasadena. 😉

A score over DeBoer could Just Mean More, no doubt, but I want revenge for this season's loss. 🤬

19 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

A score over DeBoer could Just Mean More, no doubt, but I want revenge for this season's loss. 🤬

WIN / WIN, just WIN

I think the game is a coinflip.

I'm rooting for Oklahoma.