T1B

Bama's only weakness is their secondary.

If Jeremy Johnson can finally start throwing it downfield, it could be close.

Updykes 30
Home Team 26

Sudden Sam wrote:Wisconsin-Alabama? 40 yards.

So what? Northwestern held them to -26.

88 wrote:What has changed, aside from Ohio State having its #1 QB on the field and its overall team being better, and Bama losing its QB?

Sam's new glasses have a slightly rosier tint.

Ohio State is a dangerous team when they play to their full capability, but they've only done that once this year, against Michigan. I disagree with 88 that they have a better all around team than last year. Perhaps they do on paper, but the actual product on the field is not better. Maybe it's complacency from winning the NC, or maybe the loss of their OC Tom Herman was a bigger deal than originally thought, or maybe it's a combination of things.

Also, I don't think losing to MSU was a simple matter of "stepping on their dicks." Ohio State was +2 in turnovers. If anything, MSU stepping on their own dicks prevented them from winning by more than 3. Ohio State's only scores came off of boneheaded turnovers by MSU in their own territory setting up short fields for the OSU offense. And Imagine if Connor Cook was healthy and played? No, OSU lost because they got beat up at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. It's cliche, but the team that is better in the trenches normally wins. If they couldn't handle MSU's front, I don't think they'd fair much better against Alabama's. However, that's what we all thought last year too and we saw how that turned out for Bama. It's a good thing they play games just in case.

Purely from a match-up standpoint, Oklahoma scares me the most, then Clemson, then Bama. Simply put, MSU's biggest weakness is pass defense, and Bama likes the keep the ball on the ground. And for good reason, they are very good at it, but I would still rather take my chances with Derrick Henry than against an aerial assault. Clemson strikes me as the most well rounded team but they haven't been tested much outside of ND. Oklahoma is the type of offense that could give MSU nightmares, though I'm not sure how good the Sooner D is.

Call it another cliche, but the winner of this season's CFP is gonna come down to who coaches the teams, who's "been there before." Just wait.

Dantonio and Ferentz are great coaches, hell Dantonio might be one of the best HCs in the country. But MSU (or Iowa) has never made it to this echelon before and I don't think they will get over the hump on the first try. Against Bama or OU, either will be chasing instead of playing a competitive game.

Dabo Sweeney is a hot head, and that means his team, on a grand stage, is basically one big play away from complete implosion against equal or superior talent / speed / scheming.

That leaves Sabtan and Stoops. Take your pick. Just a shame they might play in the semis instead of the last game.

Too bad ole 'Urb won't be able to get in on the action this year. I'm sure he'd love another shot, even if to get over on Saban & Lame once more.

L45B wrote:That leaves Sabtan and Stoops. Take your pick. Just a shame they might play in the semis instead of the last game.

Good chance they'll seed the teams in such a way that Bama and OU can meet in the finals.