Today I was thinking about this game and it occurred to me that Bama has now been in EVERY CFP game since they started.   Then it occurred to me that Bama VS LSU in the old BCS format, is really what is responsible for the CFP system.  Conclusion, how can you be a Bama fan and not be spoiled? It's tough! 

A quick recap of the SEC Champ game, and I know anyone reading this doesn't need it, but it seems necessary before I can move on.  In what turned out as a Cinderella story started as a nightmare.  Bama down by 14 - Tua drives and gets Bama within 7 and on the next possession he gets stepped on and goes down.  In comes Jalen and the rest is Bama history.   I must say, Jalen Hurts is a class act and an example for all of us.  Not just FOOTBALL, but all of us.   We could all afford to be a bit more humble, a bit more dedicated, a bit more loyal and a bit more motivated. 

Enough about LIFE J on to FOOTBALL.

To me the real turning point in the Ga game (aside from the weird "GO FOR IT ON 4^th and 11" was obviously Hurts coming into the game.  I know most Bama fans cringed (me included) when Tua was helped off the field.   But, much like when Tua entered the game in January against the same Ga team, Bama seemed to ratchet it up a notch and cleaned up their execution.   The defense which had played somewhat porous in the first half, played lights out in the second half.   That was big in Bama having the ball and being able to put together drives.   When all was said and done, Bama claimed another SEC Championship Win - an undefeated season -  and subsequently keeping the #1 spot and moving to CFP to face the #4 team Oklahoma.  Georgia is IMO better than Oklahoma, but the committee and their criteria obviously think differently.  And considering Ga with 2 losses and Ok with one, it stands to reason that would be the obvious choice.

Now to Saturday and the Orange Bowl with the 7 O'clock kick off ESPN.   Not much I can say here, that hasn't been said.  Everyone knows the obvious narrative - Ok has the best O and one of the worse D's in the FBS.  Bama has perhaps the best Defense Ok will have faced.  HOWEVER, I have no doubt that OK will be the best Offense Bama has faced this year.   The line is (depending on where you look) near 14 and all have it double digits. 

The thing that troubles me is - most folks seem to think it will not be a contest, with Bama dominating.  I hope everyone who thinks that is RIGHT!  I however feel differently.   Based on my very limited football knowledge,  OK runs their offense so fast and so accurately I fear the Bama D will take a few series to get a grip on the SPEED of the game.  Thus, the opportunity may be there for OK to get up on the Tide creating a scoring fest.  Of course the flip side is Bama can take the air out of the ball, and run against one of the worst Defenses in the FBS.  Most of the pundits I have heard say they expect Bama to RUN RUN RUN RUN.  I think that makes sense, but - perhaps it's so obvious they will do the opposite.   Again, my limited football knowledge and poor logic taken into consideration.  

No matter the strategy, I do believe Bama will need to be productive on most every possession.  On paper, Bama should win, averaging more points that OK per game, but only allowing 14 points per game.  Ok allows 32, and that seems to be the most glaring stat that stands out.

Another thing to consider.  Georgia played perhaps it's best game of the season, and Bama played perhaps their worst game of the season, yet Bama prevailed.

Below are all the stats - and again Bama on paper is the apparent winner.  I certainly hope the paper doesn't lie, but I am nervous about this one.   I do believe Bama will be in a tussle through the first half and make adjustments and pull away in the latter part of the game.   I look for Quinnen Williams to have a BIG GAME.
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Roll Tide