by Ricky Winnor
1 –Can Oklahoma Simply Make The
Game Close?
The
best thing to say about the 2014 Sugar Bowl is that it is a matchup of two
classic schools in college football, two programs that convey a lot of history,
tradition and excellence. Yet, Oklahoma’s name isn’t accompanied by the same
on-field strength that Alabama can point to. Alabama was a legitimate national
championship contender. The Crimson Tide came so close to a perfect regular
season, but they were upended by Auburn on a 109-yard field goal return for a
touchdown on the final play of the game, one of the most improbable occurrences
in the long history of college football. Alabama led the game, 21-7, and had
numerous chances to put the game away in the fourth quarter.
Head coach Nick Saban inexplicably passed
up a chip-shot field goal that would have given his team a 10-point lead midway
through the fourth quarter. Everything about the game pointed to an Alabama
win… until the very end, when Auburn scrambled to tie and then ran back a field
goal into the history books. Alabama is a colossus in college football, even
with that loss on its back. Oklahoma got trampled by Texas and roughed up by
Baylor. The Sooners did extremely well to win 10 games this season in the face
of a lot of injuries, but their defensive front seven will still be without a
top lineman, Jordan Phillips, and an elite linebacker, Corey Nelson.
How will
Oklahoma possibly be able to withstand the acknowledged physical power of
Alabama in the trenches? How will Oklahoma quarterbacks Blake Bell and Trevor
Knight (whoever winds up starting this game) be able to hold up under the
pressure they’re likely to receive from Alabama’s front four? How will
Oklahoma’s receivers get open? How will Oklahoma’s running backs find holes in
Alabama’s defense? How will Oklahoma’s defensive line be able to generate
enough pressure on Alabama quarterback
A.J. McCarron?
There is simply no matchup on the field where Oklahoma appears to have an
advantage. This feels like a mismatch, and it’s up to Oklahoma to change a lot
of minds.
2 –Being Disrespected: Oklahoma’s
One Hope
The
best online betting software makes your life somewhat easier, and that’s
important. Yet, the real thing that makes your life easier as a bettor is to
win. Alabama seems like the obvious choice, but one thing that does happen in
bowl games is that an underdog plays with a ton of passion and flies around the
field because it thinks it is being disrespected. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops
has made a lot of harsh statements about the SEC over the years. Now he gets to
face an SEC team in a bowl game, and you know his team will be fired up. Will
this be able to shift the balance of power?
3 – The Alabama Letdown Factor
When
you go to www.wagersolutions.com,you grow in understanding. Alabama will try to
grow in this game by showing that it can play with pride and determination even
after being denied a chance to compete for a third straight national
championship. If Alabama sulks through this game, the Crimson Tide could lose.
We’ll see if this team is ready to regroup.
