06 January 2010, 1:01 pm
Pasadena, California is the site of the BCS Championship Game Jan. 7 between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas Longhorns. These are two of the most historic college football teams in the nation. The Crimson Tide is coached by Nick Saban and the Longhorns are coached by Mack Brown each coach has won a National Championship Game. Mack Browns coming at Texas against the USC Trojans and Nick Sabans coming while he was the coach at LSU against the Oklahoma Sooners so each coach knows what it takes to win the big game.
Both teams are equally matched on defense the Alabama Crimson Tide ranks number one in the nation in scoring defense giving up only 11 points per game. While the Texas Longhorns only give up 15 points per game. Alabama and Texas are 1 and 2 in rushing defense Texas gives up 62 yards a game while Alabama gives up 77 yards a game. Alabama and Texas are in the top ten in passes intercepted Texas with 24 and Alabama with 20.
The stat on defense which the two are very different and may play a big part in a close game is the red zone scoring defense. Alabama is number 2 in the nation in not allowing its opponents to score inside their 20 yard line only allowing 76 points . Texas on the other hand is 44th in the nation in allowing opponents to score when inside their 20 yard line allowing 133 points. Red zone defense plays a large role when you have two great offenses which can move the ball.
As far as the offenses of the two teams they are very different but both very effective. Alabama has more of a balanced attack averaging 215 yards rushing a game while Texas averages 152 yards rushing a game. Alabama averages just under 200 yards a game passing and Texas has one of the best passing attacks in the nation at 300 yards a game. Both are in the top ten in points scored Texas at 40 points a game and Alabama at 31 points a game. One stat on offense which Alabama is better at and also plays a role in big games is turnovers Alabama only has 10 turnovers making them number one in the nation while Texas has 23.
Texas is lead on offense by the best quarterback statistical in the nation Colt McCoy is an offensive machine he has passed for 3,512 yards and 27 touchdowns and has rushed for 513 yards and 6 touchdowns. If not for a bad performance against Nebraska he would have probably won the Heisman Trophy. His favorite target is Jordan Shipley he has 1,363 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. He also ranks in the top ten in return yards in the kicking game. As these two go so goes the Longhorns both being seniors look for each to have strong games.
Alabama's offense is more diverse with Mark Ingram leading the attack. He is the Heisman Trophy winner this year with 1,542 yards rushing and 322 yards receiving. But he is not all of Alabama's rushing attack they have a stable of good backs who can pick up the slack if need be. Alabama has one of the best receivers in the game Julio Jones who has 42 receptions and 573 receiving yards. Marquis Maze is Alabama's deep threat on offense with 30 receptions and 519 yards receiving. Maybe Alabama's biggest surprise this year is Colin Peek at tight end he has come on in the second half of the season and become Greg McElroy's red zone receiver.
Greg McElroy the Alabama quarterback is the player who keeps the Tide offense going. He has only thrown 4 interceptions compared to 17 touchdowns and has only been sacked 13 times that translates into Alabama keeping the ball and controlling the clock. Alabama is one of the top teams in the nation at controlling time of possession. Again the one stat on offensive which the Tide is much better at is turnovers only losing the ball 10 times while Texas has committed 23 turnovers. Turnovers play a big part of who wins and who loses when teams are evenly matched as these two are.
Both teams have great kicking games with Alabama's Leigh Tiffin being one of the best in the nation he won the Tennessee game with his field goals. The Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence won the Big 12 Championship Game with a 43 yard field goal as time expired. So again very equal in the kicking game are Texas and Alabama.
With over 30 days to prepare for this game look for each team to have some sort of trick play or new wrinkle to their offensive. Each coach knows momentum will play a big factor in this game so each should have a surprise for the other one. Alabama is the much more physical team that does not turn the ball over and forces the opponent to turn the ball over for this reason Alabama should be able to pull this game out. Colt McCoy will throw one to many interceptions. Look for Javier Arenas to come up with a big interception late and Rolando McClain to apply to much pressure for the Texas quarterback to ever get comfortable. Alabama wins 34-27 in a great game.
In the end one of these teams will finish 14-0 and be the BCS National Champion. If Alabama does so it will be its 13 National Championship ranking it tops among all colleges. One will hear Hook em Horns and Roll Tide Roll many times in the city of L.A Thursday night. There is no better place for a prime time match up than southern California. On Thursday night the movie stars will be second fiddle to the southern pride of the Crimson Tide. ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
Share on del.icio.us
Share on digg
Share on Technorati
Share on reddit
Share on Yahoo!
Share on Furl
