Of the 12 spots in the College Football Playoffs, five of them went to the SEC, and on Friday, two of them will be facing off to kick off the CFP’s first round. The last time the Alabama Crimson Tide took on the Oklahoma Sooners, OU won, and Alabama wants to get them back. Both teams have shown that they can hang with the best, but which team is looking better coming into this first-round showdown?
After losing the SEC conference title, many believe Alabama should not have been named to the CFP, while Crimson Tide fans believe otherwise. Meanwhile, Sooners fans believe that they have beaten Alabama before and they can do it again.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma Key Matchups
QB: Ty Simpson vs. John Mateer
Both Simpson and Mateer are dual threat quarterbacks who have proven that they can play the passing game well and be flexible enough to also be a threat in the rushing game. In terms of throwing, Simpson has shown he is better in the passing game with 3,268 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, while Mateer is no slouch a 3,139 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.
RB: Jam Miller vs. Tory Blaylock
After getting sidelined in the last few games, Bama will finally get their best running back in Jam Miller back, as he is expected to play. This will definitely be a boon for the Crimson Tide, but the Sooners have an elite running back of their own in Tory Blaylock. Both running backs are fast, agile and strong, so expect both teams to rely on them for their offensive spark during this game.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma Odds
Unlike their previous matchup, the Oklahoma Sooners are seen as the favorites in this College Football Playoffs first round matchup, given that they beat the Crimson Tide at Tuscaloosa last time. However, the odds are still close, with the Sooners being only -1.5 favorites with an over/under of 41.5, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The moneyline is -105 for Alabama and -115 for Oklahoma, so the winnings would not be that big.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma Prediction
Oklahoma may have had Alabama’s number, but as this season has shown, underdog teams often rise up, so this one should go the way of the Crimson Tide.
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