The BCS national championship game features two blue-blood programs in Alabama and Texas. Fans will get to see the nation’s two best teams and a host of NFL prospects going at it. Whether you like offense or defense, athleticism or tradition, the BCS national championship game offers something for every fan. Thursday will be a special night.
For both the Crimson Tide and the Longhorns, it’s all about their defenses. Alabama’s ranked No 1. In the country in scoring defense at 11.0 points per game and are ranked second in total defense. The Crimson Tide feature stars such as Butkus Award winning outside linebacker Rolando McClain, who piled up a team-high 101 tackles, and Mark Barron, who recorded seven interceptions. They gathered 31 sacks as a team. If Alabama’s defense is No. 1 in the nation, then Texas’ is 1A. The Longhorns rank first in the country at 62.9 rushing yards allowed per contest. Their defense is extremely balanced with a pass rush that racked up 41 sacks and a secondary that topped the FBS in INT’s with 24. Earl Thomas picked off eight passes for Texas while Sam Acho and Lamar Houston totaled 16 sacks between them.
The battle between Alabama and Texas will largely come down to which team’s offensive line control’s their opponent’s defensive line/pass rush more effectively. The offensive line helped Alabama rank fifth nationally in time of possession and have avoided a holding penalty for the last eight games. They helped Mark Ingram rush for 1,542 yards and win a Heisman Trophy and did an excellent job of protecting freshman quarterback Greg McElroy from harm. The Crimson Tide’s O-line will have their hands full against a Longhorns defense that collects sacks and turnovers by the bunches. Ingram has been incredibly consistent all year and has played like a superstar in his biggest games. But if the Alabama O-line doesn’t give him adequate time to maneuver and Ingram is shut down, then the Crimson Tide’s chances are significantly hampered. McElroy would have the weight of the game on his shoulders and with a freshman QB going against an elite secondary that may be asking too much, no matter how spectacular McElroy has been.
The Longhorns O-line features three fifth-year seniors and two players who made first-team All-American or All-Big 12. They helped lead Colt McCoy to the Maxwell Award and a season where he threw for 27 TD’s and directed an offense fourth in the nation in points scored. However, the offensive line’s last effort left a bad taste in their mouths as they allowed Nebraska’s Ndamukong Su to terrorize McCoy for 41/2 sacks in the Big 12 championship game. Texas is going up against a defensive line that recorded 31 sacks and made QB’s look terrible all year. McCoy is relied upon by his team more than any player outside of Tim Tebow and if he doesn’t receive adequate protection, than the Longhorn’s offense could fall apart and the game could descend into a blowout.
Alabama is and should be seen as the favorites in this game. Ingram is one of the best players in America and even against Texas will find a way to get his yards and to propel his team. The Longhorns do not have the personal to completely slow down the Crimson Tide defense. They’ve shown they will struggle against elite defenders and Alabama has them all over the field. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line will be able to protect both Ingram and McElroy. Ingram will lead the offense and McElroy will be protected from making mistakes. I believe that Ingram’s play and Alabama’s ability to pressure McCoy into making one or two costly mistakes will be the difference in the victory. The Crimson Tide have both played against and beaten better competition and it will show. Alabama will seal the deal Thursday night. Alabama 27-20
By Danny Atkinson
