1. Oklahoma jumps out to an early lead
You can prepare as much as you want, but you never really know what you are getting into with an offense as capable as Oklahoma’s until the bell rings and the fight starts.
Alabama’s defense might get some wins in this game, but I don’t expect any of them to come early as the speed and tempo of the Sooners confuses and frustrates the Tide’s defense early, with Kyler Murray hitting some big plays through the air and on the ground.
No matter which metric you seek, Oklahoma’s offense is the best in the nation. They’re explosive and methodical, capable of beating you in a variety of ways.
If you blitz Murray, he’ll get the ball out of his hands quickly to his checkdown, or he will take off running and make you pay with his dazzling feet. If you sit back in coverage and give him a clean pocket, he’ll pick you apart. No player in the country had a higher QB rating this season when given a clean pocket than Murray.
It’s a no-win situation. If you drop too many guys into coverage, then you expose yourself to a potent Oklahoma running game. The Sooners rank 11th in the nation in rushing offense, and it’s not all Murray. Freshman Kennedy Brooks and sophomore Trey Sermon are a pair of talented runners. Brooks has already eclipsed 1000 yards for the season, and Sermon needs only 72 yards to do the same.
Junior WR Marquise Brown is one of the biggest homerun hitters in the nation, but he may not be able to play after suffering a leg injury in the Big 12 Championship Game. If he isn’t, the Sooners still have talented sophomore WR CeeDee Lamb and junior Lee Morris, along with sophomore tight end Grant Calcaterra, who has scored four touchdowns in the last three games.
Murray has a bevy of weapons at his disposal, to go along with an offensive line that was recently awarded the Joe Moore award for the best offensive line in the country. The line is littered with future pros, led by a potential first round pick at right tackle in Cody Ford.
Lincoln Riley is one of the best play-callers in the nation, and he’ll have some things dialed up early on in the game that will give the Alabama defense a lot of problems. Look for Oklahoma to get off to a quick start, potentially putting two or three touchdowns on the board in the first quarter alone.