There is something wrong with this Alabama team, they have not been tested, and it could hurt me in the playoff where there are no easy outs.
Don't know why ESPN is saying Bama dominated UF? UF's O could e the worst in FBS. There QB is horrible and UF had several receivers wide open and the QB could not make an easy throw to a wide open receiver. That being said, UF only lost by 14 with a blocked punt, blocked FG and absolutely no O.
This is was a UF team that was blasted by FSU the week earlier at home and there O was shutout. I do not see why that is such a great win for Bama because when UF loses there bowl game they will not even be ranked in the top 25 at the end of the year. So ESPN gets on Bama's nuts for beating an uranked UF team with no O on a neutral field (and I use that term loosely with all the Bama fans in ATL)?
Bama has takent, but like OSU they have played nobody in months. At least Clemson, Oklahoma and MSU have played and won big games in November and December. I think that may hurt Bama in the playoffs.
Don't know why ESPN is saying Bama dominated UF? UF's O could e the worst in FBS. There QB is horrible and UF had several receivers wide open and the QB could not make an easy throw to a wide open receiver. That being said, UF only lost by 14 with a blocked punt, blocked FG and absolutely no O.
This is was a UF team that was blasted by FSU the week earlier at home and there O was shutout. I do not see why that is such a great win for Bama because when UF loses there bowl game they will not even be ranked in the top 25 at the end of the year. So ESPN gets on Bama's nuts for beating an uranked UF team with no O on a neutral field (and I use that term loosely with all the Bama fans in ATL)?
Bama has takent, but like OSU they have played nobody in months. At least Clemson, Oklahoma and MSU have played and won big games in November and December. I think that may hurt Bama in the playoffs.
The left coast version.
1. Stanford (with a loss to #2 Oregon -- but my memory goes back only one day)
2. Oregon
3. Oklahoma (could win it all if they get solid play from their OL)
4. Alabama
GoSooners.... about one month ago (maybe a little more) someone here posted early odds to win this year's coveted CFP trophy.
Oklahoma was ranked about 5th or 6th behind Notre Dame and 2 B1G teams at the time. Posted odds on the Sooners was +1000.
So I threw buck on them and said so in the thread. Such a deal. Their game was on the money at the time and it still is.
I have to admit that I am a closet Sooners fan when my teams are not involved.
This is for you too Mack.
GL2U guys.
1. Stanford (with a loss to #2 Oregon -- but my memory goes back only one day)
2. Oregon
3. Oklahoma (could win it all if they get solid play from their OL)
4. Alabama
GoSooners.... about one month ago (maybe a little more) someone here posted early odds to win this year's coveted CFP trophy.
Oklahoma was ranked about 5th or 6th behind Notre Dame and 2 B1G teams at the time. Posted odds on the Sooners was +1000.
So I threw buck on them and said so in the thread. Such a deal. Their game was on the money at the time and it still is.
I have to admit that I am a closet Sooners fan when my teams are not involved.
This is for you too Mack.
GL2U guys.
I would love to play Michigan St +8- against Clemson.
Iowa didn't have a special offense and we all knew that, I honestly thought they would beat sparty and they nearly did, but alas, I was wrong. I wouldn't switch bama and Clemson, Nor would I switch MSU and Oklahoma. I think the rankings are perfect the way they are. Here's how I see it if these are the matchups..... Notice how I said IF!
1) Clemson -5.5 vs 4) MSU
2) Alabama -2.5 vs 3) Oklahoma
* I'm just making those lines up as what I see as fair line based upon eye test. I would honestly take both dogs if those were the lines. I think Clemson is exploitable defensively while I feel their entire offense is predicated off one guy, Watson, and the fear of him running. Teams struggle to stop him because their always worried about him ruining. The gameplan to besting Clemson is exactly what Ohio state did to Oregon last year. They didn't let mariota scramble or run and they beat Oregon; sure mariota threw for 340 yards but the ducks had to rely on other people to carry the load, that didn't work out to well. Whoever plays Clemson needs to sell out to stop the run, Clemson doesn't have game changing WRs, and although Watson is extremely accurate you make him beat you with his arm and don't allow him to scramble and create havoc with 15+ yard runs. That kills the defensive morale every time. Contain him and force him to put the ball in the air. Make Clemson beat you thru the air and you have a legitimate shot.
* when you Have lamborghinis and porches all over the field it's tempting to throw to them; which is what kiffin wants to do..... However, I believe Saban is a Ford man himself, and he loves nothing more than driving his new, dependable, F-350 6.7L 'dually' to work everyday. Why? Because it's American made, reliable, and can carry an entire team to and from the job site wth ease. It's made to simply keep running and keep hauling loads. Sure the gas tank is a little pricey to fill up, but it's worth it in the long run when you're able to drive over and thru anything and even drag a few defenders with you while you're at it. while I think Henry is an absolute beast that can't be stopped I think the Alabama defense can be cut up thru the air. Mayfield and the sooner offense can dice them up with the rigt gameplan. They will be watching lots of game film from the ole miss bama game. That's your blueprint. Bama struggles to cover in space, while they are still athletic they are better coming down hill rather than moving laterally. Sooners would be an awful matchup for Alabama, I think it would turn into a shootout and Coker isn't a shootout QB. It's obvious bama is going to give Henry as many touches as possible to win the game and avoid a possible back and forth affair. He may seriously carry the ball 50+ times in order to secure a win. He's built for it too; but the more you feed the beast, the more he slows down and tires. He put the ball on the ground, and Sooners would be looking for strips all day. Alabama has become more vanilla than Stanford, who I feel is quite innovative these days. Alabama will control the ball, the clock, and try to keep whomever off the field the whole game and just keep giving Henry the ball. Same recipe they've had the last two games. Kiffin isn't truly calling those plays lol, Saban is.... If kiffin were calling plays bama probably would have lost that sec championship game. Saban isn't an idiot, he knows you hand the ball off to Henry and keep the passes incredibly simple and low risk, that equals wins. Oklahoma will need to score 30+ and be efficient doing so because they won't get a plethora of chances with alabam milking the clock in the first quarter. I think Oklahoma will win Straigt up IF, they keep Henry under 200 yards
1) Clemson -5.5 vs 4) MSU
2) Alabama -2.5 vs 3) Oklahoma
* I'm just making those lines up as what I see as fair line based upon eye test. I would honestly take both dogs if those were the lines. I think Clemson is exploitable defensively while I feel their entire offense is predicated off one guy, Watson, and the fear of him running. Teams struggle to stop him because their always worried about him ruining. The gameplan to besting Clemson is exactly what Ohio state did to Oregon last year. They didn't let mariota scramble or run and they beat Oregon; sure mariota threw for 340 yards but the ducks had to rely on other people to carry the load, that didn't work out to well. Whoever plays Clemson needs to sell out to stop the run, Clemson doesn't have game changing WRs, and although Watson is extremely accurate you make him beat you with his arm and don't allow him to scramble and create havoc with 15+ yard runs. That kills the defensive morale every time. Contain him and force him to put the ball in the air. Make Clemson beat you thru the air and you have a legitimate shot.
* when you Have lamborghinis and porches all over the field it's tempting to throw to them; which is what kiffin wants to do..... However, I believe Saban is a Ford man himself, and he loves nothing more than driving his new, dependable, F-350 6.7L 'dually' to work everyday. Why? Because it's American made, reliable, and can carry an entire team to and from the job site wth ease. It's made to simply keep running and keep hauling loads. Sure the gas tank is a little pricey to fill up, but it's worth it in the long run when you're able to drive over and thru anything and even drag a few defenders with you while you're at it. while I think Henry is an absolute beast that can't be stopped I think the Alabama defense can be cut up thru the air. Mayfield and the sooner offense can dice them up with the rigt gameplan. They will be watching lots of game film from the ole miss bama game. That's your blueprint. Bama struggles to cover in space, while they are still athletic they are better coming down hill rather than moving laterally. Sooners would be an awful matchup for Alabama, I think it would turn into a shootout and Coker isn't a shootout QB. It's obvious bama is going to give Henry as many touches as possible to win the game and avoid a possible back and forth affair. He may seriously carry the ball 50+ times in order to secure a win. He's built for it too; but the more you feed the beast, the more he slows down and tires. He put the ball on the ground, and Sooners would be looking for strips all day. Alabama has become more vanilla than Stanford, who I feel is quite innovative these days. Alabama will control the ball, the clock, and try to keep whomever off the field the whole game and just keep giving Henry the ball. Same recipe they've had the last two games. Kiffin isn't truly calling those plays lol, Saban is.... If kiffin were calling plays bama probably would have lost that sec championship game. Saban isn't an idiot, he knows you hand the ball off to Henry and keep the passes incredibly simple and low risk, that equals wins. Oklahoma will need to score 30+ and be efficient doing so because they won't get a plethora of chances with alabam milking the clock in the first quarter. I think Oklahoma will win Straigt up IF, they keep Henry under 200 yards
Most would...I would think a 5.5 or so line would be pushing it. We shall see very shortly...
The left coast version.
1. Stanford (with a loss to #2 Oregon -- but my memory goes back only one day)
2. Oregon
3. Oklahoma (could win it all if they get solid play from their OL)
4. Alabama
GoSooners.... about one month ago (maybe a little more) someone here posted early odds to win this year's coveted CFP trophy.
Oklahoma was ranked about 5th or 6th behind Notre Dame and 2 B1G teams at the time. Posted odds on the Sooners was +1000.
So I threw buck on them and said so in the thread. Such a deal. Their game was on the money at the time and it still is.
I have to admit that I am a closet Sooners fan when my teams are not involved.
This is for you too Mack.
GL2U guys.
Hahaha this made my day. Oregon had 60 dropped on them once and 40 3 other times...they aren't a top 20 team
Foolishness from you in this thread for so many reasons.
1) Top-10 teams aren't expected to lose by 20 on neutral fields to #1 teams. Not sure what you're expecting. The gap between these teams isn't that great.
2) You're intentionally mischaracterizing that game. Clemson outgained North Carolina by more than 200 yards. Clemson put up 600 yards and ran for 300 on UNC. Don't act like this game was particularly close outside of a garbage time score by UNC. Clemson led by 3 scores for most of the 2nd half.
I wish I had done the same. This is actually the first year I didn't make any prop bets on anybody. And after OU somehow lost to Texas I was completely clueless about the Sooners. But as we saw last year with tOSU and this season with OU, there's a fine line between losing ugly and catching lighting in a bottle..
