Posted by Iroquois Plisken
Considering the success of the previous point/counterpoint on the Florida Marlins, we have decided to bring back more intelligent bickering amongst friends. As regular readers will note, this blog is heavily centered on college football and with the pendency of the BCS National Title Game, it is time for us to celebrate and subsequently mourn the end of another season.
This debate is going to be straightforward: who would win in a fight between an elephant and a longhorned steer? The flagship universities of the state of Alabama and the Republic of Texas, respectively, will decide this soon in an orderly fashion governed by a shifting momentum and interpretation of rules. I have been tasked with championing the Crimson Tide, a task consistent with my prediction of the game.
Reason #1 - Bama's O
Alabama found the magic formula for their offense in the SEC Championship game. A heavy dose of the running game, anchored by H---man winner Mark Ingram and freshman Trent Richardson (who may be better than Ingram when it's all said and done), combined with QB Greg McElroy's new-found ability to connect with Julio Jones. But I think the real key for Bama will be the fact that the #2 receiver for Bama (Marquis Maze) is more consistent than any of Texas's #2 receivers (e.g. Malcolm Williams). Something that got exploited against Florida and proved very effective throughout the year is lining up Maze and Jones for a high-low pattern, which will take star S Earl Monroe out of the picture. If Monroe elects to cover TE Colin Peek instead, this will probably leave single coverage on either of the capable Bama receivers, lest we forget Ingram's ability to catch passes in the flat. With the quick out to Peek and/or Ingram, this will serve to offset DE/OLB Sergio Kindle's swath of destruction.
Admittedly, this is a harder argument to make because Texas has an outstanding defense, headed by Iroquois favorite Will Muschamp. But, I'm on Bama's side here.
Reason #2 - Texas's Offense
Texas's offense is mostly propped up by playing against teams with very little defense. Outside of Nebraska and Oklahoma, the next highest rated team in terms of total defense that Texas bested was Oklahoma State, at around 34. After that, the dropoff is something ridiculous down to Louisiana-Monroe, UCF, and Texas Tech, who are all in a row. In the games where Texas played the top defenses, Texas mustered around 270 and barely over 200 yards, respectively, and one of those games they actually won (they did not beat Nebraska without making up a rule about the clock runoff, not to mention reviewing a non-reviewable play).
Further belaboring how good defenses can shut down Texas is the fact Rolando McClain will be available for the game. McClain is an outstanding spy MLB who has enough lateral quickness to contain mobile QBs, as evidenced by his ability to contain Tim Tebow and Tyrod Taylor. Then again, it may have something to do with the alliterative effect of dual Ts. Given the problems that Texas had containing Ndamukong Suh (the definite #1 pick), it could be assumed that, even if they are different kinds of DTs, Terrence "Mount" Cody could cause similar sorts of disruptions for Texas' interior line. Combined with the marquee matchup of Jordan Shipley versus Javier Arenas and we could see Texas's two playmakers held in check. If McCoy can't be mobile or throw the ball to his only consistent target, they'll be forced to run, which they aren't able to do so well.
Reason #3 - Coaching
Nick Saban may be a bastard but he is a master gameplanner. You don't think Saban was studying that Nebraska tape for days at a time, possibly neglecting friends and family during the holiday season? He probably kicked his wife out of the house while playing pocket hockey and viewing Nebraska's 3 man rush getting by Texas's O-Line. Nick Saban just doesn't lose when he has ample time to prepare. He walloped Florida so bad because he probably spent the last year preparing for the game. As if his own hardassness doesn't cause him to prepare for the game, there are several thousand Bama fans with his address and lots of disposable alcohol and firearms and an ill temper when their beloved Tide doesn't win.
To be fair, even if Saban wins, Bear Bryant is gonna get the credit. I wouldn't want to win someone else's championship, either.
In short, Bama will trounce Texas because Bama has figured out how they need to play to beat anyone with their impressive win against Florida, Texas cannot manage to start their offense against a good defense, and Mack Brown only won a championship because Vince Young was...Vince Young. Colt McCoy will leave Texas being closer to Chris Simms than Vince Young, a great but not heroic figure in Texas QB history.
Slate's defense of Texas starts tomorrow.
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