Better Matchup Against Bama

[Eric]

Who do you think would have the hypothetical edge against Alabama? You have to pick between Notre Dame, Oregon, and Kansas State. Go!

I'm going to go with Kansas State. They have a workmanlike attitude that I think would play well against the Tide. They don't have an offense that would light up that defense by any stretch of the imagination, but they could hold their own. So far as I can tell, they have a better defense than Oregon does. I was on the Oregon defense bandwagon, but last week was a little disheartening in that regard. I think a lot of that game had to do with them having to keep two receivers who should be in the NFL right now under wraps, but even on the ground, they got shoved around a little bit. That worries me that Lacy and Yeldon can just pick up 6 yards a touch against their defensive front. Notre Dame has the best defense out of the group, but obviously the offense would have no hope of moving the football against Alabama.

To wrap up, Kansas State plays fundamentals. They won't make the stupid play that Alabama takes advantage of. Their defense is good enough to keep the game close. And Collin Klein can make plays where none exist. Oregon's defense has some holes and some "physicality" issues that Alabama would light up, not to mention their speed advantage on offense could be neutralized (oh right, they're starting a freshman QB against that defense as well). Notre Dame can't move the football until Tommy Rees comes in with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter to tie the game. Advantage: K-State.

Most Entertaining: Oregon vs. Alabama.
Closest Matchup: Kansas State vs. Alabama
Most National Intrigue: Notre Dame vs. Alabama

[donovan]

Oregon v Alabama. Oregon's defense is not terrible. Their offense is just too quick. I think they would give Alabama a run for the money. The key would be what it is in all games, the line of scrimmage. Oregon's offensive line has dominated the defense. These runners do not go through brick walls, they have holes. Now, they are so quick, the hole does not have to be open for long, just long enough. Oregon's quickness tires out teams. Rule, ball gets snapped withing 13 seconds. Teams not use to this get tired. In the end, Alabama wins, because their defensive line will be just too tough. Oregon's hope, score a lot quickly and run it up and hope their defense is enough. Winner. Alabama

[Dossenator]

Notre Dame would get slaughtered.

This Kstate team is pretty much the same team that Ark manhandled in January in the Cotton Bowl.

My pick is Oregon: they would score on this Bama defense, and hold this Bama offense enough to keep the game close.

[Cane from the Bend]

K State: The only way to beat Bama is to keep your offense on the field, score methodically, then pressure their offense to try and keep up after sitting on the sideline cold most of the game.

Oregon is just too much about flash. They try too hard to force things, and against a defense that can throw your offensive timing off, hurrying to the line hurts rather than helps. They simply don't know how to play ball control.

notre dame . . . would just get plain slaughtered.

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[Spence]

K State: The only way to beat Bama is to keep your offense on the field, score methodically, then pressure their offense to try and keep up after sitting on the sideline cold most of the game.

Oregon is just too much about flash. They try too hard to force things, and against a defense that can throw your offensive timing off, hurrying to the line hurts rather than helps. They simply don't know how to play ball control.

notre dame . . . would just get plain slaughtered.


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I don't agree. I think the way to beat Alabama is score as often and quick as possible and make them be methodical on offense. If Oregon has the ability to stop Alabama on defense 3/4 of the time, they could beat them. I haven't seen evidence that Oregon's defense is up to that task. I do think they are still the best matchup. I just don't see Oregon's defense being able to stop Alabama's offense more often than Alabama's defense is going to stop Oregon's offense. I'm not sold on the genuis of Chip Kelly.

[billybud]

This odds setter thinks that he knows who matches up better....

http://www.beyondthebets.com/regardless ... itle-game/

[billybud]

Nobody....

[Spence]

Nobody....

I agree with that. Bama has the defense to stop a good offense and they have a pretty good offense. Their offense can score 21 points on anyone and not many are going to put up 21 on that defense. That makes beating them a problem.

[armchairqb]

Kansas State: Bill Snyder is a masterful coach of athletes that are middling of ranking in the Big 12 by recruiting services. So do the players buy into the same system that they have all season that has worked or are they intimidated by the athleticism of Alabama? K State's break between their final regular season game and the BCS Title game would be nearly five weeks which also doesn't serve them well.

-Alabama 48, K-State 0


Oregon: They have reasonably comparable athleticism to Alabama, but the short scoring drives hinder their chances to win this large of a game. Bama is so meticulous on offense that they can make every scoring drive run 6+ minutes of gametime off of the clock.

-Alabama 38, Oregon 20


Notre Dame: The Irish are best out of the aforementioned to handle nearly a five week break between games thanks to head coach Brian Kelly not missing the small details in game preparation. IMO, their defense will rise to the challenge of this matchup, but their offense can not hang with the Tide's defense.

First half: Alabama 7, Notre Dame 7
Final: Alabama 28, Notre Dame 7

[Spence]

There is no doubt that Notre Dame is a better team this year than they have been. I don't see them as being better than Oregon and I don't think they could score a point on Alabama. They aren't as talented as the other top teams and they aren't as deep either.

[Cane from the Bend]

Guess the real answer was a team not in the selections . . .

Congrats to A&M; they played one heck of a game.

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[Spence]

Guess the real answer was a team not in the selections . . .

Congrats to A&M; they played one heck of a game.

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Nice pick by you too.

[Cane from the Bend]

[Cane from the Bend]

When I went into the picks, I had every intention of taking Alabama.
But, when I saw the choice in the listing, something inside said, A&M.
I used the ridiculous connotation to justify my prediction.
However, I couldn't get myself to change that pick.

It was one of those rare times, where I didn't just pick who I either, wanted to win by bias, or figured was going to win based on predetermined assumptions.

Now If I could get myself to do that with every game.

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Though, I'll never pick against Miami . . . regardless of how bad we may actually be.

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[warrriorsfan808]

Guess the real answer was a team not in the selections . . .

Congrats to A&M; they played one heck of a game.

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Nice pick Cane, you and Vileborg got that pick right!! Congrats!!!

How far will this drop Alabama now?