If you’re like me, you’re patiently waiting for this year’s Orange Bowl CFP game between mighty Bama and my Sooners. It pits the Heisman Trophy winner against the Heisman runner-up. It features the best Big XII offense against one of the best (if not the best) SEC defenses. It features a duel between one of the games most successful veteran coaches ever in Saban against a bright up-and-comer in Riley.
In my readings of various Tide fans, I’ve came across a number of storylines from Bama fans that certainly run counter to the views held by many Sooner fans who’ve followed OU closely this year. So in an effort to provide some interest to the game (not trying to troll here, just provide a respectful difference of opinion), I’ll list a few storylines where there’s probably a big discrepancy between what most Tide fans and most Sooners believe:
In my readings of various Tide fans, I’ve came across a number of storylines from Bama fans that certainly run counter to the views held by many Sooner fans who’ve followed OU closely this year. So in an effort to provide some interest to the game (not trying to troll here, just provide a respectful difference of opinion), I’ll list a few storylines where there’s probably a big discrepancy between what most Tide fans and most Sooners believe:
1) The Discussed Storyline: Kyler Murray is a Big XII system passer: his touchdown passes are often off-the-mark and he’s feasted on poor defenses. Put him against Bama pressure and bump coverage and he’ll fold.
A Sooner’s viewpoint: Murray has set the record for highest QB rating EVER so he’s not just another QB. Plus, any discussion of Murray should also include OU’s OL which is exceptional. Finally, Kyler is blessed with nerves of steel. He’s definitely human and has struggled on rare occasions, but he has never been taken out of the game mentally (witness his late game heroics against UT in the first OU-UT matchup).
2) The Discussed Storyline: OU’s defense is historically bad and will be the worse defense Bama sees all year.
A Sooner’s viewpoint: I’m confident OU’s defense has performed better than several of Bama’s opponents this season, but objectively comparing OU and Bama’s 2018 opponents is difficult because Bama and OU have played against different teams. However we can turn to the FootballOutsiders S&P+ ratings BECAUSE it attempts to normalize for competition. They rate OU’s defense as stronger than 5 of Bama’s 2018 opponents: Louisville, Ole Miss, LA Lafayette, Tennessee, and The Citadel.
3) The Discussed Storyline: Bama should have success containing Murray with a single LB acting as a spy. The Longhorns were successful with this approach.
A Sooner’s viewpoint: Texas did use a spy approach (along with several other teams); however I feel like the offense had a pretty good game against the Longhorns in both meetings this year. I also think it would take an exceptional effort by a LB to contain Kyler Murray for 60 minutes (Kyler’s both shifty and quick as a runner, and accurate as a passer).
4) The Discussed Storyline: This year the SEC has tamed those high-flying Big XII offenses.
A Sooner’s Viewpoint: We have three SEC/BigXII matchups from this season. They are: WVU 40 / Tenn 14, KSU 10 / Miss St 31, Texas Tech 27 / Ole Miss 47. [It’s worth noting that 5 of the 6 teams had a returning QB with various levels of game experience from previous seasons, but Texas Tech had a freshman playing in his first college game in a QB-centric offense. In my experience, a freshman QB often improves dramatically over and above their first game against a P5 opponent – and indeed, Texas Tech’s offense improved over the course of the year. (BTW, Tua recorded a 25% completion rate in his first game against a P5 opponent.)]
Looking a little deeper, Tennessee didn’t stop WVU (WVU punted one time), Miss State did a good job against KSU holding them to 10, and Ole Miss did a reasonable job against a freshman QB starting his first college game. From SEC league play, we learn that Tennessee had a fair defense, Miss State had a very good defense, and Ole Miss had a fair defense. WVU ended 6-3 in conference, KSU ended 3-6 in conference, and Texas Tech ended 3-6 in conference. Meanwhile, Miss State ended 4-4 in conference, Ole Miss ended 1-7 in conference, and Tennessee ended 2-6 in conference. Only three games makes any assessment a challenge, but I’d say the results are consistent with what was expected based off Big XII and SEC league play.
5) The Discussed Storyline: The SEC is head-and-shoulders better than the Big XII in football.
A Sooner’s Viewpoint: Those living in SEC country probably don’t realize the amount of hype that some media outlets shovel about the greatness of the SEC, and it's no surprise when you run into football fans from other conferences if the discussion turns to chagrin about how the SEC promotion. Certainly Bama has earned special recognition, but is the rest of the conference really head-and-shoulders better than other conferences? When Mizzu and Texas A&M went from Big XII to SEC – they remained at the same level or actually improved their in-conference records. That wouldn’t happen if the SEC was head-and-shoulders above the Big XII. [When comparing the last 3 years of Big XII play with the first 3 years of SEC play -- Mizzu went from a 15-10 record with 0 division championships in Big XII play to 16-8 and and 2 division championships in SEC; TAMU went from 13-12 in Big-XII to 13-11 in SEC]
So there's definitely some discrepancies among fan bases. It will be interesting to see how the game plays out.A Sooner’s viewpoint: Murray has set the record for highest QB rating EVER so he’s not just another QB. Plus, any discussion of Murray should also include OU’s OL which is exceptional. Finally, Kyler is blessed with nerves of steel. He’s definitely human and has struggled on rare occasions, but he has never been taken out of the game mentally (witness his late game heroics against UT in the first OU-UT matchup).
2) The Discussed Storyline: OU’s defense is historically bad and will be the worse defense Bama sees all year.
A Sooner’s viewpoint: I’m confident OU’s defense has performed better than several of Bama’s opponents this season, but objectively comparing OU and Bama’s 2018 opponents is difficult because Bama and OU have played against different teams. However we can turn to the FootballOutsiders S&P+ ratings BECAUSE it attempts to normalize for competition. They rate OU’s defense as stronger than 5 of Bama’s 2018 opponents: Louisville, Ole Miss, LA Lafayette, Tennessee, and The Citadel.
3) The Discussed Storyline: Bama should have success containing Murray with a single LB acting as a spy. The Longhorns were successful with this approach.
A Sooner’s viewpoint: Texas did use a spy approach (along with several other teams); however I feel like the offense had a pretty good game against the Longhorns in both meetings this year. I also think it would take an exceptional effort by a LB to contain Kyler Murray for 60 minutes (Kyler’s both shifty and quick as a runner, and accurate as a passer).
4) The Discussed Storyline: This year the SEC has tamed those high-flying Big XII offenses.
A Sooner’s Viewpoint: We have three SEC/BigXII matchups from this season. They are: WVU 40 / Tenn 14, KSU 10 / Miss St 31, Texas Tech 27 / Ole Miss 47. [It’s worth noting that 5 of the 6 teams had a returning QB with various levels of game experience from previous seasons, but Texas Tech had a freshman playing in his first college game in a QB-centric offense. In my experience, a freshman QB often improves dramatically over and above their first game against a P5 opponent – and indeed, Texas Tech’s offense improved over the course of the year. (BTW, Tua recorded a 25% completion rate in his first game against a P5 opponent.)]
Looking a little deeper, Tennessee didn’t stop WVU (WVU punted one time), Miss State did a good job against KSU holding them to 10, and Ole Miss did a reasonable job against a freshman QB starting his first college game. From SEC league play, we learn that Tennessee had a fair defense, Miss State had a very good defense, and Ole Miss had a fair defense. WVU ended 6-3 in conference, KSU ended 3-6 in conference, and Texas Tech ended 3-6 in conference. Meanwhile, Miss State ended 4-4 in conference, Ole Miss ended 1-7 in conference, and Tennessee ended 2-6 in conference. Only three games makes any assessment a challenge, but I’d say the results are consistent with what was expected based off Big XII and SEC league play.
5) The Discussed Storyline: The SEC is head-and-shoulders better than the Big XII in football.
A Sooner’s Viewpoint: Those living in SEC country probably don’t realize the amount of hype that some media outlets shovel about the greatness of the SEC, and it's no surprise when you run into football fans from other conferences if the discussion turns to chagrin about how the SEC promotion. Certainly Bama has earned special recognition, but is the rest of the conference really head-and-shoulders better than other conferences? When Mizzu and Texas A&M went from Big XII to SEC – they remained at the same level or actually improved their in-conference records. That wouldn’t happen if the SEC was head-and-shoulders above the Big XII. [When comparing the last 3 years of Big XII play with the first 3 years of SEC play -- Mizzu went from a 15-10 record with 0 division championships in Big XII play to 16-8 and and 2 division championships in SEC; TAMU went from 13-12 in Big-XII to 13-11 in SEC]
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