CFN: 2026 Rose Bowl Prediction: Alabama vs Indiana CFP Quarterfinal

[colbysullivan]

If it’s in any way derogatory then I’m all for it.

I hadn’t considered that angle

 

[BamaInBham]

I mean, I hope Bama wins, but if the Bama that played in the SECCG shows up…

It can’t. There were 8 or 9 starters out, as well as 4 of their backups out or severely banged up. That team has disappeared. Doesn’t guarantee victory but THAT team will definitely not show up.

Alabama will have only played one game in 26 days - much, much healthier and mentally fresh. This opposed to being physically injured and banged up plus mentally drained, having played UGA, 2025 Vandy, Mizz, UT, USC, LSU, OU, AU in JH, and UGA consecutively but for the Ill St pillow. That is a killer physically and mentally. It’s almost as tough as an army advancing towards Moscow during the Russian winter. Alabama went 7-2, Napoleon and Hitler were 0-2.

 

[crimsonaudio]

It can’t. There were 8 or 9 starters out, as well as 4 of their backups out or severely banged up. That team has disappeared. Doesn’t guarantee victory but THAT team will definitely not show up.

Alabama will have only played one game in 26 days - much, much healthier and mentally fresh. This opposed to being physically injured and banged up plus mentally drained, having played UGA, 2025 Vandy, Mizz, UT, USC, LSU, OU, AU in JH, and UGA consecutively but for the Ill St pillow. That is a killer physically and mentally. It’s almost as tough as an army advancing towards Moscow during the Russian winter. Alabama went 7-2, Napoleon and Hitler were 0-2.

I love your optimism, but if wins were based on paper, Bama would be 13-0.

 

[BamaInBham]

I love your optimism, but if wins were based on paper, Bama would be 13-0.

I wasn’t predicting a win but pointing out that the team that faced UGA will not be close to the same one who played in the SECC game. That is not paper but fact. I have never seen Indiana, thus, haven’t commented on who will win. Though from what i read of them and know of a potentially primed Alabama, I am hopeful.

(Btw, if wins were based on paper, IMO, Alabama would be 12-2 or 11-3.)

 

[M Squires]

If the games were played on paper Indiana would have been winless in the Big 10. Even Purdue has a higher recruited talent level than them.

Talent only matters when a team has a fantastic coach like CKD. Look at the Florida train wreck as exhibit A.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

If the games were played on paper Indiana would have been winless in the Big 10. Even Purdue has a higher recruited talent level than them.

Talent only matters when a team has a fantastic coach like CKD. Look at the Florida train wreck as exhibit A.

Indiana plays like four and five stars as a collective group. But are made up of three stars individually. Our staff needs to scheme both offensively and defensively schemes that put the the individual talent one on one to take advantage of the talent gap. If we dont do that it will feel like we're playing a team full of five stars.

 

[The Ols]

I wasn’t predicting a win but pointing out that the team that faced UGA will not be close to the same one who played in the SECC game. That is not paper but fact. I have never seen Indiana, thus, haven’t commented on who will win. Though from what i read of them and know of a potentially primed Alabama, I am hopeful.

(Btw, if wins were based on paper, IMO, Alabama would be 12-2 or 11-3.)

Just curious…who have we played, let alone 2-3 teams, that look better on paper than Alabama?
It’s nothing to brag about on our end because we’ve lost games, but nobody looks better on paper…not even UGa…

 

[BamaInBham]

Just curious…who have we played, let alone 2-3 teams, that look better on paper than Alabama?
It’s nothing to brag about on our end because we’ve lost games, but nobody looks better on paper…not even UGa…

If what you mean by “on paper” is recruiting rankings, i would say only UGA as a slight lean, with a further edge being at Athens for the first game and the Alabama massive MASH unit for the second. Then add in the cumulative effect of the schedule for the end of the season for a possible 3rd loss.

But my respect for the star system is very low. So, if that’s what you mean by on paper, while IMO it does mean something, but to act like there is any real precision in those ratings is laughable. And any players that an Alabama or UGA, et al. are recruiting get a tremendous benefit of the doubt.

Having said all of that i do think Alabama probably has more “raw talent” than most but they are two years from having talent that fully corresponds to the total change in BOTH offensive and defensive philosophy requiring different body types and skill sets in many cases.

 

[Roll Tide 00]

Has anyone in the media picked Bama?

I haven’t seen 1 person yet except that Crain guy from Lee county.

I’d like to see a list off all the names for Indiana.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Has anyone in the media picked Bama?

I haven’t seen 1 person yet except that Crain guy from Lee county.

I’d like to see a list off all the names for Indiana.

I've not seen one, outside of Pate.

I've even seen headlines like "Can Alabama keep it close?"...

 

[umlb1]

I've not seen one, outside of Pate.

I've even seen headlines like "Can Alabama keep it close?"...

All 5 of On3's "experts"--Staples, Wasserman, Low, PicKell, and McMurphy--pick IU by an average of double digits, something like 25-14.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

All 5 of On3's "experts"--Staples, Wasserman, Low, PicKell, and McMurphy--pick IU by an average of double digits, something like 25-14.

Saban will pick us.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Saban will pick us.

Seems like the build up is going the same way as The 1st Round vs OU but with people giving us even less of chance… no chance really.

Hope we get the same type of unexpected outcome.

 

[Saban4Ever]

All 5 of On3's "experts"--Staples, Wasserman, Low, PicKell, and McMurphy--pick IU by an average of double digits, something like 25-14.

I think Chris Lowe picked Bama 30-28, or someone did.

 

[Roll Tide 00]

I've not seen one, outside of Pate.

I've even seen headlines like "Can Alabama keep it close?"...

I could have swore Pate picked Indiana a week ago but he flip flops so much it wouldn’t surprise me if he changed it.

 

[CoolBreeze]

All of this reminds me of a certain Miami game circa 1992.

 

[Krymsonman]

Looks like we are going to get a rainy Rose Bowl. Weather Channel says 99% chance right now. I thought it never rained in southern California.

 

[92tide]

Looks like we are going to get a rainy Rose Bowl. Weather Channel says 99% chance right now. I thought it never rained in southern California.

it pours, man, it pours

 

[umlb1]

I think Chris Lowe picked Bama 30-28, or someone did.

Yes, that was Low's prediction. When all 5 of the On3 guys' predictions are averaged, however, the resulted prediction is IU 25-14.