BAMA at SOONERS Discussion

M

majent

Oklahoma Sooners
Why I am optimistic about OU's chances:

Offense edge = BAMA
Defense edge = OU
Special Teams = wash
Head Coach edge = BAMA
Coordinators edge = Wash

Rematch. Game 1 was very tough and close. hard fought down in Title Town.

Bama moved the ball very nicely between the 20's. No doubt about it.

We made some big plays on D when we needed them.

O was very conservative and this is the way Venables likes to play it to use the strong D and ST's.

however, we are disjointed on O there is no doubt about it. IMO Mateer is playing bigger than the fellas around him on OL, WR, TE and RB.

we have talent, but they are not able to step up enough. I am not confident that 12 games in that will change.

so we need to rely on our D and ST's

let's talk about BAMA and what scares me.

Great Coaching staff. Terrific QB. Highly skilled guys around Ty. OL needs to step up.

D is very solid. Not great, but solid. ST's are very sound.

They did move the ball and get it to the edges better than anyone not named Ole mIss or tex-ASS against us.

I give them a ton of credit.

I am counting on our Home field at night as the only game on that day, to have a raucous crowd to come through.

I do believe the Kalen DeBoer stuff is an unnecessary distraction.

Early Look: SOONERS by 4 in what may be an instant classic.
 
Epitome of why this system sucks

Just watched it and all it really meant was do it again on another field. I hate protests but this game deserves it.
 
KJ said:
Epitome of why this system sucks

Just watched it and all it really meant was do it again on another field. I hate protests but this game deserves it.
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I don't want to play them again TBH. they are too good.
 
The question is about Simpson in my opinion and two of the three scenarios favor OU

Scenario #1 - Simpson has been playing hurt recently and will be healthy by game time - I would like Bama to win in that scenario

Scenario #2 - Simpson has been playing hurt recently and will not be healthy by game time - I would like OU to win that scenario.

Scenario #3 - Simpson has not been playing hurt. I would like OU to win in that scenario.

My biggest concerns as an OU fan would be Bama actually being motivated between the absolute ass kicking they took in the SEC championship game, the loss to OU the first time around and all the talk about how undeserving to be there they are. If the Coach leaving talk is all talk and they are focused i think there is something there for Bama too except for the problem of outperforming OU round one and still losing ... how much do you adjust in that scenario whereas OU has more they can improve on. Tough game. Hopefully a fun game.

Very tough place to win a big game no matter who you are and OU defense is no slouch.

Good luck Majent.
 
Admittedly I am not a college guy.. What was close about the first matchup. The box score seems to say if Alabama didn't keep kicking themselves in the dick this would not have been a close game
 
Capaholic said:
Admittedly I am not a college guy.. What was close about the first matchup. The box score seems to say if Alabama didn't keep kicking themselves in the dick this would not have been a close game
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I won't recap what I wrote last month, but football is three phases and if anyone overlooks ST's it is a mistake. ST's is 1 out of 6 every snaps.

Sooners won on D and ST's.

Very timely plays. Big Plays. They were the much faster team.

Going into Tuscaloosa and winning in any form or fashion is impressive.

Now they come to our place.

I respect the heck out of them and their program, but if anyone believes box scores tell the entire story, go big on BAMA.

You do you.
 
Capaholic said:
Admittedly I am not a college guy.. What was close about the first matchup. The box score seems to say if Alabama didn't keep kicking themselves in the dick this would not have been a close game
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I can say I don't think OU has probably done you well if you look at box scores this season as I do as well to a degree. Just simply not that kind of team. Great defense and luck (don't mean that to sound as if they were lucky so much as bounce of the ball, recovered fumbles, etc) do not translate well to box scores and this is one team that watching is worth much more than reading about.
 
We are more like 2002 tOSU but our QB is a lot better than Craig Krenzel was.

We play hard and fast all over the field.

We had a very tough sched and won 10 times so something is going right.

It is a toss up game in my mind.

Very good matchup.

Hopefully home field at night helps us and we move the ball some on O.

I am not counting on so many Bama turnovers this time.

But our D had something to do with that.
 
Monger said:
I think special teams, especially the kicking game is a huge advantage for OU.

@gps_3 is Simpson dealing with a back issue?
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I have heard both back and ribs. Not bad enough to not play, but obviously those are two areas where the main treatment is rest. A lot of people have pointed to a hit he took at the beginning of the 2nd half at Mizzou where he fumbled and was slow to get up as the genesis of his injury. I think we would have been better served not playing last week, but you don't stay home with the chance to win a conference title.

The two things that are most important for Alabama are: 1) getting healthier, not just Ty, but by the end of the game last week, we were basically down 3 starting OL, a starting TE, the top 2 RB, our top WR, a starting DL and his primary backup, a starting LB and 2 starting CB; and 2) playing a cleaner game, especially in the TO department. We won't win ST, but we can at least avoid disaster unlike last time. We've been really good at avoiding penalties all year, and until OU, were leading the SEC in TO margin. If we are relatively healthy and play a relatively clean game, I think we'll have a really good chance at winning.
 
majent said:
We are more like 2002 tOSU but our QB is a lot better than Craig Krenzel was.

We play hard and fast all over the field.

We had a very tough sched and won 10 times so something is going right.

It is a toss up game in my mind.

Very good matchup.

Hopefully home field at night helps us and we move the ball some on O.

I am not counting on so many Bama turnovers this time.

But our D had something to do with that.
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I'll add more tomorrow when I finally have some time around here but I like OU a lot. I get them at 66-1 when Mateer signed.

That defense is nasty.
 
gps_3 said:
I have heard both back and ribs. Not bad enough to not play, but obviously those are two areas where the main treatment is rest. A lot of people have pointed to a hit he took at the beginning of the 2nd half at Mizzou where he fumbled and was slow to get up as the genesis of his injury. I think we would have been better served not playing last week, but you don't stay home with the chance to win a conference title.

The two things that are most important for Alabama are: 1) getting healthier, not just Ty, but by the end of the game last week, we were basically down 3 starting OL, a starting TE, the top 2 RB, our top WR, a starting DL and his primary backup, a starting LB and 2 starting CB; and 2) playing a cleaner game, especially in the TO department. We won't win ST, but we can at least avoid disaster unlike last time. We've been really good at avoiding penalties all year, and until OU, were leading the SEC in TO margin. If we are relatively healthy and play a relatively clean game, I think we'll have a really good chance at winning.
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I agree.

But as I am saying to others, I think our D had something to do with what happened.

Just like IU had something to do with tOSU not being able to move the ball at will like they did on everyone else.

I think the opponent and their strengths matter so much in every game.
 
majent said:
I agree.

But as I am saying to others, I think our D had something to do with what happened.

Just like IU had something to do with tOSU not being able to move the ball at will like they did on everyone else.

I think the opponent and their strengths matter so much in every game.
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Of course the OU defense had something to do with it. But Mateer is a TO machine and Alabama dropped probably 3 INT in the first game, 2 of which were probably pick 6s. If Ty has an INT and a fumble, but Mateer has 3 INT, its a different story. OU played a much cleaner game in terms of TO and penalties than they pretty much had all year, and Alabama put the ball on the ground far more than they usually do. If things regress to the mean, then it's advantage Alabama
 
gps_3 said:
Of course the OU defense had something to do with it. But Mateer is a TO machine and Alabama dropped probably 3 INT in the first game, 2 of which were probably pick 6s. If Ty has an INT and a fumble, but Mateer has 3 INT, its a different story. OU played a much cleaner game in terms of TO and penalties than they pretty much had all year, and Alabama put the ball on the ground far more than they usually do. If things regress to the mean, then it's advantage Alabama
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hence you guys are favored. no argument here.
 
Seems like Cuevas is such an important mid-range security blanket for Simpson. Having him back is big for Alabama.
 
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The OU at Bama game from last month will be replayed on SEC Network in 45 mins:

10 am pacific
11 am mountain
Noon central
1 pm eastern

i will watch the entire game and will report back objectively on what both teams did well and what they did not.

@gps_3 my dude, i do not remember bama dropping 3 potential int's from mateer but perhaps i blocked it out.

i will watch again and report back.
 
One was actually a tipped pass at the line. If it hadn’t been tipped, it was going straight to a defender with nobody in front of him. But with the way it was going that game, he probably would have dropped it
 
1Q in.
our speed on D and ST's simply bothered Bama a lot.
it looks like they were surprised by just how fast we are on D, to be honest.

again, we are in Tuscaloosa here, playing against a pretty veteran team and steady, talented QB, in a very tough place to win.

and in the 1st quarter we are taking it to the home team.

i have re-watched every play so far, 40 mins into the telecast. only pivoting to Polymarket to look at UM coach odds, during commercials.
 
2Q five mins in.

Bama's Justin Jefferson dropped an easy one right to him. terrible pass by john. justin was there. bad drop there even for a defender.
 
just bought my Rose Bowl ticket.

row 14. 40 yd line back to the sun. $1,300

if we lose to bama, i sell the seat.

if we beat bama, it will be one of the best sports days of my life being there in person.
 
2Q totally owned by Bama. they found their footing, calmed their nerves, got used to our Sooner speed.
 
and of course like an idiot i bought on the indiana side not the TBD side so i had buy another opposite side of stadium and need to sell the Indy side seat.

if Bammer beats us i will need to sell both seats LOL
 
Watched 2nd half in its entirety last night.
We held Bammer to 7 points in 2H. Our D just stifled them. In their own crib. Mateer made some big time clutch throws.

I see Our D putting on the same type of show in our crib next friday.

I also cannot see our O being anywhere near as ineffective as that first game.

In special teams we are both very evenly matched.
 
The one thing I'd be concerned about taking Bama is everyone is on them. I don't think I've seen anyone who likes OU in this game and that usually tells it all.
 
Brewers888 said:
The one thing I'd be concerned about taking Bama is everyone is on them. I don't think I've seen anyone who likes OU in this game and that usually tells it all.
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If we were in Vegas and I was forced, I take sooners.

- defense
- home game
- night

Sooners or no play.

Yes I'm biased as a sooner fan but I hope at least *some* of you feel i can be objective.

The georgia blowout was only 8 days ago. Next game only 5 days away
 
No problem if you are a homer but I tend to be the exact opposite and criticize my favorite teams more than their opponents. I don't know how this game turns out but Bama has been brutal down the stretch and I don't trust Simpson at all. Oklahoma on the other hand is great defensively but the offense needs to be much better. I hate that its a rematch but its a very interesting game between two elite programs.
 
R Mason Thomas is back. First game since he had the strip-6 that turned the Tennessee game.

No team this year has a longer streak of getting strips and interceptions and points from the D and punt returns than Oklahoma has this year. I think they have had 3 or more in five straight games. GPS3 has a good point above about whether that streak can continue.

Mateer has had 20 days of rest and will play without a wrap or anything else on his hand for the first time since he broke it.

I respect Alabama as a sound team, but they have looked a little less like a Saban-Alabama team from game to game. I don't expect much improvement from the Okla offense but home crowd, best D in the country, and best kicker and special teams in the country are enough for me. I'm with OU all the way.
 
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First, Ohio State was in a perfect let down spot last week. Fans care about beating Michigan and winning Natties. Coming off the Michigan win and traveling to play Indiana in the state of Indiana and being a revenge game was a perfect storm. It also coincided with Hartline (OSU coordinator) taking the South Florida job. The timing was terrible.

Secondly, the difference between 2002 OSU and the current Oklahoma team is coaching. Tressel had won multiple National Championships. He was the first coach ever to go 14-0 and win the National championship in the same season. It was his 5th National title and he also went 9-1 vs Michigan. I like Venables and usually root for him, but he really hasn't proven anything yet. I grew up watching Oklahoma be a top 3 team in the country year after year.

Home teams rolled last year in the playoffs. It is so hard to win on the road in football, especially at night. This is a huge advantage for the Sooners. I did watch this game earlier in the year. I thought Oklahoma played with a lot of heart but also benefitted with huge turnovers. The pick six turned the game around. I'm not sure the Sooners can count on that again.

Sadly, I see Bama being the first team to ever win a road playoff game. I absolutely hate Alabama, but I think that they are the better team. We shall find out tomorrow.
 
TahoeLegend said:
R Mason Thomas is back. First game since he had the strip-6 that turned the Tennessee game.

No team this year has a longer streak of getting strips and interceptions and points from the D and punt returns than Oklahoma has this year. I think they have had 3 or more in five straight games. GPS3 has a good point above about whether that of streak can continue.

Mateer has had 20 days of rest and will play without a wrap or anything else on his hand for the first time since he broke it.

I respect Alabama as a sound team, but they have looked a little less like a Saban-Alabama team from game to game. I don't expect much improvement from the Okla offense but home crowd, best D in the country, and best kicker and special teams in the country are enough for me. I'm with OU all the way.
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I probably sound like an OSU homer and maybe I am...but the Sooners have the best defense in the country? You obviously didn't watch Ohio State. Even in a loss they only gave up 14 points to Indiana. They have FOUR first team All-Americans on defense and 5 players on that defense will be first round draft picks. Even the two corners will get drafted, just not in the first round. Oklahoma has ONE first teamer. I really like Oklahoma's defense, but they are not the best this year.
 
Smallmouth_bass said:
I probably sound like an OSU homer and maybe I am...but the Sooners have the best defense in the country? You obviously didn't watch Ohio State. Even in a loss they only gave up 14 points to Indiana. They have FOUR first team All-Americans on defense and 5 players on that defense will be first round draft picks. Even the two corners will get drafted, just not in the first round. Oklahoma has ONE first teamer. I really like Oklahoma's defense, but they are not the best this year.
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pound for pound, as a Sooner fan, i say tOSU has the best D i have seen all year. however, it took until the IU game for me to say that.

games vs tex-ass at home with arch's happy feet, then at illinois and at washington, did not inspire me.

what you guys did to stifle and amazing IU offense is what turned it for me.

you guys are the best D in my mind. no weaknesses at all.

OU D? we are likely the 2nd best, but there is some space between us and you guys for sure.

i will say that. my eyes tell me that.
 
Smart by the committee to put these 2 against each other to hide the fact that Bama isn’t a playoff team. Both bomb long shots to do much in these playoffs so why not guarantee a win for one of them? I thought we were against rematches but I guess when it needs to be done. An SEC team will be moving on!
 
majent said:
maybe some of John's throws which can be errant sometimes, can now be shifted by the wind right to our receivers LOL

joking.
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There is an element of humor there, but no doubt a strong, gusting wind helps the team with the least efficient passing game.
 
majent said:
devastated. inconsolable. but the better team won.

congrats @gps_3 and all bama fans and backers.

i tip my cap to you.
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You're a better man than I. I had already decided I was taking an online detox during the first quarter. Oklahoma has a lot going for it, just needed to get more from the QB tonight
 
I said it somewhere in the CFB forum that I didn’t see all the hype with this Sooner defense. It reminded me much of the NY Jets defensive hype. When a defense starts to look like the 2000 Ravens or 85 Bears, let me know.
 
wiseplayer said:
I said it somewhere in the CFB forum that I didn’t see all the hype with this Sooner defense. It reminded me much of the NY Jets defensive hype. When a defense starts to look like the 2000 Ravens or 85 Bears, let me know.
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We held a very good bama offense who had 13 days off after the Georgia game to get healthier and recalibrate, to 260 yards last night.

Without the D we are not in that game last night.
 
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wiseplayer said:
I said it somewhere in the CFB forum that I didn’t see all the hype with this Sooner defense. It reminded me much of the NY Jets defensive hype. When a defense starts to look like the 2000 Ravens or 85 Bears, let me know.
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I think we all get caught up in comparing an individual season's best to all time bests, and drawing incorrect conclusions. You are right, this OU defense is not the 2000 Ravens or 85 Bears. They aren't even as good as 2021-22 UGA or '23 Michigan. But that doesn't matter because they don't have to play those teams. OU is absolutely one of the top 2-3 defenses in the country this season, and the reason they were a playoff team instead of mid-tier bowl team.
 
majent said:
that has to be down below 7 very soon if not already?

not for recency effect just for levity and overall body of work for the entire season, no?
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Sagarin has this like 7.25ish. I can’t see it staying at 7.5 for long
 
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