BCS title game thread

[Dick Whitman]

I know there's a bowl thread, but the crown jewel seems to deserve its own day-of-the-game thread.

Thoughts and predictions?

Alabama 31, Notre Dame 13

It's hard to find an area in which Notre Dame has the advantage. I know that Alabama has some concern about both the Notre Dame tight end, and also the mobile quarterback after the A&M debacle. But that's a pretty thin reed to hang your hopes on if you're an Irish fan.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Seeing how Pitt did so well against a 6-6 Ole Miss team Saturday, I can't see Notre Dame being within 17 points.

Honestly, this game is Apple vs. Trump for me.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I just have this strange feeling (based on zero logic) that Notre Dame is going to win...

Notre Dame 24, Alabama 21.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I'm at least glad that Florida got pounded in its bowl game, so we won't have to hear SEC fans droning on and on tonight about how the Gators should have been in the game instead of Notre Dame. Much harder for Oregon fans to make that case, since they had a common opponent (Stanford).

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I don't see Notre Dame scoring enough points to win, but I don't see a blowout, either. Something along the 24-10 line seems right -- or even duller than last year's game.

 

[nmmetsfan]

This game reminds me of the Alabama-Miami Sugar Bowl back in the early 90s when nobody gave Bama a shot to win because Miami was too talented. I'll take the Irish.

 

[Armchair_QB]

This game reminds me of the Alabama-Miami Sugar Bowl back in the early 90s when nobody gave Bama a shot to win because Miami was too talented. I'll take the Irish.

It's got the same feel to me too.

 

[Dick Whitman]

This game reminds me of the Alabama-Miami Sugar Bowl back in the early 90s when nobody gave Bama a shot to win because Miami was too talented. I'll take the Irish.

This isn't the first place I've seen this line of reasoning this week. But for every Alabama-Miami or Ohio State-Miami, there's a Florida State-Virginia Tech or USC-Oklahoma that played out largely as we anticipated.

I wonder how often, in general, double-digit underdogs in college football win the game outright. I'm sure that stat is out there somewhere.

But to your point, the Notre Dame-Florida Sugar Bowl in the early 1990s is the comparison to me, if you're inclined to cast your lot with Notre Dame tonight. That was Jerome Bettis's team, and it was one of those years when Notre Dame didn't seem to deserve the bowl berth they were granted. And it beat the tar out of its SEC opponent.

 

[nmmetsfan]

This game reminds me of the Alabama-Miami Sugar Bowl back in the early 90s when nobody gave Bama a shot to win because Miami was too talented. I'll take the Irish.

This isn't the first place I've seen this line of reasoning this week. But for every Alabama-Miami or Ohio State-Miami, there's a Florida State-Virginia Tech or USC-Oklahoma that played out largely as we anticipated.

I wonder how often, in general, double-digit underdogs in college football win the game outright. I'm sure that stat is out there somewhere.

But to your point, the Notre Dame-Florida Sugar Bowl in the early 1990s is the comparison to me, if you're inclined to cast your lot with Notre Dame tonight. That was Jerome Bettis's team, and it was one of those years when Notre Dame didn't seem to deserve the bowl berth they were granted. And it beat the tar out of its SEC opponent.

The only difference is those Virginia Tech and Oklahoma teams were outclassed on the defensive side of the ball. I don't see that happening against this year's Irish D. The only way Bama puts up 30 is if they generate turnovers (which wouldn't exactly be a surprise).

 

[Songbird]

Notre Dame 21, Alabama 14 to cap a storybook season.

 

[JackReacher]

Notre Dame 21, Alabama 14 to cap a storybook season.

Sweet. Thanks!

[takes Alabama]

 

[Dick Whitman]

This game reminds me of the Alabama-Miami Sugar Bowl back in the early 90s when nobody gave Bama a shot to win because Miami was too talented. I'll take the Irish.

This isn't the first place I've seen this line of reasoning this week. But for every Alabama-Miami or Ohio State-Miami, there's a Florida State-Virginia Tech or USC-Oklahoma that played out largely as we anticipated.

I wonder how often, in general, double-digit underdogs in college football win the game outright. I'm sure that stat is out there somewhere.

But to your point, the Notre Dame-Florida Sugar Bowl in the early 1990s is the comparison to me, if you're inclined to cast your lot with Notre Dame tonight. That was Jerome Bettis's team, and it was one of those years when Notre Dame didn't seem to deserve the bowl berth they were granted. And it beat the tar out of its SEC opponent.

The only difference is those Virginia Tech and Oklahoma teams were outclassed on the defensive side of the ball. I don't see that happening against this year's Irish D. The only way Bama puts up 30 is if they generate turnovers (which wouldn't exactly be a surprise).

There are a couple reasons I think Alabama will put up 30-plus points tonight:

(1) Their special teams. Alabama has an enormous advantage tonight in special teams play, and that will lead to favorable field position much of the night. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they ran back one, maybe two kicks for scores. Which is a worst-case scenario for Notre Dame, obviously.

(2) Their ability to run the ball within a high-tempo offense. Notre Dame's defense is solid, no doubt. But it has been particularly stout in the red zone. And it has probably played over its head in goal-to-go situations, especially. I think that, because Lacy and Yeldon are both so effective, running behind probably the best offensive line in college football, Notre Dame regresses quite violently to the mean tonight in red zone situations.

 

[Chef2]

Notre Dame 7 7 10 6 --30
Alabama 10 0 3 7--20

 

[nmmetsfan]

I think it will be interesting to watch the NFL-caliber talent on the Bama line (and in the backfield) against the NFL-caliber talent in ND's front seven. It really will be strength on strength.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Notre Dame 7 7 10 6 --30
Alabama 10 0 3 7--20

See, I think if Notre Dame wins, it'll be more of an Alabama-A&M line, with Notre Dame grabbing an early lead and then hanging on for dear life.

 

[Boom_70]

Key match up tonight is Jones / Nix. If Jones can control Nix it allows Bama guards to get to Teo and Lacy and Yeldon will shred ND at weak side B gap all night long.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Key match up tonight is Jones / Nix. If Jones can control Nix it allows Bama guards to get to Teo and Lacy and Yeldon will shred ND at weak side B gap all night long.

I think this is pretty accurate. Nobody knows how healthy Jones is, though.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Notre Dame 24, Alabama 20

If Kelly is smart, he spent the month off installing all the plays that made Johnny Football go. Certainly there's enough time to change the offense.

 

[nmmetsfan]

How healthy is Jones? If he's not 100 percent, he's going to need help on Nix. He might anyway.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Notre Dame 24, Alabama 20

If Kelly is smart, he spent the month off installing all the plays that made Johnny Football go. Certainly there's enough time to change the offense.

Let's not forget, however, that Alabama shut down Denard Robinson completely in Week 1. And Manziel largely in the second half of that game. The Johnny Manziel justification for picking Notre Dame hinges on one half of one game that might have been somewhat of a fluke.