Oklahoma Sooners’ Final Score Predictions vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide: Win or go home, a playoff game in Norman with massive stakes
The Sooners and Alabama Crimson Tide are set to play a College Football Playoff game on Friday.
The Oklahoma Sooners and Alabama Crimson Tide are set to play a College Football Playoff game. The only thing is, this one isn’t a neutral-site game – Oklahoma is hosting. That means the atmosphere advantage will fall into OU’s hands, just as it did for Bama six weeks ago in Tuscaloosa.
The two teams are set for a rematch. However, this game has much more at stake. Win this one, and you move on in the College Football Playoff to play the Indiana Hoosiers. Lose and your season is over.
For Oklahoma, win or lose, this is a promising season to be proud of since the Sooners won just six games last season. For Alabama, the season is yet another disappointment, as it has failed to win a postseason game since Nick Saban’s retirement. Both teams need this win, but only one can win. So, the question stands: Who wins this game? Our staff at A to Z Sports College Football made some predictions.
Final Score Predictions for Oklahoma vs. Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff
Alabama 22, Oklahoma 20
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s regression began on homecoming weekend against the very Oklahoma Sooners squad it faces this Friday. OU came into Tuscaloosa and eeked out a close one that showed cracks in the foundation of Alabama’s house. Ever since, that house has crumbled following close calls against teams like Auburn and an abysmal showing against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship. So the Tide must be a dead team walking.
Not so fast. Alabama is expected to have RB Jam Miller and TE Josh Cuevas back and at full strength against OU. The Tide’s defense and secondary have actually gotten better as the season has gone on, and Ty Simpson, along with Ryan Williams, used the week off to get their mind and bodies right.
I know this one is in Norman, but the Crimson Tide travels. And, say what you want about Kalen DeBoer, look no further than earlier this year in Athens to see how his team plays on the road. Give me Alabama in a close one. — Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama
Oklahoma 24, Alabama 20
The city of Norman is ready for the Sooners’ first playoff game, and the environment will be inarguably the best it’s been in years. Both sides have reasons to be confident, but the Sooners have proven their mettle over the last month and enter with plenty of confidence.
With the rumors surrounding Kalen DeBoer’s interest in the Michigan job hanging over the team, as well as lingering injuries on both sides of the ball, Alabama isn’t entering this one at 100%. At the same time, the red-hot Sooners should have All-American DE R Mason Thomas back for the first time in over a month.
Once again, the Sooners’ defensive line proves to be the difference-maker in a SEC slugfest, while the time off gives the offense just enough of a boost to deliver again. I’m taking the Sooners 24-20. — AJ Schulte, A to Z Sports Oklahoma
Alabama 20, Oklahoma 17
Ty Simpson moved the ball well against Oklahoma in the first matchup, but costly turnovers cost the Crimson Tide 17 of the Sooners’ 23 points. The sluggish offense we’ve seen from Alabama over the last few weeks is very concerning, and it will likely continue against this Oklahoma defense.
Getting healthy with Parker Brailsford, Jam Miller, and Josh Cuevas all potentially coming back is huge, but will it be enough? Alabama being on the road doesn’t help either. Expect Ryan Grubb to get the run game going early to help Simpson find his groove, and go back to what worked on defense last time: stopping the run and forcing John Mateer to make plays.
This will be a low-scoring game with a lot of defense, and the Crimson Tide gets by with a late field goal to win 20-17. — Josh Taylor, A to Z Sports Alabama
Oklahoma, 21, Alabama 20
Oklahoma is coming into this game with what appears to be the healthier team, and it has played better lately compared to Alabama. We all saw the Crimson Tide get destroyed by Georgia, and while many think that will play into them beating OU, I think the opposite.
Oklahoma is about to win this game. It won’t be in dominant fashion, because it never is with this team, but it will be a win nonetheless. The defense will once again do its thing, while the offense will be slightly improved. — Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports Oklahoma
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