Game Capsule: Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1)

Sep 7, 2013; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight (9) smiles prior to the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The day has finally come. Oklahoma. Alabama. Two of the most storied programs in college football. One a touchdown away from an SEC Title Berth. Another a last minute touchdown to upset their intrastate rival. Crimson against Crimson. Inside the same building both coaches played in exactly ten years ago. There is no crystal ball on the line. Just two teams. One trying to preserve their dominance over college football. The other trying to rebuild theirs. 60 minutes stand between these two fabled football teams and the last Sugar Bowl trophy in the Bowl Championship Series era. Who will come out victorious and who will walk out empty handed?

Why Alabama will win: It’s simple. They have all the NFL talent in the world, a coach who is possibly not human, and an incredible knack for slaughtering anything in their path. They stumbled against the Auburn Tigers. However, Alabama losing one time is difficult enough. Losing consecutive games? Now you’re just talking crazy. Alabama led by Heisman runner-up A.J. McCarron has the arm and weapons to dismantle OU’s defense, a solid defense at that. They have the defense led by C.J. Mosley to blockade any offensive scheme of Josh Heupel’s. They are just a damn good football team, and there is no reason they should lose this game.

Why Oklahoma will win: What do the Sooners have to lose? They are 17 point underdogs. These seniors get the privilege of knocking off college football’s best team over the past four seasons in their last game as a Sooner. Yes, Alabama is very talented. Yes, Nick Saban is a college football coaching god. However, the Sooners have a shot. Let Trevor Knight and Brennan Clay play smash mouth football and see if Alabama can stop it for 60 minutes. The defense does not get the love it deserves. If it can contain AJ McCarron just enough for the offense to make plays, OU has a solid shot. There is absolutely no chance the Crimson Tide want this game more than Oklahoma. This game is too important, and a win would almost make up for the past few seasons of agony of not truly contending for a title.

The Prediction: It pains me to say this, but until I see Oklahoma do it on the field, I see Alabama winning this game by at least 17 points as the Vegas line indicates. Oklahoma will not be torched like they did against the Baylor Bears, but Saban’s boys will pull away at the end. I hope to God I am wrong.