Oklahoma might still be fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff, but the Sooners are already in playoff mode with three games left in the regular season.
The No. 11 Sooners travel to No. 4 Alabama at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in what’s a do-or-die situation for OU’s CFP chances. As the last team currently out of the 12-team field, a win over Alabama would almost solidify the Sooners as a playoff team, while a loss would end all hope in Tuscaloosa like OU did to the Crimson Tide last season in Norman.
Score prediction for Oklahoma vs. Alabama
The Sooners need everything to go right for them on Saturday, but the college football universe seems to be doing the opposite between location, circumstance and a growing injury list.
Although Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has downplayed the situation, there’s no doubt last year’s outcome is a massive motivation for the Crimson Tide. Just like the Sooners could be this season, Alabama just missed the CFP last year all thanks to getting upset by OU near the end of the season. Now, the Crimson Tide can return the favor.
The Crimson Tide also get the Sooners at their place this time. Alabama has won 17 games in a row at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which is the longest active home winning streak in the FBS. It’s also homecoming for the Crimson Tide.
The Sooners have known all season what they’d be getting into in Tuscaloosa, though. However, they couldn’t have anticipated possibly being without four defensive starters while going up against a Heisman Trophy frontrunner.
As of Thursday evening, OU cornerback Gentry Williams was listed as doubtful, defensive tackle Jayden Jackson and defensive end R Mason Thomas were questionable, and MIKE linebacker Kobie McKinzie was probable. All will be needed to stop Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who might be playing better than anyone else in college football right now.
Oklahoma needs Sooner Magic to make those problems disappear and win this one, but trying to predict when Sooner Magic strikes is like catching lightning in a bottle. There could be a moment that goes down in history and sends the Sooners to the College Football Playoff, but logically, there’s no reason to predict the Sooners to win Saturday without trying to assume there will be a miracle, which Sooner Nation should still hope for.
Prediction: Alabama 27, Oklahoma 24