2018 Orange Bowl SEC v Big 12
The 2018 Orange Bowl is the second of the CFP Semi-Final games and pitches two teams who made the semis last season against each other. Las seasons Rose Bowl in which Oklahoma lost to Georgia in double overtime was one of the best Rose Bowls in years and shows that even if you have no defense you can still put up a fight with the right QB. Alabama has looked untouchable this season and blanking strong SEC opposition in the shape of LSU & Miss State makes them justifiable favourites in this one. Still, Oklahoma were the no 1 offense and thus have – to steal a boxing term a punchers chance.
Wins wise Alabama have a perfect record after beating Georgia in the SEC Championship, although The Bulldogs did give them plenty to think about. The only other team to give them a game this year was when FCS The Citadel playing the triple option put up a fight until halftime, and this may be the only chance, Oklahoma has a pretty decent running game which has not had much publicity this year thanks to Kyler Murray’s exploits.
Oklahoma’s only loss was a 3pointer to Texas, and they revenged that nicely in the Big 12 Championship. Apart from that, they had a lot of close games and struggled against Army with their triple option attack. Their defence has been absent for much of the year and they will have to get at least 5 stops in our opinion for them to win. Not sure that is going to happen hence our prediction.
Overall this looks like a win for Alabama but it might be a bit closer than the 14 point spread indicates.
Our prediction is for Alabama to win 48-42 (providing Marquis Brown is playing otherwise the spread should be covered).
For those who like to keep track of these things, we are 13-11 so far in our predictions – not too good after starting 6-1
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