No. 8 Seed Oklahoma And 9th-seeded Alabama Meet Once Again In First Round.
Ninth-seeded Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 seed Oklahoma (10-2), Friday, 8 p.m. EST (ABC/ESPN)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Alabama by 1 1/2.
Series record: Oklahoma leads 5-2-1.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables and Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer began the season facing pressure from their wild fanbases. Oklahoma has rebounded from a 6-7 season, and a win would strengthen Venables' status while offering him a 3rd win over in 13 months. DeBoer already is in the shadow of Nick Saban, the six-time nationwide champ coach he replaced. The Crimson Tide missed out on the playoff last season. Failing to win a championship game his first 2 seasons and losing to Oklahoma for the second time this season would rile up a fanbase that has lofty expectations.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson vs. Oklahoma pass rush. Oklahoma sacked Simpson four times in the very first conference, and that was without R Mason Thomas, the team's leading pass rush. Thomas is back from injury. Simpson, normally an effective passer, has actually had a hard time in current weeks versus pressure. That's bad versus an Oklahoma group that leads the nation in sacks and deals with for loss.
Alabama: WR Ryan Williams. He's been peaceful recently, but he's capable of breaking out. The big-play danger has 42 catches for 631 yards and 4 goals this season. But he hasn't had more than 3 catches or 45 yards the previous four video games.
Oklahoma: QB John Mateer. He is a dual danger who has actually made many clutch plays this season. He tends to come up with a few prompt plays per game, however he in some cases requires the ball, resulting in interceptions.
If Oklahoma wins it would end up being the first program to beat Alabama two times in a season given that 1893. ... Oklahoma has won four of the previous 5 meetings. ... Oklahoma WR Isaiah Sategna III was a first-team All-SEC selection after capturing 65 passes for 948 backyards and seven touchdowns in the routine season. He's also a hazardous punt returner. ... Oklahoma won the very first conference 23-21 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. ... Alabama lost the SEC title video game 28-7 to Georgia. ... Oklahoma ranks fifth nationally in hurrying lawns enabled per video game, ninth in overall defense and seventh in points allowed. ... Alabama beat Oklahoma 45-34 in the playoff in 2018. ... Germie Bernard leads Alabama in receptions (57) and lawns getting (762 ).
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