Oklahoma vs. Alabama: Who has the edge in the playoffs?
Matt Hayes down Oklahoma vs. Alabama and why the Sooners might have the edge at home.
The College Football Playoff kicks off tonight in Oklahoma.
The Sooners host Alabama in the first round of the CFP today. Oklahoma previously beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 on the road on Nov. 15.
Writers from The Oklahoman and Tuscaloosa News, both part of USA TODAY Co., provided their predictions for Friday night’s first-round CFP matchup. The winner will face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
Alabama vs Oklahoma CFP predictions
OKLAHOMA 20, ALABAMA 14: A rematch of two struggling offenses. Alabama’s run game has been nonexistent the past few weeks and rumors have spread this week about Ty Simpson’s health. OU’s offense has sputtered, barely doing enough to continue winning. If the Sooners don’t improve, their offensive ineptitudes will catch up to them in this playoff. But not in the first round. I like Brent Venables’ defense to continue creating opportunistic turnovers, send the Tide packing for home and OU packing for New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl. — Colton Sulley, Oklahoma beat writer
ALABAMA 21, OKLAHOMA 17: The first meeting was defined solely by a handful of plays. The Alabama defense outplayed the Oklahoma offense in nearly every facet of the game. And the Crimson Tide offense moved the ball against the Sooners defense. Oklahoma may just have Alabama’s number. But if you ask the Crimson Tide, those handful of turnovers, the handful of mistakes are fixable, ones that will be fixed when it matters most. — Colin Gay, Alabama beat writer
OKLAHOMA 20, ALABAMA 16: Low tide. Sooners riding high after beating the Crimson Tide again, advancing to Rose Bowl. — Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman columnist
ALABAMA 21, OKLAHOMA 16: Roll tidings. Alabama spoils holiday season, knocks off Sooners in CFP. — Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman columnist
OKLAHOMA 20, ALABAMA 13: Look for OU to win the special teams battle. The Sooners are as good as Georgia in that respect, and we saw how that went in Atlanta two weeks ago. If Oklahoma can combine that with a solid defensive performance — and there’s little reason to think it won’t do so at home — Alabama’s CFP run will end where it begins. — Chase Goodbread, Tuscaloosa News columnist
OKLAHOMA 17, ALABAMA 13: Smell the roses. Sooners shut down Ty Simpson and Crimson Tide offense yet again to book New Year’s Day date with Indiana at Rose Bowl. — The Oklahoman sports editor Jeff Patterson
