BCS National Championship - #1 Alabama vs. #2 Texas
by Mike Rose
All of the marbles will be on the line in the BCS National Championship Game on Thursday night when the Texas Longhorns (13-0, 5-7-1 ATS) square off with the Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0, 8-5 ATS).
This BCS Football Bowl betting affair is one of the most highly anticipated games in quite some time, as both the Horns and Tide have absolutely steamrolled to perfect seasons and don't appear to have any huge flaws. The BCS odds at BetUS Sportsbook feature the Tide as four-point favorites with the BCS betting 'total' coming in at 46-points.
On Thursday night, QB Colt McCoy will be taking the field for the final time donning the burnt orange and white of the Longhorns. The senior has done a lot in his collegiate career, but unlike his contemporaries Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, he neither has a National Championship ring nor a Heisman Trophy. But unlike Tebow and Bradford, he has the ability to go out as a champ. McCoy paces an offense that ranks #3 in the country, averaging 40.7 points per game.
However, the difference for HC Mack Brown's team has been his defense. DC Will Muschamp has his 'D' flying all over the field, as the unit ranks #3 in total defense (251.1 yards per game), #8 in scoring (15.2 points per game allowed), and #1 against the rush (62.3 yards per game). The Longhorns put at least 34 points on the board 11 times in 2009, but in their most recent game, Nebraska held them to just 13 points in an ugly one-point victory.
If the Tide successfully held mighty Florida's offense to just 13 points, they have to feel like they can stop anyone. Why not? The unit comes into this game in the Top-10 in every major defensive category, including total yards (#2), passing yards (#8), rushing yards (#2), and points allowed (#2).
On the other side of the ball, RB Mark Ingram had a Heisman Trophy winning season, as he ran for 1,542 yards and 15 TDs. He was also third on the team in receiving with 30 catches for 322 yards and three scores. WR Julio Jones has game-breaking ability, but he hasn't been utilized to his fullest potential all season. Jones only caught 42 passes for 573 yards in HC Nick Saban's vanilla offensive packages. Still, the unit was good enough to put up 413.8 yards and 31.7 points per game, including a very impressive 32 against Florida in the SEC Championship Game. QB Greg McElroy will have to be careful against a ball-hawking secondary though. He has done a good job taking care of the pigskin this year, throwing just four picks in 314 pass attempts.
It's hard to find fault in either one of these teams, but you're going to have to roll with the Crimson Tide in this one. If Alabama can get just a tad bit from its passing game, Ingram should be able to pick his way through enough holes to lead the Crimson Tide to the National Championship.
Rose's Recommendation: 4* Alabama Crimson Tide
Rating Scale 1* - 5*
