The Bowl season is nearing its end, but there are still some good games left to be played. Tonight, the only game of football being played is the Sugar Bowl.
Allstate Sugar Bowl - No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Alabama (5:30 P.M. PT)
Alabama is playing in a game other than the National Championship for a change. Will Alabama play angry and dominate against Oklahoma? Or will playing on a lesser stage (to them), stir up an upset for Oklahoma? This isn't the dominant and perennial National Championship threat of an Oklahoma team, but they still have a lot of good players and a great coach at the helm in Bob Stoops. Of course, the Crimson Tide have Nick Saban on their sideline, I expect this to be a good chess-match and no blow out is going to happen.
The highest regarded prospect in this game comes from Alabama, linebacker C.J. Mosley. A first team All-American, Mosley possesses 4.5-4.6 speed forty speed, good awareness, and is a powerful hitter. Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Jay Norvell compares him to Ray Lewis. "He's similar in his ability to communicate, his sense, his football senses, the way he sees the field, gets everybody lined up." Mosley will be the first linebacker drafted in 2014.
Crimson Tide safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will be the first safety drafted, if he decides to leave school. His ability is not in question, as Clinton-Dix rarely makes lapses in coverage and provides a thump at the back end in run coverage. He also is capable of running a sub 4.5 forty and will be one of the fastest safeties in the draft. Dix got into some trouble this season, for taking a loan of just $500 from a strength and conditioning coach. He was suspended two games for the incident. I doubt NFL teams will care too much about that issue, and personally, I think it's a shame he was suspended two games for it at all. It certainly impacted his n
Bama's quarterback A.J. McCarron will be playing in his final game for the Tide. McCarron does not receive much praise from scouts, and he's been considered a product of Alabama's system and a game manager. I find some of the criticism to be unfair. He's been a highly accurate quarterback, and doesn't turn the ball over much. The past two seasons McCarron has thrown for 56 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions.
Also look along the Alabama's formidable offensive line that seems to produce prospects ready for the NFL each year. Guard Anthony Steen and tackle Cyrus Kouandijo could both be starting in the NFL next year.
A name to watch on Oklahoma is cornerback Aaron Colvin. While he's a corner who excels in press coverage and is physical, he will have to cut down on the mental mistakes he makes. You will either hear his name doing something great tonight, or hear his name because he made a really bad play. Colvin looks to be a third to fourth rounder, but he does have upside if he gets coached up.
Who do you think wins the game? I'm going with Alabama, 44-24.