Events
NCAAF
Oklahoma
Sooners
12 - 1
Alabama
Crimson Tide
13 - 0
December 29, 2018, 8:00 PM EST
 | Hard Rock Stadium

Game Preview

Oklahoma
Sooners
12 - 1
Alabama
Crimson Tide
13 - 0
December 29, 2018, 8:00 PM EST
 | Hard Rock Stadium

  • It’s the quarterback matchup that everyone in college football (well, except Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs) has been looking forward to. Heisman Sportsbook Kyler Murray and runner-up Tua Tagovailoa will meet for the first time when the Oklahoma Sooners challenge the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Orange Bowl. But it’s about more than the highly anticipated on-field comparison of who is better at QB – there’s a berth in the national championship game on the line.

    Alabama opened as a 14-point betting favorite. The total opened at 79 as the No. 1 and 2 scoring offenses in college football go head-to-head and 79 may not be enough points to contain these teams.

    SHARK BITES
    • Alabama has been the betting favorite to win the national championship for the entire year.
    • The last time Oklahoma was a two-touchdown underdog was the 2014 Sugar Bowl, also the last time these schools met. Oklahoma won 45-31.
    • Oklahoma is the top-scoring team in the FBS (49.5 ppg), Alabama is No. 2 (47.9 ppg).

    Oklahoma vs Alabama Orange Bowl Game Center

    The Focus is on Offense but Defense Will Tell The Story

    The offensive proficiency and QB prowess is well-documented but it’s the defensive side of the ball that will tell the tale and ultimately decide the Orange Bowl champion. Alabama has the No. 4 scoring defense in the FBS, allowing 14.8 points against per game. The Crimson Tide are No. 9 in yards allowed per game with 295.

    The story reads quite differently for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Big 12 champions have the No. 96 scoring defense, yielding 32.4 points per game, which is worse than teams such as Toledo, South Florida and the University of Texas at San Antonio. So how is a team that sees opponents score with such frequency, on the strength of 448 scrimmage yards per game (108th), going to compete?

    Simple, really. Nobody has been able to stop Kyler Murray and the Lincoln Riley offense. Their next challenge will be the biggest, but Alabama’s defense has not seen anyone like Kyler Murray either.

    QB Comparison

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of pertinent statistical results for both quarterbacks heading into the Orange Bowl. FBS rank in parentheses:

    Regular Season Statistics Tua Tagovailoa Kyler Murray
    Passing Yards  3,353 (14th) 4,053 (3rd)
    Completion Percentage 67.7 (11th) 70.9 (2nd)
    Passing Touchdowns 37 (T-3rd) 40 (2nd)
    Passing Yards per Attempt 11.4 (2nd) 11.9 (1st)
    QB Rating 202.3 (2nd) 205.7 (1st)
    Rushing Yards 190 (445th) 892 (74th)
    Rushing Touchdowns 5 (T-195th) 11 (T-44th)
    Interceptions 4  7 
    Sacks 11  15

    The argument has been made that Murray is a more complete all-around quarterback than Tagovailoa and the above numbers certainly help that argument. The most jarring is Murray’s ability to run the ball. He is one of the fastest players in college football, at any position, and that will put Alabama’s defense – a defense that allowed 153 rushing yards plus 301 more in the air vs Georgia – to the test.

    My Bet For This Game

    I’ve already locked in Oklahoma at +14. I believe the Sooners have an opportunity to win this game straight up, but I’m 100 percent convinced they at least keep it within 14 points. 

    Something to watch: Alabama had some very slow starts over its past three games, which is a departure from the huge scores the Tide put up early in the season (insert strength of schedule argument here). If Oklahoma can get out ahead early, it will put pressure on Nick Saban’s defense to keep it close. 

Back to Matchup

Odds

Saturday, December 29 Sat Dec 29

Opening
Current
Oklahoma
vsFinal
Alabama
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+14.5
-120
+444
o79
-107
-14.5
+100
-531
u79
-107
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+14.5
-105
+500
o80.5
-110
-14.5
-115
-650
u80.5
-110
Line History
Final

Edge Finder

32.85
 Total Score
41.08
248.00
 Passing Yards
276.23
219.38
 Rushing Yards
195.69
26:25
 Time on Field
29:57
76.00
 Number of Plays
68.92
6.24
 Yards Per Play
6.92
32.85
 Total Score
41.08
10.15
 First Quarter
9.62
9.38
 Second Quarter
13.38
7.54
 Third Quarter
8.54
5.77
 Fourth Quarter
9.00
248.00
 Passing Yards
276.23
31.31
 Pass Attempts
33.69
19.31
 Pass Completions
21.54
2.38
 Sacks
1.69
12.15
 Sack Yards
11.77
12.84
 Yards Per Pass
12.83
219.38
 Rushing Yards
195.69
44.69
 Rush Attempts
35.23
4.91
 Yards Per Rush
5.55
0.62
 Interceptions
0.62
1.08
 Fumbles
1.69
0.54
 Fumbles Lost
0.62
1.15
 Total Turnovers
1.23
5.69
 Penalties
7.92
50.15
 Penalty Yards
68.69
26:25
 Time on Field
29:57
76.00
 Number of Plays
68.92
6.24
 Yards Per Play
6.92
4.85
 Punts
3.46
46.80
 Punt Average
41.36
60.08
 Return Yards
69.38

Head To Head

OKLA
 Stat Type ALAB
3-0
 Record
0-3
1-2
 ATS
2-1
2-1
 O/U
2-1
34.00
 Score
23.67
45.00
 Rush Yds
115.33
39.33
 Pass Attempts
35.67
63.56
 Completion %
56.07
311.67
 Passing Yds
257.67
356.67
 Total Yds
362.33
0.67
 Turnovers
3.33
OKLA
 Stat Type ALAB
3-0
 Record
0-3
1-2
 ATS
2-1
2-1
 O/U
2-1
34.00
 Score
23.67
45.00
 Rush Yds
115.33
39.33
 Pass Attempts
35.67
63.56
 Completion %
56.07
311.67
 Passing Yds
257.67
356.67
 Total Yds
362.33
0.67
 Turnovers
3.33
Jan 2/14 (1 of 3)
OKLA
 Stat Type ALAB
Away
Home
45
 Score
31
+17
 ATS
-17
52 o
 O/U
52 u
81
 Rush Yds
129
44
 Pass Attempts
30
72.73
 Completion %
63.33
348
 Passing Yds
387
429
 Total Yds
516
1
 Turnovers
5
Sep 6/03 (2 of 3)
OKLA
 Stat Type ALAB
Away
Home
20
 Score
13
-8
 ATS
+8
44.5 o
 O/U
44.5 u
77
 Rush Yds
121
36
 Pass Attempts
42
61.11
 Completion %
57.14
281
 Passing Yds
194
358
 Total Yds
283
0
 Turnovers
2
Sep 7/02 (3 of 3)
OKLA
 Stat Type ALAB
Home
Away
37
 Score
27
-12
 ATS
+12
44.5 o
 O/U
44.5 u
-23
 Rush Yds
96
38
 Pass Attempts
35
55.26
 Completion %
48.57
306
 Passing Yds
192
283
 Total Yds
288
1
 Turnovers
3

Team Records

OKLA
 Record ALAB
12-1
 All
13-0
7-0
 Home
7-0
4-0
 Away
4-0
1-1
 Neutral Site
2-0
5-7-1
 ATS
8-5
3-4
 ATS Home
4-3
1-2-1
 ATS Away
3-1
1-1
 ATS Neutral Site
1-1
10-2-1
 O/U
9-4
5-1-1
 O/U Home
5-2
4-0
 O/U Away
2-2
1-1
 O/U Neutral Site
2-0
OKLA
 Record ALAB
9-1
 All
9-0
4-0
 Home
4-0
4-0
 Away
4-0
1-1
 Neutral Site
1-0
4-5-1
 ATS
6-3
2-2
 ATS Home
3-1
1-2-1
 ATS Away
3-1
1-1
 ATS Neutral Site
0-1
8-1-1
 O/U
5-4
3-0-1
 O/U Home
2-2
4-0
 O/U Away
2-2
1-1
 O/U Neutral Site
1-0
OKLA
 Record ALAB
9-1
 All
10-0
5-0
 Home
6-0
3-0
 Away
3-0
1-1
 Neutral Site
1-0
4-5-1
 ATS
5-5
2-3
 ATS Home
3-3
1-1-1
 ATS Away
2-1
1-1
 ATS Neutral Site
0-1
7-2-1
 O/U
7-3
3-1-1
 O/U Home
4-2
3-0
 O/U Away
2-1
1-1
 O/U Neutral Site
1-0

Gametime Weather

Weather
7:00 pm EST Clear
24ºC / 76ºF
87% Humidity
6% Precipitation
17% Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type Open
Field Image
Arrow Image 6
 mph

Trends

  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oklahoma's last 5 games.
  • Oklahoma are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games.
  • Oklahoma are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Southeastern conference.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma's last 5 games played in December.
  • Oklahoma are 6-0 SU in their last 6 games played on a Saturday.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma's last 6 games when playing as the underdog.
  • Oklahoma are 18-0 SU in their last 18 games played on a Saturday when playing on the road.
  • Alabama are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 10 of Alabama's last 14 games.
  • Alabama are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Alabama's last 5 games against an opponent in the Big 12 conference.
  • Alabama are 8-0 SU in their last 8 games played in December.
  • Alabama are 13-0 SU in their last 13 games played on a Saturday.
  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of Alabama's last 10 games when playing as the favourite.

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
D.J. GrahamCBIs out indefinitely, Undisclosed
Jayden RoweDBIs out for season, Undisclosed
Phil PicciottiLBIs out for season, Undisclosed
Name Position Inj Desc
Deontae LawsonLBIs "?" Saturday vs Mississippi State, Undisclosed
Emmanuel Henderson Jr.RBIs out indefinitely, Hip

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 1, 2018TEXAS39-27W-9.5/79.5-W/U129379508883494370
Nov 23, 2018WESTV59-56W-3/86.5-P/O3043646681655397040
Nov 17, 2018KANSAS55-40W-35/69-L/O2942725663481765242
Nov 10, 2018OKLAST48-47W-21.5/80-L/O353349702139501640-1
Nov 3, 2018TXTECH51-46W-14/78-L/O3233606831073664732
Oct 27, 2018KAN.ST51-14W-24/65-W/P322380702137108245-1
Oct 20, 2018TCU52-27W-7.5/62-W/O323213536112163275-1
Oct 6, 2018TEXAS45-48L-7/59-L/O2223105321773245013
Sep 29, 2018BAYLOR66-33W-21.5/68.5-W/O17543260777416493-1
Sep 22, 2018ARMY28-21W-28.5/60-L/U19016535533940379-1
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 1, 2018GEORGI35-28W-12/62-L/O1572464031533014542
Nov 24, 2018AUBRN52-21W-26/53-W/O123377500130153283-1
Nov 17, 2018CITADL50-17W-53.5/62.5-L/O19037156127502751
Nov 10, 2018MIS.ST24-0W-22/50.5-W/U142163305441251691
Nov 3, 2018LSU29-0W-14/51.5-W/U281295576121841960
Oct 20, 2018TENN58-21W-29.5/57.5-W/O218327545312272580
Oct 13, 2018MIZZOU39-10W-28/73.5-W/U18438056470142212-2
Oct 6, 2018ARK65-31W-35/58.5-L/O246393639172233405-3
Sep 29, 2018UL.LAF56-14W-48.5/69-L/O26834060820088288-2
Sep 22, 2018TEXA&M45-23W-24.5/59-L/O109415524130263393-2
View Game Logs