Five Reasons Why Alabama Can't Lose the BCS Championship Game To Texas

During the next 15 days, the press will give you thousands of reasons why this could be such a close game or that Texas has a good chance to beat Alabama.

Here are the top five reasons they'll lose in no particular order. Alabama has three.

1. Texas gave up nine sacks against Nebraska. Nebraska has one real star on the defensive line, Ndamukong Suh. Alabama has three of them plus a linebacker and a corner who loves to blitz.

They have not played a team with such team speed on defense. Alabama's linemen run as fast as most linebackers on the teams Texas has played so far.

If Texas gives up sacks like that against Nebraska, even the most ardent Texas fans must wonder how they'll do against the nation's best defensive unit, not to mention the most tested.

2. Texas' defense is a paper tiger ready to be exposed. Forget the defensive rankings, who has Texas had to stop? Just how many top 20 teams did they play and how did they do against them?

The Longhorn defense is a pretender with limited capabilities. They could sell out to stop either the run or pass, but the problem is, Alabama can beat you with either.

Texas has not faced an offensive line with this combination of strength, speed, and athleticism that can bring it this strong for four quarters.

They are not conditioned to stay on the field for the length of time that Alabama will keep them out there.

Mack Brown said it best himself when he said of Alabama's defensive line, "They've got three (Nebraska All-American defensive tackle Ndamukong) Suhs up front. That's the problem."

3. A close game won't be in Texas' best interest. Alabama has a deadly field goal kicker and they know how to win and come back late and simply stuff an opponent's comeback try.

Overtime will not go in Texas' favor because Alabama is simply better conditioned and can go the distance better than the Longhorns.

4. Alabama simply has more play makers and that equates to a Texas analogy. They have more bullets in their gun.

Javier Arenas can break any punt or kickoff return, not to mention what could happen in he gets his hands on a pick off.

Julio Jones won't be brought down by one man very often and makes the plays in the clutch for Alabama. He cancels out Shipley.

Double team Julio and you risk leaving Marquis Maze alone in one-on-one coverage and he's the fastest man in Crimson. Covering him could be a nightmare for Texas.

Alabama has four running backs who have earned SEC player of the week honors on their team. You can't stop just one and nobody has stopped them all. Florida had a defense that on paper was better than Texas, and the running backs shredded them.

Greg McElroy will make Texas pay for snubbing him. He out "Tebowed" Tebow, both running and throwing the ball in the SEC Championship game and unlike McCoy, Tebow has won a Heisman.

McElroy is one of the nation's leaders at completions against attempts of 40 yards or more.

Rolando McClain is to Alabama what Suh is to Nebraska and delivers the same results. He's not just one of the best linebackers in America, but a coach on the field, too. You don't outsmart, outrun, or get away from this man.

Terrance Cody is a defensive line himself. How many teams run up the middle against Alabama? Well so far, the answer is a resounding none. His backup is just about as good and puts up the same kinds of stops and numbers.

Colin Peek is a weapon that is there to kill you when you think you have all your fingers in the holes in the dam. He usually gets covered by a linebacker and with those soft hands and big frame, he's a much looked at target when options dwindle for McElroy.

5. Confidence, not cockiness is the last reason Alabama wins this game. While Texas has doubts, Alabama is quietly confident and there's nothing but a sense of "going to work" for the players.

While some of the players wanted to dunk head coach Nick Saban at the end of the SEC Championship game, defensive captain Rolando McClain set the mood and tone for the next game by telling those players, "Put that down, we ain't won nothing yet."

Nick Saban has done a masterful job with this team, and it will show.

Larry Burton writes for Touchdown Alabama Magazine and others.