Five Ugly Truths Texas Fans Don't Want To Acknowledge

Texas fans can live in denial as long as their team is winning, but there are five ugly truths that will be revealed against Alabama that will make even the most ardent fan finally acknowledge.

1. Texas can't run . Take Colt McCoy's scrambles out and Texas' running game is simply pitiful. This makes them one dimensional. They rate out as the 55th best rushing offense and it hasn't played against the nations best rushing defense, which is the Crimson Tide's.

If they can't run against the creme puffs they've played, they will be lucky to amass 75 yards on Alabama.

They average about 150 yards per game and Alabama averages giving up only 79 yards per game while playing teams with excellent running giving them a history of completely shutting down even the best Heisman contenders.

2. Texas can't block on offense . Texas is 94th in the nation protecting their quarterback—allowing more sacks than 93 of the 120 total teams. They just plain suck.

When the only running a team has is their quarterback running for his life, it doesn't bode well.

They've given up 31 sacks against much less talent than Alabama brings to the game and Alabama is one of the nation's leaders in sacking quarterbacks.

3. Texas is a paper tiger . Yes, they won the conference title in a regularly-good conference, but it was a down year in the Big 12. They were one second from losing to the No. 22 team in the nation and, unlike the Tide, have no quality win against a top 15 team.

Don't point to their undefeated season as they haven't beaten anyone in the the top 20, while Alabama has beaten three teams in the top 12.

4. Texas can't stop the run . This could be easily the most debatable, but not when you look at the facts. Texas simply has not faced a good running attack all year.

The best they faced was Oklahoma State and yet they were only the number 24 rushing offense. Oklahoma State managed 134 yards and No. 25 Texas A&M ran for 190.

Alabama brings the best offensive running backfield in the nation to the game with four backs who have won SEC player of the week honors. Texas will look as impotent as Florida did, which has very similar stats to Texas, in stopping these backs.

In that SEC Championship game against a defense many think is better than Texas', the Tide ran for over 250 yards. Statistics and overall ratings won't help Texas in this game.

5. Texas can't stop a good passing team. They rate 24th in pass defense while Alabama rates seventh.

Don't look at Alabama's season passing numbers as an indication of how good they are. They are rated as the nation's 84th best. But that is only because the running game has been going so well.

With the game on the line against Auburn, McElroy cooly threw seven straight completions, with some runs mixed in, to go 79 yards and win the game.

Should Texas sell out to stop the run, McElroy will eat them alive. Laugh now, but the proof will be on television for everyone to see soon enough.

Conclusion —While I'm not saying Texas doesn't have a chance, they don't have a good one. They will have to bring their A-game and Alabama will have to simply fall apart. Alabama should win comfortably, by at least two scores.