Previewing the BCS Games, Part Two: The Sugar Bowl

Everyone believes that Alabama is going to crush Utah in this game.  After all, 'Bama was ranked No. 1 before they lost a heart-breaker to a very good Florida team in the SEC Championship.

However, Alabama will not kill Utah, mostly because they don't score that many points. Alabama has only scored over 40 points three times this season, against Arkansas, Western Kentucky, and Georgia.

Utah is the highest ranked non-BCS conference team, coming in officially at No. 6. Utah is undefeated, and has scored over 40 points six times this season. Granted, some of these were against pretty bad teams like Utah State and Wyoming, but this team still has the ability to put up points. In fact, they have only scored less than 30 points three times this year.

Alabama's signature wins this year were against Ole Miss, Georgia, LSU, and rival Auburn. Meanwhile, Utah's signature wins were against Oregon State, TCU, and BYU. Both of these teams have impressed people throughout the entire season, and this looks to be a good matchup.

Alabama runs a style of offense that I like to call the "Good Ol' Penn State Offense." You can also refer to it as the power offense, the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust offense, the conservative offense, or the run, run, pass offense.

They are a good old-fashioned power team. Before this year, might I add, Penn State has always been a power/conservative team, but this year they switched to a spread offense.

Alabama runs an offense like back in the '70s and '80s, where you would have a big offensive line, and you would run up the gut until they stopped you. Then, they go with a pass or a play action pass and hit you over the top for a big gain. Nothing flashy, just good old power football.

Just like in 1979 when PSU was ranked No. 1 and 'Bama was ranked No. 2. They ran at each other and played power football. They also played great defense. Here is the famous "Goal Line Stand" that kept PSU from tying the game and splitting the National Championship.

So, basically, to summarize it, 'Bama plays power offense by running the ball up the gut and occasionally throwing it, and they also play amazing defense. Also, don't forget about freshman sensation Julio Jones, Alabama's best receiver and a explosive player to back up Glen Coffee and that powerful rushing attack.

Utah is a team that can both run and pass very well.  They play a very good, balanced offense, and have a decent defense. The one game, I would say, where their defense really shined was against TCU, where they held off the very good Horned Frogs 13-10.  

Unlike 'Bama, Utah doesn't play power football. They play more of a fast paced, speedier, flashy type of football. It doesn't mean that they aren't a tough team, its just they don't play the "Good Ol' Fashioned Football" that 'Bama plays.

Now, to put it all together:

Rushing: Alabama gets the edge.

Passing: Utah gets the edge.

Receiving: Tie.

Defense: Alabama gets the edge.

Special Teams: Alabama gets the edge.

Coaching: Alabama gets the edge.

Scoring Ability: Utah gets the edge.

There we go. According to the stats and who has the edge, Alabama holds a pretty comfortable lead over Utah. Now, let's check my prediction.

Prediction: Alabama 38, Utah 10.

And there you have it. Stay tuned for Part Three, the Fiesta Bowl!