College Football 2011 December Madness: West Virginia vs. Alabama

For the eighth consecutive season Whatifsports.com is proud to present the ultimate college football playoff in a tournament we refer to as December Madness 2011.

Over the next three weeks, the top 16 college football teams (11 conference champions and five at-large programs based on BCS rating) will compete for the December Madness title.

Utilizing our award-winning college football simulation engine, we "play" each matchup 1,001 times.

View the December Madness playoff bracket and complete the box scores to participate.

After a 38-35 loss to Louisville, Dana Holgersen's bunch needed to win its final three games in order to have a chance at a BCS bowl. The Mountaineers hit the trifecta with victories over Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and South Florida. 

They earned an invitation to the Orange Bowl, but West Virginia had to rally in the fourth quarter in each of those games to do it. Not pretty, but effective.

Led by quarterback Geno Smith, the Mountaineers rank seventh in the nation in passing yards per game at 341.8, and 19th in scoring at 34.9 points per game. Smith completed 65 percent of his passes, with 25 touchdowns and only seven picks.

The SEC sells, but sometimes it's a curse playing in the Western Division. Just ask Alabama. The Crimson Tide's sole loss came against division foe LSU in a meeting coined the "Game of the Century."

It has been well documented and regurgitated on sports talk radio that the two teams combined for 15 points in a game that went into overtime. What probably kept Nick Saban up at night were the four missed field-goal attempts.

Heisman finalist Trent Richardson truly carried (no pun) the offense. Following in the footsteps of Mark Ingram, the junior running back plowed his way to over 1,583 yards (6.0 yards per rush) and 20 touchdowns.

The Tide rank 15th in rushing offense and 72nd in passing. The defense that ranks first in the country in points allowed at 8.8, is their bread and butter.

Game recap

The three quarterbacks involved in this game combined for more than 700 passing yards. Yes, three quarterbacks.

Alabama's AJ McCarron had to leave the game early in the fourth quarter, presumably because of an injury. (He returned briefly and threw an interception.) Phillip Sims came off the bench and led a crucial drive that pushed the Tide's lead to 10 with six and a half minutes to go.

The Mountaineers hung with Alabama the first 42 minutes. Tyler Bitancurt's second field goal of the game tied the game 13-13 with five minutes and change remaining in the third quarter.

McCarron answered back with a six-play, 70-yard drive that culminated in a 40-yard touchdown strike to Michael Williams.

The Tide kicked a field goal early in the fourth and led 23-13. On the ensuing possession, Smith (395 passing yards) swung a pass out to Ivan McCartney, who sprinted 38 yards to trim the lead to three before Sims' knockout drive.

Richardson finished with 85 yards on 24 carries, as the Tide roll into round two with a 30-20 victory.

Player of the game: Geno Smith (395 passing yards, 1 TD)

Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: Alabama 75.8 percent - West Virginia 24.2 percent