SUGAR BOWL PREVIEW
December 31st, 2008 by Daniel Freer
A battle in the Big Easy featuring Southeastern Conference West Division champion Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mountain West Conference champion Utah Utes takes center stage on Friday night in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (January 2nd, 8 PM, Fox).
This edition of the Sugar Bowl will emphasize defense: Utah’s brilliant-but-sometimes-sluggish attack, led by QB Brian Johnson (photo, thanks IconSMI) against Alabama’s stingy defense…and the Crimson Tide’s ground-and-pound offense against the underrated Utes defense.
Button those chinstaps!
However, earlier this week, something happened that could change the complexion of this game
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (Head Coach: Nick Saban)
The Crimson Tide attack is one of the few, nationally, that emphasizes “run first”. At nearly 200 yards rushing per game, Alabama has worn down most of its opponents en route to a 12-1 record.
The ground game could be affected somewhat with the loss of Outland Trophy-winning left tackle Andre Smith, who was suspended for the game….that “violation of team rules” thing, again. The Tide is solid all along their offensive line, but the loss of Smith could still loom huge.
However, do not shed too many tears for the Tide. They have an excellent stable of RBs in Glenn Coffee (1347 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and Mark Ingram (702 rushing yards, 12 TDs). Both backs possess speed and toughness, and can dictate the flow of the game.
QB John Parker Wilson is not a flashy QB, but is a steady hand (1655 passing yards, 6 TDs)…reminiscent a bit of former Tide QB Jay Barker (who QB’ed the 1992 National Champion squad). If defenses focus too much on containing the run, Wilson has a weapon in true-freshman WR Julio Jones (847 receiving yards, 4 TDs), a game-breaker who keeps defenses honest.
But, the heart of the Crimson Tide’s 2008 team is their stalwart defense…one of the best in the nation…as mentioned in the Mullins BlitzIndex BlitzIndex Breakdown: Offense and defense efficiency ratings | Fantasy College Blitz
Led by 360 lb. DT Terrence Cody and LB Rolando McClain, the Alabama defense is ranked high nationally in just about every defensive statistic…except turnovers. When a good defense does not collect a lot of turnovers, it means they are flat-out stuffing people.
UTAH UTES (Head Coach: Kyle Whittinghan)
The only remaining undefeated FBS team, Utah (12-0) hopes to keep it that way with a win in the Sugar Bowl, their first-ever trip to that bowl game (Alabama, with their 13th trip, leads all schools in Sugar Bowl appearances).
The Utes are a little more proficient on offense than Alabama…and that should not be discounted because they are in the MWC…a non-BCS conference that actually was better in 2008 than a number of BCS conferences…just ask the Pac-10.
Led by QB Brian Johnson (2636 yards passing, 24 TDs), Utah has a balanced attack that features a deep cadre of skill-position talent.
RBs Mike Asiata (666 rushing yards, 11 TDs) and Darrell Mack (532 rushing yards, 3 TDs) lead the ground game. Although not as fast as the Alabama duo, the Utes RB are quite physical and can wear down defenses just as much as their Tide counterparts.
When the Utes go airborne, they have big WR Freddie Brown (775 receiving yards, 7 TDs) and speedy WR Brent Casteel (546 receiving yards, 3 TDs) to throw to. Although not used as extensively during the Urban Meyer-coached Ute teams, Utah will hand-off to the WRs on designed run plays.
Although Alabama has a dependable kicker (Leigh Tiffin), he takes a back-seat to Utah’s consensus All-American PK Louie Sakoda. If the Sugar Bowl comes down to a FG, bet on Sukoda…who also doubles as the Ute’s punter…and a good one at that, too.
The Utah defense ranks in the top 20 nationally in total defense, and run defense…excellent numbers for a defense that faced a great passing offense in Brigham Young, and faced top rushing attacks in Air Force, TCU, and Oregon State, during the 2008 season.
INTERESTING:
Alabama is the NCAA’s all-time leader in bowl-game appearances with 56 (including the upcoming Sugar Bowl game). The Tide is 31-24 all-time in bowl games…with an 8-4 mark in past Sugar Bowls. Interesting is that this will be Alabama’s first Sugar Bowl trip since 1993, when they beat Miami (FL) to clinch a perfect season and a national championship.
Utah is the only non-BCS school, since the formation of the BCS/BCA in the 1990′s, that has made more than one appearance in a big-money BCS bowl. The Utes beat Pittsburgh in the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, en route to a perfect season and final #3 BCS ranking. Although Utah has been to fewer bowl games than Alabama, they have a 10-3 all-time record in bowls.
IN SUMMATION:
Although the conventional wisdom prevailing in the media is that Alabama should win handily over Utah, this game is not going to be easy for the Crimson Tide. They will be facing a team that nearly mirrors them, except that the Utes will employ a little trickeration now and then.
The home-field advantage enjoyed by the Tide (most Alabama fans are in driving distance to New Orleans) may be offset by the loss of LT Andre Smith, and, the after-effects of losing the SEC championship game after leading in the 4th quarter…killing all hopes of a perfect season and a BCS National Championship Game appearance. The Tide will have to overcome those setbacks.
Meanwhile, Utah comes in with a little chip on its shoulder. Many are dismissing the Utes because they play in the MWC, and, Hawaii (last season’s non-BCS entrant in the BCS Bowls) got embarassed by Georgia in the previous Sugar Bowl. Unlike the Warriors from last season, Utah has a more-balanced offense, and, a defense that is as good as any BCS-member school. The Utes can compete in, and, win, the 2009 Sugar Bowl.
One thing is for sure….there will be a lot of red-clad people celebrating on Bourbon Street after the game. Do not be surprised it is the group wearing scarlet, and not crimson.
PREDICTION:
Utah 17 Alabama 16
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