The No.9 Alabama Crimson Tide squares off with the No.8 Oklahoma Sooners in a rematch of an earlier regular season game, in which the Sooners defense got the “takeaways” by a margin of 3-0 and came away victorious, 23-21, at Bryant-Denny. The Sooners also defeated the Tide in 2024 in Norman, 24-3. So Alabama feels like it has a lot to prove, and this is the Playoff, so the matchup is even more intense. Jam Miller and Josh Cuevas are expected back at running back and tight end, respectively for Alabama. Their losses have had a pretty significant impact on the team, so Kalen and the team will welcome them back in the fold.
The Sooners have that tenacious defense, but the Tide’s defense is strong, too, so it’s a battle of attrition in Norman Friday Night at 7 P.M. CT on ABC/ESPN. Three other win or else firsrt round playoff games feature No. 10 Miami @ No.7 Texas A&M, in another key heavyweight matchup. No.11 Tulane plays @ No.6 Ole Miss with Pete Golding calling the shots on the sideline for the Rebels. Then the nightcap Saturday features No.12 James Madison @ No. 5 Oregon.
Here’s a look at the action along with predictions.
Week 15 Record, Championship Saturday:
SU: 3-3, Overall, 160-51, 76%; ATS: 2-4, 96-115, 45%; Over/Under: 3-3, 108=103, 51%
One Game Friday, three Saturday. All times are Central
Friday
No.9 Alabama (10-3) @ No.8 Oklahoma (10-2)
Memorial Stadium, Norman, 80,126
7 P.M.
ABC/ESPN
Chris, Kirk, Holly, Laura
Sooners by 1 ½, O/U 41 ½
I like the Tide to be ready this time, but for this game to be extremely hard fought, a Thrilla in Manilla like-game. I’ll take the Tide defense to get one more takeaway than the Sooners. It’s not really who’s better; it’s more about who survives. I’ll take the Crimson Tide to advance, barely, which is expected in a hard-nosed, defensive contest like this, and face No.1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, Thursday, 1/1/26, at 3 P.M. CT on ABC/ESPN.
Alabama 17, Oklahoma 14
Saturday
No. 10 Miami (10-2) @ No.7 Texas A&M (11-1)
Kyle Field, College Station, TX., 102,733
11 A.M.
ABC/ESPN
Sean, Gregory, Molly, Taylor
A&M by 3 ½, 48 ½
I’ll take the Aggies at home before 102,700+ fans at Kyle Field to advance to the quarters and face No.2 Ohio State Wednesday, 12/31/25, at 6:30 P.M. CT, in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. A&M-Miami will be a black belt battle as well.
Texas A&M 24, Miami 20
No. 11 Tulane (11-2) @ No.6 Ole Miss (11-1)
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxvegas, 64, 038
2:30 P.M.
***TNT/TBS/HBO Max/ truTV***
Tess, Jess, Katie, Quint
Rebs by 17 ½, 57 ½
I like what I’m hearing from Coach Golding. Tulane’s put together a nice season, but Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and his team are too much for the Green Wave to handle. With a victory, the Rebels will advance to play Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Thursday, New Year’s Day, 1/1/26, at 7 P.M. CT on ESPN. That’ll be a rematch of a game in Athens earlier this season, which Georgia won,. 43-35.
Ole Miss 35, Tulane 17
No. 12 James Madison (12-1) @ No.5 Oregon (11-1)
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR., 60, 000
6:30 P.M.
***TNT/TBS/HBO Max/truTV***
Bob, Louis, Kris, Stormy
Oregon by 21 ½, 47 ½
I like Dan Lanning to have his team ready to deliver in the Playoff this year. They are an underdog threat to go the distance. With the victory, Oregon will play No. 4 Texas Tech in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Thursday, New Year’s Day, 1/1/26, at 11 A.M. CT on ESPN.
11 Responses
You think they’ll be tight games DW (minus Ole Miss-Tulane and Oregon/JMU naturally). I agree. I hope Bama can come out quickly and distance themselves a little. RTR. Merry Christmas DW!
I like your predictions DW. I am for all of the SEC teams in post season play. Have a great holiday season and keep the winners coming.
Thanks for the previews and analysis, DW! Like your picks! Getting Miller and Cuevas back should help the Tide.
Tulane and JMU will be overmatched. I believe will see a little “Robert Routman” in these two games.
I agree with the picks. Alabama wins by more than 7 in my view.
Merry Christmas DW. Hope the wedding in NYC was awesome.
Thanks, Fellas! Glad to get back to our brethren on the Blog. Wedding was a blast, MB. Thanks for asking.
DW, this is where the rubber meets the road. You are spot on with your picks. Looking forward to Tide victory and moving on. Thanks for all your work and analysis. WT
Thanks, WT!
Oklahoma seems to have our number. I hope you are right and the SEC does well. Happy holidays to all.
Thanks, WP.
I like your picks too and think if Bama wins the turnover battle we win the game.
I heard a commentator this week say Tulane and JMU are deserving of being in the playoff and getting their asses kicked and I agree. Being a UAB booster and part of the have nots of college athletics I’m pulling hard for Tulane to upset Ole Miss and hope JMU is competitive too. The prevailing argument is the best 12 teams should be included. That’s not the case with the NCAA b-ball tourney and what makes it so exciting. I’m all for expanding the playoff to 16 teams and continuing to allow some non-power conference winners to participate.
What do y’all think?
I like 16 teams. Felt like Vanderbilt, Texas, Notre Dame and BYU should have made it. I think Tulane may be better against Ole Miss, but also think Oregon-JMU will be a tail kicking.