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Joel Klatt makes pick on Oklahoma at Alabama

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh6 hours agogriffin_mcveigh
Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer and Oklahoma HC Brent Venables
Photo of Kalen DeBoer: © Will McLelland-Imagn Images; Photo of Brent Venables: © Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Plenty will be at stake Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Alabama Crimson Tide plays host to the Oklahoma Sooners, a game where SEC and College Football Playoff implications are on the line. Alabama is also looking for revenge from last year’s game, an upset in Norman to effectively end their season.

As many make predictions for the game, FOX’s Joel Klatt gave his thoughts. His initial read is that Oklahoma is a bad matchup for Alabama, believing they have a path to winning the game. Ultimately, Klatt could not pull the trigger. He is going to Kalen DeBoer‘s team to continue its great run.

“I’m thinking to myself, ‘Boy, I really want to take the Sooners in this game.’ And I just can’t. I just can’t,” Klatt said via The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast. “I will take the points but I cannot, in good conscience, say that Oklahoma is going to go in there with a good offense that we just don’t know if they’re going to be able to score a lot of points and beat Alabama. In particular, with that elite passing game… Give me Alabama, in a thriller… Long dissertation to tell you I think Alabama wins the game, Oklahoma covers.”

Oklahoma’s ability to get after the quarterback is huge in Klatt’s estimation. Much of the year for Alabama has seen run game struggles, leaving them one-dimensional at times. Ty Simpson has played hero more times than not, navigating the offense to success. Now, insert a Brent Venables-built defensive line, ready to get after Simpson.

Flip the units — Klatt mentioned Alabama not being able to fully contain mobile quarterbacks. A plethora have fallen on the schedule, dating all the way back to the season opener against Florida State. Tommy Castellanos is joined by the likes of LaNorris Sellers, Diego Pavia, and Beau Pribula, all having at least 65 rushing yards (if you take out sacks) vs. Alabama. John Mateer could be next up, especially after Jackson Arnold had similar success in last year’s matchup.

All those things in favor of Oklahoma, Klatt still cannot take them. His score prediction sits at 24-21, Alabama. A Crimson Tide win would effectively eliminate the Sooners from the College Football Playoff, while continuing to strengthen its own resume. Being the highest-ranked one-loss team is quite important at the moment, fighting for a bye.