Mark Ingram breaks down Alabama vs. Indiana in Rose Bowl, picks winner

Former Alabama running back Mark Ingram broke down the Crimson Tide taking on No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl. He likes his alma mater in this one as the winner will advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

“Hey, middle of our fight song, ‘Remember the Rose Bowl. ‘We’ll win it. Hey!’ Rose Bowl. We love a Rose Bowl,” Ingram said while singing on The Triple Option. “Listen here to this game, Indiana, one of the most complete teams, one of the most disciplined teams, one of the most well coached teams in the country. Got the Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza, you got two backs in the backfield. Roman Hemby, Kaelon Black. You got three receivers, Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., who hurt his ankle in the Big Ten Championship, but he should be available.

“You also have Charlie Becker. You have a great o-line. You have a defensive line that gets tackles for loss. You have a good secondary. You have a team that is overall, just really well coached. They play sound football. They don’t beat themselves.”

That’s when Ingram went into his reasons to see how Alabama could in fact win this game. Ingram didn’t shy away from picking his alma mater too.

“With that being said with Alabama, how we played from the second quarter on in the Oklahoma game, that’s the team you want to see,” Ingram said. You’re gonna need to pressure Fernando Mendoza and make him get uncomfortable in the pocket. I think Alabama’s gonna play their best football. I think this last game should galvanize them, give them a lot of confidence. Minus six and a half is a big number for me (on the spread). I think Alabama covers that. I think Alabama wins outright.” 

If Alabama wins, they’ll take on either Oregon or Texas Tech, who square off in another quarterfinal game. The Red Raiders had a first round bye after winning the Big 12.

“I like our path to the playoff (finals),” Ingram said. “We had Oklahoma, we got Indiana. We win this game, we get either Oregon or Texas Tech. I like Alabama’s path to get to the whole thing. And I’m taking Bama. I’m taking Bama in this game. I’m taking the six and a half points. I’m taking the win outright. 

“Ty Simpson didn’t turn the football over last week. Had a good game, made some good decisions. Our run game still is kind of ‘eh’ … Manufacture some run game with a quick passing game, with the screen game. Positive plays on first and second down. I’m taking Alabama in this one.”