If Kalen DeBoer felt his team needed any extra bulletin board material for tomorrow's game against Oklahoma, he didn't have to look far on Friday.
On the SEC Network, both Peter Burns and Chris Doering provided the Crimson Tide with a little extra fuel for their fire by predicting that Oklahoma would beat Alabama on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, ending the nation's longest home winning streak at 17.
Doering's reasoning is that "styles make fights." He cited that Oklahoma is one of the best at keeping opponents out of the endzone when threatened in the redzone, and also one of the best at not giving up explosive pass plays. He also predictably cited the Tide's lack of a ground game. In short, Doering doesn't believe DeBoer or OC Ryan Grubb are going to have a counter against big, bad Brent Venables and the Oklahoma defense.
How insulting.
"Oklahoma is a perfect fit for beating Alabama, Doering said. "They did it last year in Norman, they're gonna do it this week in Tuscaloosa."
The SEC Network has Alabama on upset alert against Oklahoma
Alabama has plenty of motivation for this weekend's game to not have to seek out any additional. Oklahoma embarrassed them in Norman last year. That loss ultimately kept the Crimson Tide out of the College Football Playoff. The Sooners can't knock the Tide out again this weekend, but an Alabama win almost certainly clinches a playoff bid in DeBoer's second season.
Revenge is a great motivator. So is clinching your postseason fate ahead of a road Iron Bowl in two weeks.
Oklahoma's defense took the fight to Alabama a year ago. The Tide mustered only three points. They were overwhelmed at the point of attack, and Jalen Milroe was constantly confused by the post-snap curveballs by Venables. He's a master at that.
This year, though, DeBoer has Grubb on his side. He also has Ty Simpson, who has proven to be one of the top processors in college football from the QB position. Venables could fool Alabama again, but the Crimson Tide has the guys in place to counter, and perhaps hit a knockout blow or two of their own.
Oklahoma has an elite defense. No doubt about it. Alabama won't run the ball effectively, but that's okay; they haven't really done that all year, and they've frequently found ways to win games.
Oklahoma hasn't seen a passing attack with this firepower, though. The closest they've seen was two weeks ago against Tennessee, and Joey Aguilar threw for nearly 400 yards against the Sooners' secondary. The Vols were done in due to four turnovers.
Fortunately for Alabama - and unfortunately for the SEC Network and others preying on the Tide's downfall - Simpson and company take care of the ball better than most. Alabama is 4th in the country in turnover margin.