Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Alabama 

Schedule analysis: Oklahoma (10-2) snuck into a BCS spot with victory at Oklahoma State. The highlight of their non conference slate was a revenge victory at Notre Dame. The Sooners at close calls at home to TCU and Texas Tech. Oklahoma’s two losses came to Texas 36-20 at the Cotton Bowl and at Baylor 41-12 on a Thursday night. They ended strong with a 10-point victory at Kansas State before their win in Stillwater. Alabama (11-1) ended the season with heartbreak. The Crimson Tide were defeated by Auburn in a crazy finish that every sports fan knows about. Other than the loss they played a relatively easy schedule for SEC standards. Their SEC East crossovers were against Kentucky and Tennessee. They won early in the year at Texas A&M and defeated LSU at home.

Miles from stadium: Oklahoma is 654 miles away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Alabama is 293 miles away. Both teams will travel well but I think there will be more Alabama fans at the game.

Motivation: Bob Stoops enjoyed criticizing the SEC in the summer so he will have his team motivated. Alabama always bounces back strong after a loss and giving Saban over a month to prepare to a team as always meant success for the Crimson Tide. Saban also got an extension a few weeks ago after rumors linked him to Texas.

Pick: Alabama -15.5 

This isn’t the same Oklahoma team in the past. Alabama will come out firing in A.J. McCarron’s last college game.