On Saturday night, No. 7 Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC) will square off with Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5 SEC) in Norman for just the seventh time in program history.
The Sooners hold a 2-3-1 all-time advantage in the series. In their most recent meeting the Crimson Tide defeated the Sooners in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl.
Here are a few things to watch for this Saturday as the Crimson Tide travel to Oklahoma.
Continue Creating Turnovers
Very few teams are better than Alabama at creating turnovers this season. The Crimson Tide lead the SEC in takeaways and rank third in the nation with 24 on the year. Turnovers have been a key piece in the success of the defense. Look for Kane Wommack’s Swarm defensive concept to create problems for Oklahoma.
Get the Run Game Going
In one of their most complete offensive games of the season against LSU, Alabama was able to get the run game going early and often. Everyone knows Alabama can be explosive on offense, but when the Tide establish the run and control the clock, they are at their best. Whether it’s the running backs, the quarterback, or both, a successful rushing attack on Saturday will be key.
Pass Rush
Alabama’s pass rush has not been its usual self this season. The Crimson Tide are averaging around just two sacks per game. Saturday they have an opportunity to boost their stats against one of the worst offensive lines in the SEC. Oklahoma had to replace all five starters from a year ago and it hasn’t gone well. The Crimson Tide front seven should be able to pin their ears back against this weak line and create big plays on defense.
Limit Penalties
Penalties have been a problem this season. Alabama is averaging just over eight penalties per game making them one of the most penalized teams in the country. As the season has progressed, the penalties have been limited, but in hostile road environments, it has been an issue. On Saturday, the Crimson Tide will need to handle the loud crowd and limit pre-snap penalties on the offensive line.
Dominate on Defense
Oklahoma has dealt with a ton of injuries on the offensive side of the ball, and as a result, they are only averaging 15 points per game. The most they have scored in a game was 27 against Auburn. Alabama’s defense has hit its stride and is playing its best ball of the season. The Crimson Tide don’t have to shut Oklahoma out, but allowing anything over their season average of 15 would be a disappointment.
The Crimson Tide will travel to Oklahoma on November 23 at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
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