Anthony Himes, Jesse Redmond
Editor-In-Chief, Sports Editor

ahimes@mavs.coloradomesa.edu, jdredmon@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

With Alabama’s 32-28 thrilling victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship, the stage for the BCS title game is all but set. The current No. 1 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on Alabama, who is expected to retain their No. 2 ranking after their win over the weekend. A win for the Fighting Irish in the National Championship would give them their first title since 1988, while a win for ‘Bama would give them their third championship in four years.

Despite their success this season, many view Notre Dame as an underdog against the perennial superpower Crimson Tide.

 

Anthony Himes: There’s no question that Alabama has been the best football team the last few years. They have everything you need to be a championship winner. They prove that defense does win championships, and they have the right amount of offense to make plays when they count (The play-action pass to go up late against Georgia in the SEC Championship is a good example).

Jesse Redmond: I have nothing but respect for the Tide as a team (their coach is a different story), but I think that in a game of the top defenses in the nation, Notre Dame will have the edge for a few reasons. First of which is the Irish’s success against rushing quarterbacks this season. They forced five turnovers (four INTs and a fumble) from Michigan’s Denard Robinson and shut down every other scrambling threats, while Alabama failed to win against the rushing threat, Johnny Manziel-led Texas A&M offense.

AH: Robinson had one good year a couple years back, and Manziel will be the Heisman winner most likely. It’s hard to argue these two defenses because they are both so good, but Bama has experience, and teams with that have a much better chance at winning.

JR: The comparison was not in the caliber of the quarterbacks, but of the defense’s ability to stop the type of offense run by both teams. The Irish have allowed only 10 touchdowns in 12 games against 10 teams that are bowl-eligible this season while Alabama played only six and wasn’t anywhere near that low of number allowed. In fact, no other team in the nation allowed fewer than 17 touchdowns.

AH: You have to remember that the SEC is an incredible conference. The lower teams can beat many other teams of other conferences. So Alabama had tough games almost every week. One slip up against a team that has the Heisman winner isn’t anything to be worried about. Bama also has a clutch factor that they’ve shown the past few years. When the game is on the line, expect the Roll Tide offense to play at its best. They’ll pound and pound away at the ground, then go through the air to score when they need it.

JR: One thing the Alabama defense has had this year is offensive support. The Crimson Tide offense is averaging 39 points a game this season while Notre Dame had averaged just over 26 a game. The Fighting Irish defense is a self-supporting entity that has battled throughout the entire season, shutting down offenses because they never know how much help they will get. Not to mention they have the best defensive player in the nation in Manti Te’o, who has been the heart of the defense that has been able to make two very crucial goal-line stands when the team needed it the most. And, as the old phrase goes, defense does, in fact, win championships.

AH: Well, Notre Dame fans better hope the offense shows up because if the Alabama defense plays like they usually do, Nick Saban will continue to not smile in Miami. This squad was in the same position as they were last year, so their experience will lift them to another championship, and Lou Holtz won’t know what to do with himself.

JR: The offense will show up, and Saban can continue to not smile in a sad way because Dame is a hungry team. They haven’t won it all in almost 25 years and they want it. Alabama has played well, but ultimately their lack of hunger will down them until next year. Ultimately, we will find out in January, but I don’t think there is anyone expecting anything except for a low-scoring defensive classic.