Alabama-Texas: How they match up

Texas offense vs. Alabama defense

Texas doesn’t have much of a running game, so trying to force the issue against the Crimson Tide’s massive defensive front doesn’t make much sense. Look for Texas to use screen passes and quarterback Colt McCoy’s legs to loosen things up.

Alabama offense vs. Texas defense

The game’s most intriguing matchup, as Alabama throws its Heisman Trophy winning running back, Mark Ingram, against the nation’s No. 1 team against the run. If Texas wins this battle, Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy will have to step up his game a bit.

Special teams

How are you going to rattle Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence? With one second left and the season on the line in the Big 12 Conference title game, Lawrence kicked the game-winning field goal. Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin made 29 of 33 field goals this year, including four against Tennessee in a 12-10 win.

Coaching

The winner of this game, Texas’ Mack Brown or Alabama’s Nick Saban, will tie Florida’s Urban Meyer for the most BCS titles at two. It just proves that coaches with different personalities and philosophies can get to the same high ground.

Intangibles

It won’t be the field, the wind or the weather, so it might come down to a bounce or a bobble or an official’s review or the scoreboard operator putting one second back on the clock or taking one second off.

Chris Dufresne’s prediction

Texas 21, Alabama 19.