Don’t squander chances in the red zone
Points are expected to be at a premium with the national’s top total defense (Alabama) and the No. 1 scoring defense (ND) on the field. That means both teams must take advantage of every scoring opportunity when they get in the red zone. While the two teams are first (Alabama) and second (ND) nationally in red-zone efficiency on defense, Alabama has been much more efficient offensively in the red zone with 51 scores in 57 opportunities.
Manage the game, don’t try to win it
Alabama’s AJ McCarron and Notre Dame’s Everett Golson are not Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater. Neither player is going to be asked to go out and win the game. What McCarron and Golson must do is manage their offenses, not panic in a game that is expected to be tight and put the ball in the hands of their playmakers. McCarron was intercepted just three times this season, Golson just five. Both must continue take care of the football for their teams to succeed.
Alabama playing with a chip on their shoulders
Sounds funny that the defending national champions and team in position to win a third title in four years has something to prove, but all we’ve heard about all season is what a great Rudy-like story Notre Dame has been and how good its resurgence is for college football. Alabama kind of fell by the wayside after losing to Texas A&M. Remember, some said the Tide didn’t deserve a second shot at LSU last year and look what happened in that game.
Notre Dame handling Alabama’s offensive line
They are big, strong and talented. The Crimson Tide has five NFL prospects blocking for AJ McCarron, Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon. Although the Tide was 19th nationally in rushing offense, that does not tell the story. Alabama rushed for an SEC-title-game-record 350 yards in its win over Georgia. Notre Dame’s front three of Kapron Lewis-Moore, Louis Nix III and Stephon Tuitt must not allow Alabama to control the line of scrimmage.
Big players make big plays
The biggest playmakers in this game are on defense. Notre Dame’s consensus All-American linebacker Manti Te’o is second nationally this season with seven interceptions and has 34 tackles for loss in his career. End Stephon Tuitt has 12 sacks. Alabama has two consensus All-Americans on defense, linebacker C.J. Mosley (99 tackles) and defensive back Dee Milliner (18 pass breakups). The biggest play defensively likely will be the difference in this game.
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