[duncan_idaho]

THis would be an interesting title matchup if for no reason other than they both execute so well. I don't know that we've ever seen a title game where both participants are so efficient from that standpoint (Not one I can think of).

I'd take Alabama by 10-14.

Snyder is a genius - top 5 coach of all time, and I'm sure he'd have won at least 3 national titles if at a school with more natural advantages - and his defense is very, very sound. But Alabama's front is SO good. Huge, athletic and consistent. Back that up with overwhelming talent, and they're going to be successful against even a good defense. Bama will execute enough to stress KSU's incredibly solid and smart but not overwhelmingly athletic defense. McCarron is a perfect fit for that system, too. He just isn't going to make mistakes or help the defense.

On defense, Alabama plays a lot like KSU. Incredibly sound. They just don't make mistakes. The difference comes in, IMO, at LB - where Alabama has 3-4 Arthur Browns on the roster and in the secondary.

That's been the biggest difference, IMO, in what I see from SEC teams this year. The level of athlete in the secondary is just higher across the board than in the Big 12.

I think Alabama would be able to make KSU one-dimensional (shutting down the run with the front 6/7), and I don't know that Klein has the arm or accuracy to throw consistently against the sticky-tight coverage Alabama will throw out there.

Klein has made BIG strides there, especially from what I saw in my last trip to Manhattan, ever, but the release is still a little slow, and most of what I've seen him doing this year involves throwing to guys who have at least 3-5 yards of separation.