Can OU football oust Alabama from the CFP? Check our predictions

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NORMAN — It's College Football Playoff time in Oklahoma.

The No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2, 6-2 SEC) host the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3, 7-1) on Friday at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The game will kick off at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19, on ABC and ESPN.

The Sooners-Crimson Tide winner will play No. 1 Indiana (13-0) in the quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1 (3 p.m., ESPN).

OU defeated Alabama 23-21 on the road on Nov. 15.

OU is in the playoff for the fifth time but will make its first appearance in the 12-team format era.

The Sooners rebounded from losses to Texas and Ole Miss to finish the season with four consecutive victories — at Tennessee, at Alabama, vs. Missouri and vs. LSU.

REQUIRED READING: John Mateer joined OU football for shot at CFP, but is he ready for it?

OU vs. Alabama prediction

OU 20, ALABAMA 14: A rematch of two struggling offenses. Alabama's run game has been nonexistent the past few weeks and rumors have spread this week about Ty Simpson's health. OU's offense has sputtered, barely doing enough to continue winning. If the Sooners don't improve, their offensive ineptitudes will catch up to them in this playoff. But not in the first round. I like Brent Venables' defense to continue creating opportunistic turnovers, send the Tide packing for home and OU packing for New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl. —Colton Sulley, OU beat writer

Here are more of The Oklahoman's predictions for the OU-Alabama game:

Jenni Carlson, columnist

OU 20, Alabama 16

LOW TIDE

Sooners riding high after beating the Crimson Tide again, advancing to Rose Bowl

Joe Mussatto, columnist 

Alabama 21, OU 16 

ROLL TIDINGS 

Alabama spoils holiday season, knocks off Sooners in CFP 

Jeff Patterson, sports editor

OU 17, Alabama 13

SMELL THE ROSES

Sooners shut down Ty Simpson and Crimson Tide offense yet again to book New Year's Day date with Indiana at Rose Bowl

Jacob Unruh, deputy sports editor

Alabama 20, OU 18 

TIDINGS, NO CHEER

Alabama plays the part of Scrooge, edging Sooners

OU vs. Alabama

KICKOFF: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman (ABC/ESPN)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma vs Alabama predictions. Will Sooners top Crimson Tide in CFP?

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