The Allstate Sugar Bowl

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The Allstate Sugar Bowl

As the Big Easy gets ready to host the yearly New Years party known as the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Utah Utes prepare for battle. The 12-1 Tide, SEC runner-up,agoes up against the Mountain West Conference��s 12-0 Utah Utes on January 2nd 2009. Can the speed of Utah stack up against the size and strength of the Elephants from TuscaloosaLet��s do a little comparison

The Alabama Crimson Tide.

Lead by Nick Saban, named the AP coach of the year, turned a team that lacked confidence and consistency the previous year, into a powerhouse that rolled through the regular season schedule starting with the annihilation of Clemson and finished with payback to its cross state rival of the Auburn Tigers, along the way there were few revenge games against Mississippi State and LSU. The only stumble was a lost to the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game.

Alabama's offensive line boast two All-Americans, left tackle and Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, center Antione Caldwell 6-3, 305 pounds have provided senior quarterback John Parker Wilson with the protection needed to connect numerous times with freshman phenom receiver Julio Jones and opened huge holes enabling running back Glen Coffee to pile up nearly 1350 yards.

Now to the defense, anchored in the middle by the mountainous All-American nose guard Terrence Cody 6-5, 365 pounds and a group of swarming defensive backs lead by Rashad Johnson held opponents less than 256 total yards of offense and 13 points, not to mention the 15 interceptions and 4 picks returned for touchdowns scored by the defense.

These are the guys that have helped Alabama to a their #4 ranking in the nation,

Let��s examine the 12-0 and the 7th ranked Utah Utes,

The task for the Utes as they prepare for Southeastern Conference stalwart Alabama in the Sugar Bowl is to show respect but not trepidation about playing in a BSC game.

Coached by Kyle Whittingham, third in the running for coach of the year, brings Utah into the Sugar Bowl as a 10 point underdog.In three years at the helm, he has compiled a 24-14 record. The question, is the caliber of their opponents equal to those of Alabama��s They did slip by Michigan early in the season and defeated top twenty ranked Oregon State, TCU and Brigham Young. However, comparisons will be made that none of these were of the same quality.

Senior offensive lineman Robert Conley at 6-1 and 310 pounds was recognized as honorable mention All-American by SI.com and will attempt to protect his quarterback Brian Johnson who passed for 220 yards a game and finished the year with 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Under Johnson��s leadership, the Utes are averaging more than 405 yards and 37 points per game.

The defense will be lead by Paul Kruger, also receiving honorable mention to SI.com All-American team, is a 6-5 265 pound lineman who will go up against the talented Alabama offensive line. Utah��s defense is giving up just under 300 yards and has limited their opponents to 17 points a game.

The one major advantage that Utah will hold in this game will be their place kicker Louie Sakoda who was named first team All-American. Sakoda was 21 for 24 in field goal attempts and only missed one in 53 extra points.

The only type of conference comparison that can be made; Wyoming beat Tennessee 13-7, Utah beat Wyoming 40-7, Alabama beat Tennessee 29-9, so does that mean beating a team who beat a team that lost to a team by a lesser point difference indicate anything Probably not.

So there you have it, will Alabama��s Million Dollar Band be playing "Yea, Alabama" and the crowd chanting "Roll Tide" at games end or will the Utah pull off another upset as they did in the 2005 Fiesta bowl against Pittsburgh.

Prediction:
On paper Alabama could run away with this game. Utah��s defensive line will have difficulties against the well-seasoned offensive line. Utah��s spread offense, brought to Utah by Urban Myers, could give the Tide DBs some problems, but this is not the same talent ladened Florida Gator team.

Final: Bama 31 �C Utes 17