Independence Bowl, Alabama vs Colorado
Nick Saban attempts to salvage season 1 with a bowl win.
Alabama Crimson Tide 6-6 (4-4), 3rd Southeastern - West
VS
Colorado Buffaloes 6-6 (4-4), 3rd Big 12 - North Division
Two average teams that appeared to have played themselves out of a bowl game see themselves facing each other in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 30. Alabama is making it’s second straight Independence Bowl appearance after they lost to Oklahoma State last year.
What started as such a promising season under Nick Saban turned into a nightmarish four game losing streak to end the season. The Crimson Tide appeared to be on the verge of making it to a BCS game with a 6-2 record until they gave up a late lead to LSU in their matchup November 3 and it all went downhill from there. Particularly demoralizing were losses to Louisiana-Monroe and cross-state rival, the Auburn Tigers.
As for the Buffaloes, it has been an equally rocky ride all year. There was the high of beating third ranked Oklahoma, but there was also the lowly loss to Iowa State in the second to last game of the year. To cap it all off, the Buffaloes came back in dramatic fashion to post a comeback win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers to earn a berth here in the Independence Bowl.
Alabama is a 3.5 point favorite heading into the game. I think the game will be very high scoring with a score somewhere in the 40s possibly. Both teams can certainly move the chains, but which team will come up with the key stops. Special teams will most certainly be a factor as well.
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