Oklahoma vs. Alabama in the CFP: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

The Oklahoma Sooners have been in playoff mode since the first week of November, and now they get back to the grind in the College Football Playoff against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday night.

The Sooners are hoping to pick up their first playoff win in their fifth try against an Alabama team that went 10-3 with losses to Florida State, Oklahoma, and Georgia. Oklahoma won a physical matchup against the Tide just a little over a month ago in a game where they created three turnovers, sacked Ty Simpson four times, and won the special teams battle.

Oklahoma is getting healthier with the expected return of R Mason Thomas, who hasn't played since the first quarter of the win over Tennessee.

For the Sooners to pull off another win and advance in the College Football Playoff, they'll need another complete performance in all three phases. Can they beat the Alabama Crimson Tide for the second time this season and the third time in 13 months? Here are this week's Sooners Wire Staff Predictions.

Can they do it again?

The old adage goes that it's hard to beat a team three times in a season. Oklahoma wouldn't have to do that, but three times in a row is plenty tough, especially when that other team is Alabama. Whether the Crimson Tide deserve to be in the College Football Playoff or not is moot. They're in. OU definitely deserves its standing. Does that mean the Sooners are the superior team? They already beat Bama in Tuscaloosa. Now it's time to do so in Norman.

Oklahoma 20, Alabama 17

Eric Bolin, Sooners Wire Contributor

OU Wins Defensive Battle

Two really good defenses will take the field on Friday night, and OU should be in for another low-scoring slugfest in a season filled with them. Getting R Mason Thomas back will be huge for the Sooners, and they should be able to rush the passer even better than they did in Tuscaloosa back in November. The turnover battle will decide this game. If the Sooners can avoid giving the ball away, they’ll be in good shape to win and advance. If the Oklahoma offense can offer a little more support to the defense, and the defense can continue to force takeaways, the Sooners can pull off the rare feat of taming the Tide twice in one season.

Oklahoma 19, Alabama 16

Aaron Gelvin, Sooners Wire Contributor

Big John Mateer Day

The Oklahoma Sooners have won several defensive battles this year, and the round one matchup with Alabama won't be any different. These are two really good defenses. To beat Alabama, the Sooners will need a strong performance from John Mateer, and he comes through with one of his better games of the season, kick-starting the offense.

The Sooners' defensive line will be the difference. With defensive end R Mason Thomas returning from injury, and defensive tackle Jayden Jackson healthier than he's been in a while, look for the line to create problems for Ty Simpson and the Alabama passing attack, and Oklahoma will find turnovers against Alabama once again.

Oklahoma 20, Alabama 14

John Williams, Sooners Wire Lead Writer

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Sooners Wire Staff Predicts Oklahoma vs. Alabama in the CFP