:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6074639/20130104_jla_su8_245.0.jpg)
The No. 1 and No. 2 defenses will meet each other on Monday when No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama meet for the national title. Neither team allows more than 11 points per game, but the Crimson Tide are favored by as many as 10 points by some odds makers due to their tougher, SEC schedule.
However, Alabama will have to find some success against the Irish defense that has been very stout in 2012. Eric Murtaugh of One Foot Down thinks that the Fighting Irish boast the better defensive line, but that the Crimson Tide may be able to make up for that with its "much rush" defense.
It'll be interesting to see if Alabama employs its "mush rush" defense that they've used in recent years against mobile quarterbacks. If the reports out of Tuscaloosa are true it seems likely. That means we likely won't see much production out of the Alabama defensive line as their responsibility will be to primarily power rush, control their gap, and try to shrink the pocket without letting Golson escape the pocket and make plays with his feet.
Carter Bryant wrote in a guest post for Roll Bama Roll that as long as Alabama is able to have the same kind of success that they did against a similarly styled Georgia Bulldogs defense that they should be able to get points on the board against the strong Notre Dame front.
It is hard to believe Alabama beats Georgia if it weren't for the Crimson Tide running game. Saban did plenty wrong in the SEC Championship and still won because of Jones and the offensive line. He would be fortunate to have that happen versus a disciplined Notre Dame defense, but his obscene amount of luck these past two years wouldn't bet against it.
Game date and time
January 7, 8:30 p.m. ET
Location
Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL
Spread
The Crimson Tide are 9.5-point favorites.
TV schedule
ESPN
Watch online
Radio schedule
ESPN Radio (1000 WMVP-AM in Chicago)
Last year’s game
The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the LSU Tigers, 21-0
Look through SB Nation's many excellent college football blogs to find your team's community.
