GAME NOTES: The Alabama Crimson Tide of the SEC and the Colorado Buffaloes of the Big 12 will do battle in the Independence Bowl on December 30th in Shreveport, Louisiana. Alabama owns a 6-6 record under first-year head coach Nick Saban, including a 4-4 mark in league games. The Crimson Tide opened the season with three straight wins and were 6-2 at one point, but four straight losses down the stretch, all by seven or fewer points, prevented the program from contending for the SEC title or a at least a more prestigious bowl berth. Still, Alabama is making its NCAA-record 55th bowl appearance, and considering that the Independence Bowl is the only game that will take place on December 30th, a national television audience will be watching. The Tide is set to play in its fourth consecutive bowl game, and it is no stranger to the Independence Bowl, as the squad lost to Oklahoma State by a 34-31 final in this game a year ago. It is ironic to note that Alabama is set to face a Big 12 team in a bowl game for the third consecutive season. As for Colorado, it also owns a 6-6 overall record that includes a 4-4 mark against Big 12 competition. The one word that can best describe the Buffaloes is inconsistent, as the team shocked the nation by beating Oklahoma but also lost to Missouri by 45 points. Keep in mind that Missouri lost to Oklahoma twice this season. Colorado has never participated in the Independence Bowl, and the team is 12-15 all-time in bowl games. Three of the last four appearances have resulted in defeat, including a 19-10 setback in the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl, the program's most recent bowl game. Colorado and Alabama have met on two previous occasions, both of which were bowl games. The Buffs beat the Tide in the 1969 Liberty Bowl, and 'Bama returned the favor with a victory in the 1991 Blockbuster Bowl.

Alabama is a mediocre offensive team that is scoring 26.8 ppg while gaining 372.6 total ypg. The Tide is posting 4.0 ypc on the ground and 10.9 yards per pass completion, numbers that can also be considered average. The man calling the signals for Alabama is quarterback John Parker Wilson, who has completed 54.9 percent of his passes for 2,590 yards and 15 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Wilson has also run for five scores despite the fact that he isn't much of a threat on the ground. Clearly, the most dangerous receiver on the roster is DJ Hall, as the speedster has made 63 catches for 947 yards and six touchdowns. A threat to go the distance on every touch, Hall will likely see two defenders focused on him in this bowl game. The Alabama ground attack is spearheaded by Terry Grant, who has rushed for 891 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.9 ypc this season.

Opponents are posting 21.8 ppg and 341.2 total ypg against Alabama, as the team's defense has been solid in most games this year. In fact, only twice did the Tide surrender more than 26 points in a game, and those two shaky performances came against LSU and Arkansas, two of the better offensive teams in the nation. Stopping the run has been an area of strength for Alabama, as it is yielding just 3.5 yards per carry. The pass defense hasn't been as impressive, however, as the club has permitted 12.3 yards per completion and 17 touchdowns through the air. On a positive note, the Tide has come up with 17 interceptions. Opponents are making good on nearly 40 percent of their third down conversion attempts against Alabama, a stat that could stand some improvement. Rashad Johnson is the top tackler for the Tide with 81 total stops, but he has registered six interceptions as well. Wallace Gilberry has been one of the top defensive linemen in the nation, as he has recorded 22 TFLs, nine of which have been sacks.

Cody Hawkins has taken almost every snap for Colorado this season, and the signal caller finished with 424 pass attempts in 12 games, an average of over 35 attempts per contest. Hawkins has completed a modest 56.4 percent of his throws for 2,693 yards with 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. While he has also run for three touchdowns, Hawkins finished the campaign with negative rushing yards, proof that he isn't much of a threat on the ground. Colorado leaves the rushing duties to tailback Hugh Charles, who has posted 989 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. As for the receivers, Scotty McKnight is tops with 43 catches and 488 yards, while Tyson DeVree checks in with six receiving touchdowns. Colorado, which is averaging 377.0 total ypg, has scored fewer points in the fourth quarter than in any of the other three frames.

The Colorado defense has been strong at times this season, as the team shut out Miami-Ohio and limited Florida State to just 16 points. Perhaps most impressive was an October 20th game against Kansas when the Buffs held the explosive Jayhawks to 19 points. Unfortunately, the defensive unit also looked helpless at times, as Colorado yielded 47 points to mediocre Kansas State, 55 points to Missouri and 51 points to Nebraska. Without question, the best defensive player on the team is Jordon Dizon, who is made 160 total tackles, including 11 TFLs. A Butkus Award finalist and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Dizon has almost twice as many tackles as any other player on his team. The Buffaloes are allowing 389.4 total ypg, and they have been better against the run than the pass.

Colorado and Alabama have the same overall and league records, and they appear to be evenly matched. Expect this game to be close from start to finish, and give a narrow edge to the Tide.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Alabama 27, Colorado 24