Players to Watch in the BCS National Championship Game

The day college football fans, especially fans of the Longhorns and Crimson Tide,have waited for all year is upon us tonight at the Rose Bowl. Tonight a national champion will be crowned, Mark Ingram will try to break the Heisman curse and Colt McCoy's amazing college career will come to an end.

TEXAS PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB, Colt McCoy
McCoy's final game will have to include a stellar performance through the air. The Alabama defense is designed to stop the run and with the lack of a real running game for the Longhorns, McCoy will have to find his arsenal of receivers across the field tonight to win.
WR, Jordan Shipley
McCoy's roomate and favorite target will have to end his college career with a great performance as well. Shipley's speed will be put to the test with Javier Arenas covering him. Shipley's impact in the return game will help decide field possession and if he gets a big return to switch momentum, watch out for the Longhorns to take advantage of that.
DE, Sergio Kindle
When the Crimson Tide do go to the air, the Texas pass rush must get pressure on Greg McElroy. Kindle is just the player to do that. Kindle will also be counted on to cause pressure in the backfield and stop Mark Ingram for losses.
WR, James Kirkendoll
If Shipley is shut down by Arenas, Kirkendoll is one of the emerging talents in the Longhorn offense and will need to step up to make a few catches, even if Shipley has a career night, to help spread the field for McCoy's air attack.
S, Earl Thomas
Thomas is the heart and soul of the secondary and will need to come up with at least one big play against the Tide's receiving corps. Thomas has eight interceptions on the season and will be on the prowl for number nine but do not look for him to be over aggressive.

ALABAMA PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB, Mark Ingram
Ingram will try to break the Heisman curse and win a national championship tonight. When Ingram gets going, the Tide are able to open up the playbook and use playaction to catch the Texas secondary off guard, which will be hard to do. Ingram needs a performance like the one he had against Florida to secure the title for the Tide
WR, Julio Jones
The big 6'4" target will be McElroy's go-to man tonight. But, if Jones is covered he could end up being the game's biggest decoy. McElroy has shown that Jones is not his only target but if Jones catches a lot of passes tonight he could outshine the other number eight, Jordan Shipley, on the other sideline.
K, Leigh Tiffin
Alabama's all-time leading scorer could make the game-winning kick tonight and for coach Nick Saban there is no better choice in the nation to make a pressure kick than Tiffin. Tiffin has only missed four field goals this season and is one of the most reliable kickers in the nation.
DT, Terrence Cody
Cody could single-handedly be the reason why the Texas run game fails tonight. Cody has overshadowed by other top defensive tackles in the nation this season (Suh, Gerald McCoy) but SEC fans know the havoc Cody has wreaked on opponents, especially with his ability to get a good rush on kicks and has provided two blocks this season.
LB, Rolando McClain
In the second line of defense, McClain has been spectacular this season against some of the best running backs in the nation. If the Longhorn run games gets through Cody and the defensive line, McClain will be right there to stop any gains.
CB, Javier Arenas
Arenas is more than a dynamic, game-changing return man. He can also be a shutdown corner and he will have to be tonight against Jordan Shipley. Like Shipley, Arenas can provide a momentum turning return any time in the game.

PREDICTION
Both teams have dynamic return men, great secondaries and high-profile offensive stars. Alabama's ability to run the ball and Texas' strong passing game will be the main focuses of each defense. Look for a big play from McElroy to one of his receivers and for Texas RB Tre Newton to have a big play to provide a balance for each offense.
In the end, if it is a close game, Alabama has a better chance to win on a game-winning kick but it will not come down to that. McCoy wants to prove that his performance against a tough defense in Nebraska was a fluke. Look for McCoy to be the most motivated player on the field and that will have an influence on the rest of his team.
Texas 26, Alabama 17