As crazy as those first few hours were following McCarron’s trade from the Buffalo Bills to Oakland, the whirlwind hasn’t slowed down a bit since McCarron joined his new team.

He had new teammates and coaches to meet and an entire offense to learn in just over a week now that he’s Derek Carr’s only backup and could be thrust into action Monday night when Oakland opens its season against the Los Angeles Rams.

”It’s not the easiest thing in the world. I’m trying my hardest,” McCarron said. ”I’ve been coming in really early, spending a lot of time staying late. God forbid something happens, hopefully I can go out there and handle it pretty well.”

The Raiders dealt a 2019 fifth-round pick to the Bills last Saturday for McCarron and then immediately cut E.J. Manuel and Connor Cook, who had been competing for the backup job.

Oakland had been anticipating McCarron might be available with Buffalo having drafted Josh Allen in the first round and also having Nathan Peterman in place.

”We kind of had our eye on him,” offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. ”Had been evaluating him through the preseason with the thought that maybe there might be an opportunity for some of those quarterbacks or one of those quarterbacks on that team to become available. We had some intel on AJ from other coaches that had worked with him. But we liked the player. We’re happy to get him. He’s been good since he’s been here. He’s been a quick study in terms of picking up the offense. He’s been in the building from dawn to dusk every day. Just a real pleasure to have him right now.”

McCarron has been working extensively with quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan to learn a complex offense installed by coach Jon Gruden.

McCarron said it’s completely different than what he had been running in Buffalo all offseason but he is familiar with many of the West Coast concepts. The main job this week is learning the language and the formations that go with the offense.

”I do a pretty good job of managing all that,” McCarron said. ”When it comes to learning football I think I’m pretty smart. You can only play so many defenses. It’s just being real familiar and knowing the ins and outs of the offense. God forbid I get in there, it’s not going to be perfect. But I know how to battle and keep trying.”

McCarron had hoped to be the starter in Buffalo after spending his first four seasons as the backup to Andy Dalton in Cincinnati. McCarron started just three regular-season games and one playoff contest for the Bengals but got a two-year contract from the Bills that included a $4 million signing bonus.

But that never materialized as the Bills went with Peterman as the starter until Allen is ready to take over, and McCarron now needs to sell the house he bought in Buffalo.

”It’s a business. There’s a lot of things that go on behind the scenes. It’s part of it,” he said. ”I enjoyed my time there, even though it was for a cup of coffee and maybe a doughnut. The people there are great, the fans are really awesome. We lived in a great neighborhood. It was an awesome city and we enjoyed our time there.”

NOTES: RB Marshawn Lynch has been limited by a groin injury all week but is not listed on the injury report for the game against the Rams. … RB DeAndre Washington (knee) is out and DT Brian Price (hamstring) is questionable.

The post New Raiders backup QB AJ McCarron rushes to get up to speed appeared first on IdealCapper.

Alabama at Notre Dame
When: 8:30 PM ET, Monday, January 7, 2013
Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: 8:30 p.m., ESPN. LINE: Alabama -10
Oddsmakers currently have the Crimson Tide listed as 8½-point favorites versus the Fighting Irish, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.
Prediction: Alabama 16, Notre Dame 13

The Crimson Tide will be happy to match muscle vs. muscle with Notre Dame’s defense behind a powerhouse offensive line that averages 315 pounds per man. Alabama has a pair of 1,000-yard backs in junior Eddie Lacy and freshman T.J. Yeldon, who combined for 27 touchdowns and piled up 334 yards in the SEC title game win over Georgia. Quarterback AJ McCarron threw for 26 touchdowns against only three interceptions and showed he was much more than a caretaker of the offense by leading late drives to beat LSU and Georgia. His top weapon is Amari Cooper, who has 53 receptions and nine touchdowns. Notre Dame’s defense has been getting all the publicity, but the Crimson Tide have their own elite linebacker in C.J. Mosley and held 10 opponents to less than 14 points while recording four shutouts.

Alabama was a 32-28 winner in their most recent outing on the road against Georgia. They failed to cover the 9-point spread as favorites, while the total score (60) made winners of OVER bettors.

Team records:
Alabama: 12-1 SU, 6-7 ATS
Notre Dame: 12-0 SU, 7-5 ATS

Alabama most recently:
When playing in January are 5-2
When playing on grass are 9-1
After outgaining opponent are 10-0
When favored on the road are 9-1

Te’o, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, is the heart and soul of a defense that permitted only nine touchdowns overall and two on the ground. He has seven interceptions and played behind a stellar defensive front featuring ends Stephon Tuitt (12 sacks) and Kapron Lewis-Moore sandwiching the massive Louis Nix III. Notre Dame’s running back corps of Theo Riddick, Cierre Wood and George Atkinson III combined for 2,000 yards and will test a defense that allowed a national-low 246 yards. Still, Notre Dame’s offense revolves around dual-threat quarterback Everett Golson. He threw for 11 touchdowns against five interceptions and had four of of his five-highest passing totals in November. Golson also rushed for 305 yards and five scores and his ability to keep the chains moving against Alabama’s defense will be vital.

Last time out for Notre Dame, they were a 22-13 winner as they battled Southern Cal on the road. Notre Dame covered in the match as a 4.5-point favorite, while 35 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Notre Dame most recently:
When playing in January are 0-6
When playing on grass are 10-0
After outgaining opponent are 10-0
When an underdog at home are 1-9

A few trends to consider:
Alabama is 16-1 SU in its last 17 games
Alabama is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Notre Dame is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Notre Dame’s last 11 games

The post Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish BCS Championship appeared first on IdealCapper.