Clemson has enjoyed the best season in 34 years and the No. 1-ranked Tigers (13-0) get to celebrate it by facing one of the hottest teams in the country, the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners (11-1). At stake? Only a trip to the National Championship game.
This game is a rematch of last year’s Russell Athletics Bowl where Clemson beat Oklahoma bad enough for the Sooners to take out a restraining order after the game. It was 40-0 after the third quarter and Clemson is still recognized as Oklahoma’s legal father in the state of Florida. It was a bad scene, man.
Bowl: Capital One Orange Bowl
Teams: Oklahoma Sooners vs Clemson Tigers
Date/Time: December 31, 2015 – 4 PM EST on ESPN
Location: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL
Vegas Line/Total: Oklahoma -3.5 / O/U 65
Written by: Adam Greene
11 – 1 Record – 9 – 3 Vs Spread 11/28/15 @ Oklahoma State W 58-23 W -7.5 O 63 |
13 – 0 Record – 6 – 7 Vs Spread 12/05/15 vs North Carolina W 45-37 W -6.5 O 67.5 |
December 29, 2014 – Russell Athletic Bowl – Sooners 6 – 40 Clemson January 2, 2014 – Sugar Bowl – Sooners 45 – 31 Alabama January 4, 2013 – Cotton Bowl – Sooners 13 – 41 Texas A&M December 30, 2011 – Insight Bowl – Sooners 31- 14 Iowa January 1, 2011 – Fiesta Bowl – Sooners 48 – 20 UConn |
December 29, 2014 – Russell Athletic Bowl – Tigers 40 – 6 Oklahoma January 3, 2014 – Orange Bowl – Tigers 40 – 35 Ohio State December 31, 2012 – Chick-fil-A Bowl – Tigers 25 – 24 LSU January 4, 2012 – Orange Bowl – Tigers 33 – 70 West Virginia December 31, 2010 – Meineke Bowl – Tigers 26 – 31 S. Florida |
Oklahoma Outlook
This is a new year and a fired up Oklahoma team. The Sooners have used last year’s prison shower beat-down as motivation and they certainly won’t be taking the Tigers lightly. Baker Mayfield has been outstanding at quarterback for Oklahoma this season, throwing for 3,389 yards and 35 touchdowns with just five picks. The 6-foot-1 junior from Austin, Texas is coming into this game with a little extra chip on his shoulder.
Samaje Perine is the player that makes the offense go, with 1,291 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Perine doesn’t do it all by himself as the Sooners’ line has done a good job plowing the field for Oklahoma’s other backs. All four guys that get significant carries are averaging 5.4 yards per touch or better.
Sterling Shepard makes up for his lack of size with playmaking ability. The 5-foot-10 wideout leads Oklahoma with 79 catches for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, doubling up the next closest guy on the stat sheet in every category.
On defense Dominique Alexander leads the way with 91 tackles, seven for a loss, 1.5 sacks and an interceptions. It’s outside linebacker Eric Striker that seems to have the highest NFL ceiling and is a Von Miller-style outside rusher. This year he’s got 7.5 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, a pick, four pass defenses and a forced fumble. If Oklahoma has a chance to win, Striker will need to be in Clemson’s backfield all day.
Clemson Outlook
If Oklahoma is still watching the film from last year’s curb stomp, make no mistake, Clemson has watched it a time or to as well. The Tigers have dominated nearly every opponent they’ve faced this year, no matter the record or ranking. They’ve won tight games with their defense, they’ve won blowouts and they’ve won shootouts.
Clemson is No. 1 for a reason and that reason’s name is Deshaun Watson. Watson has passed for 3,512 yards and 30 touchdowns, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes in the process and rushed for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns. The kid is quick, smart, accurate and elusive and has only been sacked 12 times this year and for a guy that’s attempted 413 passes, that’s nothing. Teams have barely laid a glove on him.
Watson likes to spread the ball around to four different pass-catches, but Artavis Scott is is favorite target, especially on third down. Scott’s caught 84 passes for 805 yards and five touchdowns.
At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds running back Wayne Gallman will be hard to miss, especially when he’s running over people. Gallman has balanced out Clemson’s offense with 1.332 yards and 10 touchdowns of his own.
The Clemson defense is loaded with three potential first-round draft picks and certainly guys that will not last past the second round. Mackenzie Alexander at corner will be one of the top-rated corners in the draft if he decides to come out. Safety Jayron Kearse is a monster at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds and is a second-round guy at worst. Shaq Lawson will be one of the premier passrushers in the upcoming draft and can hit double-digit sacks if he gets hold of Mayfield just once.
Match-up & Analysis
Analysis
Oklahoma is a tough get for Clemson, but the Tigers handled them pretty well last season. Watson is playing out of his mind and with a defense full of guys that will be playing on Sundays next season, Oklahoma has its work cut out for it. The Tigers have been held below 34 points only three times this season and have put up more than 40 six times.
Prediction
Join Ej the Rainmaker, Adam Greene and Erik the Hun as the three guys break down their predictions together for the Orange Bowl. All three gents will appear in the Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Championship Game podcasts.
