College Football Playoff Predictions: Oklahoma vs. Clemson
And then there were four. Oklahoma battles Clemson in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 for a spot in the National Championship game.
Capital One Orange Bowl Odds
Point spread: Oklahoma Sooners -4
Total: 66
Current College Football Bowl Odds
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma’s offence produced at least 50 points six times in the regular season and ranked seventh nationally in total offence, so lighting up the scoreboard is nothing new to the Sooners. Quarterback Baker Mayfield had 35 touchdown passes compared to just five interceptions and has a wealth of weapons at his disposal. The Sooners have been a great bet recently too, covering the point spread in six of their last seven games. The question is whether Oklahoma’s defence can hold. The Sooners are solid everywhere on defence, but if they do have a weakness it’s against the run and that could be problematic against Clemson.
Clemson Tigers
To run the table in the regular season, you have to be a tight-knit group that can win in a variety of different ways. That’s a perfect description of the Clemson Tigers. Now that quarterback Deshaun Watson is healthy, Clemson has another scary running threat in the backfield to go along with punishing running back Wayne Gallman. That combination could make Clemson’s passing attack even more potent against an Oklahoma secondary it shredded last year. On defence, the Tigers are going to get into the backfield and force Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield to make plays against a tough secondary under pressure. Clemson ranked seventh in total defence and fifth against the pass this year.
College Football Playoff Prediction
It isn’t often you’ll see an unbeaten team playing for a spot in the National Championship game set as an underdog. However, Clemson has been unreliable at 6-7 against the spread and doesn’t have nearly as much support from the general public – which plays into this line. Still, you have to like what the Tigers bring to the table – balance, playing making ability, and experience under pressure. They could easily score the upset and move on.
Clemson Tigers 34, Oklahoma Sooners 27.
