It’s the first meeting between these schools since the Jan. 4, 2004, Sugar Bowl. The winner faces either No. 2 Ohio State or No. 3 Clemson on January 13th also in Atlanta.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Betting Analysis

LSU hasn’t won a national championship since 2007 under former coach Les Miles, but the top-ranked Tigers are the +115 favourites to win it all as the College Football Playoff kicks off on Saturday. The Tigers face No. 4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl in the early game. Oklahoma is the +1100 long shot to win the national title. The Sooners haven’t done so since 2000.

It’s the first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff – debuted in 2014 season – for SEC champion LSU. The SEC is one of two conferences to send at least one team to the playoff every year. Alabama had made it each of the previous five but missed out in 2019 largely because of a home loss to LSU.

Big 12 champion Oklahoma is in the playoff for a fourth time and is the only Big 12 school to ever make it. Hasn’t really gone well for the Sooners yet as they lost in the national semifinals all three times and only one of the games was close.

Oklahoma Sooners

With OU such a big underdog, could this be the final collegiate game for quarterback Jalen Hurts and coach Lincoln Riley? Hurts, a transfer from Alabama, finished second in the Heisman voting. He had a stellar season, completing 71.8 percent of his passes with 32 touchdowns while leading the team with 1,255 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. In most other seasons, that’s going to win Hurts the Heisman. The Sooners rank seventh nationally in scoring at 43.2 points per game. Riley is the architect of that high-flying offence and many NFL teams covet his services – especially the Dallas Cowboys.

OU is going to be short-handed for this game, though. Safety Dellarin Turner-Yell, defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Trejan Bridges are all out. The latter three are suspended and Turner-Yell is hurt. His 75 tackles are second on the team. Perkins leads the team in sacks with six, and is second on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss. Stevenson is third on the team in rushing yards with 515. His six touchdown runs trail only Hurts’ 18. Bridges has played in every game but isn’t huge part of the offence. Oklahoma is 7-2 ATS in its past nine as an underdog.

Louisiana State Tigers

The Tigers carry a 14-game winning streak into this one. LSU is led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow, who set numerous school and SEC passing records this season. For example, his 4,715 passing yards and 48 touchdowns are both conference records. Burrow’s completion percentage of 77.9 not only leads the country but would break the FBS record of 76.7 set by Texas’ Colt McCoy in 2008. Burrow should be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. LSU’s 621 points scored this season are by far the most in school history. The Tigers rank third in points per game at 47.8.

Burrow has the nation’s best 1-2 punch at receiver in Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. They became the fourth duo from the same school with 1,000 receiving yards in SEC history. Chase has 18 touchdowns receptions this season, which is tied for the SEC record. He’ll be back next year and will be a Heisman candidate (although receivers don’t win that award these days). Another LSU offensive star, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, is being called questionable for this game with a hamstring injury. He rushed for 1,290 yards and 16 scores this season while catching 50 passes for 399 yards and a TD. LSU has won and covered its past five against Big 12 opponents.

Who Will Win Norman vs. Baton Rouge?

Injuries

Oklahoma

Delarrin Turner-Yell (S)

Out Sat Collarbone - 21 / 12 / 19

Trejan Bridges (WR)

Ques Sat Poss. Suspension - 18 / 12 / 19

Ronnie Perkins (DL)

Ques Sat Poss. Suspension - 18 / 12 / 19

Rhamondre Stevenson (RB)

Ques Sat Poss. Suspension - 18 / 12 / 19

Robert Barnes (S)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 07 / 12 / 19

Kennedy Brooks (RB)

Prob Sat Neck - 07 / 12 / 19

Jordan Kelley (DL)

out for season Knee - 07 / 12 / 19

Kenneth Mann (DL)

out for season Lower Body - 07 / 12 / 19

Tre Norwood (DB)

out for season Knee - 07 / 12 / 19

Brendan Radley-Hiles (DB)

Ques Sat Head - 07 / 12 / 19

Louisiana State

Myles Brennan (QB)

Ques Mon Undisclosed - 09 / 01 / 20

Trey Palmer (WR)

Ques Mon Undisclosed - 05 / 01 / 20

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB)

Prob Mon Hamstring - 02 / 01 / 20

Damien Lewis (G)

Ques Mon Leg - 28 / 12 / 19

Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR)

Prob Mon Shoulder - 28 / 12 / 19

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB)

Prob Sat Hamstring - 18 / 12 / 19

Tyrion Davis-Prince (RB)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 17 / 12 / 19

Tory Carter (FB)

Ques Sat Foot - 23 / 11 / 19

Grant Delpit (S)

Prob Sat Ankle - 20 / 11 / 19

Thaddeus Moss (TE)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 19

Injuries

Oklahoma

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Delarrin Turner-Yell (S)	Out Sat	Collarbone - 21 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Turner-Yell will not be available against LSU in the Peach Bowl due to a fractured collarbone.
Trejan Bridges (WR)	Ques Sat	Poss. Suspension - 18 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Bridges is facing a potential suspension for an unknown reason, and it is unclear if he will play against LSU in the Peach Bowl.
Ronnie Perkins (DL)	Ques Sat	Poss. Suspension - 18 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Perkins could be handed a suspension due to an unknown incident, leaving his status against LSU in the Peach Bowl hazy.
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB)	Ques Sat	Poss. Suspension - 18 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Stevenson is facing a possible suspension for a undefined reasons, and it has yet to be determined if he will take the field against LSU in the Peach Bowl.
Robert Barnes (S)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 07 / 12 / 19	1-1	0-2	+ -
Barnes has been sidelined with an injury to an unlisted area, and it is unclear when he will suit up again.
Kennedy Brooks (RB)	Prob Sat	Neck - 07 / 12 / 19	1-1	0-2	+ -
Brooks is battling a neck injury, but he is expected to suit up against LSU in the Peach Bowl.
Jordan Kelley (DL)	out for season	Knee - 07 / 12 / 19	1-1	0-2	+ -
Kelley is likely to miss the remainder of the season while recovering from an ACL injury.
Kenneth Mann (DL)	out for season	Lower Body - 07 / 12 / 19	1-1	0-2	+ -
Mann has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury.
Tre Norwood (DB)	out for season	Knee - 07 / 12 / 19	1-1	0-2	+ -
Norwood will miss the entire 2019 season due to a knee injury.
Brendan Radley-Hiles (DB)	Ques Sat	Head - 07 / 12 / 19	1-1	0-2	+ -
Radley-Hiles has a head injury, and his status is unknown for the Peach Bowl versus LSU.

Louisiana State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Myles Brennan (QB)	Ques Mon	Undisclosed - 09 / 01 / 20	1-0	1-0	+ -
Brennan is tending to an undefined ailment, and it is unknown if he will be available in the CFP National Championship against Clemson.
Trey Palmer (WR)	Ques Mon	Undisclosed - 05 / 01 / 20	1-0	1-0	+ -
Palmer is nursing an unspecified injury, and it uncertain if he will participate in the CFP National Championship against Clemson.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB)	Prob Mon	Hamstring - 02 / 01 / 20	1-0	1-0	+ -
Edwards-Helaire is likely to suit up against Clemson in the CFP National Championship despite a hamstring injury.
Damien Lewis (G)	Ques Mon	Leg - 28 / 12 / 19	2-0	1-1	+ -
Lewis has a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will play against Clemson in the CFP National Championship.
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR)	Prob Mon	Shoulder - 28 / 12 / 19	2-0	1-1	+ -
Marshall Jr. is dealing with a shoulder injury, but he is expected to be available for the CFP National Championship versus Clemson.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB)	Prob Sat	Hamstring - 18 / 12 / 19	2-0	1-1	+ -
Edwards-Helaire is tending to a hamstring injury, but it is expected that he will suit up against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl.
Tyrion Davis-Prince (RB)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 17 / 12 / 19	2-0	1-1	+ -
Davis-Prince is battling an unspecified injury, and his status for the Peach Bowl versus Oklahoma is up in the air.
Tory Carter (FB)	Ques Sat	Foot - 23 / 11 / 19	3-2	3-2	+ -
Carter has missed the last two games with a left foot injury, and it is unclear if he will play in the SEC championship game against Georgia.
Grant Delpit (S)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 20 / 11 / 19	3-2	3-2	+ -
Delpit missed the previous game due to an ankle injury, but he is expected to be available Saturday against Texas A&M.
Thaddeus Moss (TE)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 20 / 11 / 19	3-2	3-2	+ -
Moss is expected to face Arkansas on Saturday despite dealing with an undefined ailment.