Bowl picks record so far: 6-1 (still to go: FSU vs. Houston) Season: 98-39
Orange Bowl in Miami
No. 4 Oklahoma (11-1) vs. No. 1 Clemson (13-0), 4 p.m. ESPN
Clemson has three really nice victories this year over Notre Dame, North Carolina, and Florida State. But looking closer at those wins, they don't stack up with what Oklahoma has done, especially lately. The Irish has just one win over a ranked team, Navy, and struggled with Virginia, Temple, and Boston College. The Sooners lost to unranked Texas, but that was way back in early October and they've been on an absolute tear since, outscoring teams by a 52-19.4 average. Their last three wins were all over teams ranked at least No. 11 -- Baylor, TCU, and Oklahoma State. Also, Clemson has a distraction to deal with as three players won't play in the game. They aren't starters, but still, I think it can be a distraction, even if coach Dabo Swinney says it isn't. I completely respect the game-changing ability of Tigers QB Deshaun Watson, but I just think Oklahoma is on another level right now and will pick up the win behind QB Baker Mayfield and the rest of the offense.
Oklahoma 41, Clemson 37
Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas
No. 3 Michigan State (12-1) vs. No. 2 Alabama (12-1), 8 p.m. ESPN
The Crimson Tide is a 10-point favorite in this game, and I think that is very disrespectful and could serve as a rallying cry for the Spartans, who have stated in the past they love playing as underdogs. MSU's victories over Oregon, Michigan (albeit miraculously -- Google the ending if you don't know what I am referencing), Ohio State, and Iowa rank up there with some of the best wins of the year for any team in the country and certainly stack up with Alabama's best four victories: Wisconsin, LSU, Mississippi State, Florida. MSU's only loss was by one point on the road to Nebraska, which finished the year 6-7 after a bowl win, but was certainly more like an eight-team win that lost a couple games at the last second. Alabama lost at home to Ole Miss and was actually getting blown out at one point in the game, but lost by six. Also, Michigan State is not some high-flying team. It can grind out victories with the best of them. It would not surprise me for the Spartans to win, playing the us-against-the-world card, but I am going with the Tide, which I think has slight edges in the running game (Heisman winner Derrick Henry) and on defense. The Spartans have Connor Cook at QB, though, and he can will MSU to a win if given an opportunity.
Alabama 23, Michigan State 17
Orange Bowl in Miami
No. 4 Oklahoma (11-1) vs. No. 1 Clemson (13-0), 4 p.m. ESPN
Clemson has three really nice victories this year over Notre Dame, North Carolina, and Florida State. But looking closer at those wins, they don't stack up with what Oklahoma has done, especially lately. The Irish has just one win over a ranked team, Navy, and struggled with Virginia, Temple, and Boston College. The Sooners lost to unranked Texas, but that was way back in early October and they've been on an absolute tear since, outscoring teams by a 52-19.4 average. Their last three wins were all over teams ranked at least No. 11 -- Baylor, TCU, and Oklahoma State. Also, Clemson has a distraction to deal with as three players won't play in the game. They aren't starters, but still, I think it can be a distraction, even if coach Dabo Swinney says it isn't. I completely respect the game-changing ability of Tigers QB Deshaun Watson, but I just think Oklahoma is on another level right now and will pick up the win behind QB Baker Mayfield and the rest of the offense.
Oklahoma 41, Clemson 37
Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas
No. 3 Michigan State (12-1) vs. No. 2 Alabama (12-1), 8 p.m. ESPN
The Crimson Tide is a 10-point favorite in this game, and I think that is very disrespectful and could serve as a rallying cry for the Spartans, who have stated in the past they love playing as underdogs. MSU's victories over Oregon, Michigan (albeit miraculously -- Google the ending if you don't know what I am referencing), Ohio State, and Iowa rank up there with some of the best wins of the year for any team in the country and certainly stack up with Alabama's best four victories: Wisconsin, LSU, Mississippi State, Florida. MSU's only loss was by one point on the road to Nebraska, which finished the year 6-7 after a bowl win, but was certainly more like an eight-team win that lost a couple games at the last second. Alabama lost at home to Ole Miss and was actually getting blown out at one point in the game, but lost by six. Also, Michigan State is not some high-flying team. It can grind out victories with the best of them. It would not surprise me for the Spartans to win, playing the us-against-the-world card, but I am going with the Tide, which I think has slight edges in the running game (Heisman winner Derrick Henry) and on defense. The Spartans have Connor Cook at QB, though, and he can will MSU to a win if given an opportunity.
Alabama 23, Michigan State 17
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