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Despite starting the year just 1-2, the Clemson Tigers found a way to rebound and finish the season strong with an overall 9-3 record with the third-best record in the ACC. The Oklahoma Sooners failed to live up to expectations as they were a top 10 team heading into the season and finished just 8-4 while being outside of the Top 25.
Usually it hurts to lose your starting quarterback of multiple years, but the Tigers found a way to replace Tajh Boyd with a freshman of similar style in Deshaun Watson. While senior gunslinger Cole Stoudt began the season as the team’s starter, Watson took over after impressing in his limited opportunities, adding up to 1,466 yards passing with 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Don’t overlook the young quarterback’s running ability, either, as he has accounted for 200 yards and five scores on the ground as well. The team’s top receiver has been sophomore Mike Williams who has 918 yards and five touchdowns on 48 catches while freshman Artavis Scott has a team-high 68 receptions and seven touchdowns to go along with 851 yards. Wayne Gallman leads the mediocre run game.
Oklahoma had hoped to get a solid full season out of sophomore and returning starter Trevor Knight at quarterback, but a late-season injury ended the young QB’s year three games early. Knight had been playing pretty well this season before the injury, passing for 2,197 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions before giving way to Cody Thomas and his sub-50 percent completion rate. Sterling Shepard has remained the team’s leading wide out all season long despite the quarterback shuffle, catching 50 passes for 957 yards and five touchdowns while Durron Neal is the only other wide out worth noting, grabbing 40 receptions for 508 yards and three scores. Freshman Samaje Perine has been a force in the run game, impressive with 1,579 yards and 21 touchdowns on 6.6 ypc.
Defensively, the Sooners have been much less impressive than they had hoped to be this year, ranking 48th in points allowed and 54th in total yards allowed per contest. Clemson has been much better, owning the seventh-best scoring defense and the No. 1-ranked total defense, in terms of yards allowed, in the entire country.
When: 5:30 p.m. EST on Monday, Dec. 29
Where: Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
TV: ESPN
PREDICTION: Oklahoma 28, Clemson 23
Want to see Oklahoma take on Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
