What: Russell Athletic Bowl
Who: Clemson (9-3, 6-2 ACC) vs. Oklahoma (8-4, 4-4 Big 12)
When: Monday, Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Florida Citrus Bowl (65,438), Orlando, Fla.
Line: Oklahoma -3.5, O/U 53
Series History: Oklahoma leads 2-1 (last met in 1989 Citrus Bowl)
What we’re watching: How will Oklahoma’s offense look with Trevor Knight back under center? Knight has not played since suffering transient quadriplegia in his back and neck against Baylor on Nov. 8. With Knight sidelined, the Sooners offense relied more or less on the success of Samaje Perine. That plan worked well until Perine was sidelined in the third quarter of a loss to Oklahoma State with an ankle injury. It will be interesting to watch Oklahoma’s offense with Knight and Perine together again in the backfield. After what Knight did to Alabama during his last bowl appearance, folks will be tuned in to see if he’s got more of the same in store for Clemson.
What else we’re watching: With Chad Morris gone and Deshaun Watson out following knee surgery, we can’t watch the Clemson offense with the same expectations. Down the stretch of the regular season, running back Wayne Gallman, wide receiver Artavis Scott and several other young skill players emerged as the next wave of game-changing skill players recruited by Dabo Swinney.
Who we’re watching for Oklahoma: Outside of Knight and Perine? Oklahoma senior linebacker Geneo Grissom will miss the game due to injury, but luckily for OU that entire position group has been fanstastic and deserves your attention. Eric Striker, Jordan Evans and Dominique Alexander have been nasty all year and will get chances at pressuring Cole Stoudt. If the Tigers are stuck in third-and-long situations frequently, it could be a long and painful night for the fifth-year senior quarterback.
Who we’re watching for Clemson: The entire Clemson defense. Since Deshaun Watson will miss the game after undergoing knee surgery, Clemson will need a dominant performance from its defense. Vic Beasley, Grady Jarrett and several other NFL-bound Tigers will have their hands full with that Oklahoma backfield, but the stats (2.56 yards per carry allowed, No. 2 in FBS behind Penn State) suggest that this team is up for the challenge. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables, a longtime OU assistant, has done such a great job with this group over the last couple of seasons that I would bet he’ll have the Tigers fired up to play against his old team.
Prediction: Clemson’s hasn’t allowed 21 points since September, but the dam will break eventually if Oklahoma gets enough possessions. Clemson will probably hit a few big plays to create quick points, but it needs sustained drives to keep the defense from having to deal with the ground and pound of Perine all night. Oklahoma 30, Clemson 20
