No. 1 Clemson will face No. 4 Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve. “You know, this is a new team”.
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If you like points in bunches, then you’re going to love this matchup. Baker Mayfield is averaging over 308 yards per game this season through the air, according to ESPN.
The Tigers now own the nation’s longest winning streak at 16 games, but Swinney knows how hard of a task it can be to remain unscathed, especially against this level of competition. “But if a year ago taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected”.
MSU may not be picked to win this game by many, but it is getting respect. Watson, considered a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, will be calling signals for the Tigers in the Orange Bowl.
I have more faith in Clemson’s front seven stopping Oklahoma’s running game than Oklahoma’s.
None of the current players for either side were on the team that season. With the Tide gunning for their fourth national title in Saban’s tenure, a win would help the program maintain its grip as the premier powerhouse in recruiting circles.
Best game: Michigan State vs. Alabama, Cotton Bowl.
That seems to be the consensus, though ESPN analyst Travis Haney said before the pairings were announced that the Spartans should be “praying” they don’t get Alabama. This game will come down to which quarterback can make plays in the passing game.
That mentor was watching when Michigan State went 22 plays to score the winning touchdown against Iowa in the Big Ten championship game Saturday. In the conference championship game, he was a menace, recording three tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks, and forcing a fumble. Twenty-two plays and 82 yards that chewed 9 minutes off the clock is a drive that will go down in school history. “I don’t think the talent mismatch in this game is as much as people think”. Henry now has 1,986 yards for his career to set the Southeastern Conference’s all-time single-season mark for rushing yards.
“You talk about this Michigan State offensive line that’s one of the best in the country, particularly now that they’re all healthy, they’re gonna have to play a physical brand of football”, BTN’s Howard Griffith said. Last season, the Alabama Crimson Tide lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes, the eventual champions. I’m going against the grain here and going with Michigan State because of Cook.
That’s also why he’s thankful to have a player like Watson on his team. Cook has three touchdown passes in his last three games. Is Coker as a legit National Football League prospect?
“He’ll be a challenge to get ready for”, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. The Spartans won 16-13. If it is Michigan State, it would mean Dantonio took Michigan State farther than Saban ever did. The Spartans’ 15th-rated run defense or the Tigers’ 15th rated run offense?
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Against Michigan State, it will be strength against strength. Nothing at all like the week-to-week mayhem – with one once-in-a-lifetime-play after another – that made the season memorable. They’ve had a great season. Clemson is sixth and Michigan State is all the way down at No. 14. The game will be close because Clemson has lived on the edge all season, but the Tigers will continue to run the ball well with running back Wayne Gallman.
