Sugar Bowl, Auburn vs Oklahoma: Preview and predictions
By Brad Weiss
The 2017 Sugar Bowl will feature some of the best talent that college football has to offer, including two Heisman Trophy finalists.
The Oklahoma Sooners could very well be playing in the College Football Playoff, as they won the Big 12 Championship this season. However, being competitive may have been their undoing, as the strongest non-conference schedule in America forced them to finish the year at 10-2. Still, they have to be happy with the product they have put on the field this season, and will have a stiff test in the Sugar Bowl on January 2.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook were both Heisman finalists this season, as the two formed the best quarterback-wide receiver duo in college football. Mayfield put together one of the best seasons of any college quarterback in history, completing over 70 percent of his passes. In addition, Mayfield threw for nearly 4,000 yards, 38 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. Westbrook racked up 1,311 of those yards, collecting 16 of Mayfield’s 38 TDs.
Auburn put together a solid season of their own, finishing second in the West Division of the SEC. Led by an incredible two-headed monster at running back, Auburn rushed for nearly 2,000 yards between Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. The two added 18 touchdowns as well. Quarterback Sean White is very good at running Gus Malzahn’s offense, but he has missed the last two games. Still, Malzahn expects him to play against Oklahoma.
Odds
Line: Oklahoma (-3.0)
Over/Under: 62.5
This game will be a classic battle between a top-flight offense, and a stout defense. The Sooners have averaged the third-most points per game in college football this season, and the Tigers have allowed the fifth-fewest. Over the course of the season, Auburn allowed only one touchdown in 11 games, which could spell trouble for the Sooners solid backfield of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. Perine and Mixon combined for 19 touchdowns of their own, so it will be interesting to see how they do against Carl Lawson and the Tigers tough front.
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Oklahoma should be able to win this one, though it may go down to the wire. Keep an eye on Lawson, as the potential first-round draft pick will look to get after Mayfield early and often. Lawson racked up 9.5 sacks this season, and if he can disrupt the Sooners pass game, it could make it hard for them to move the ball. He will get to Mayfield, but not enough to disrupt this high-octane offense, and Westbrook should find the end zone at least once in this one.
Prediction: Oklahoma 38 Auburn 35