3 things to know for the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Need a brief primer before you attempt to watch all 40 bowl games this season? We’ve got you covered. Here are three things you need to know about the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
Auburn Tigers (8-4) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (10-2)
Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m. ET
ESPN
– Auburn quarterback Sean White is back under center after missing the last two games of the regular season with a shoulder injury. But that doesn’t make the Auburn passing offense some sort of juggernaut. It still ranks 112th nationally with just 170.8 yards per game. However, White gives the Tigers a modicum of a passing game, especially against an Oklahoma passing defense that ranks 118th nationally with 279 yards allowed per game.
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– Oklahoma boasts one of the best two-headed attacks in college football with Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, who have combined for 2,157 yards and 19 touchdowns. Mixon, who is the team-leader in rushing yards and second in receiving, is averaging 7.0 yards per carry and 14.0 yards per reception. However, the Sooners are going to face perhaps the best defensive line they’ve seen this season. Auburn only allows 124.8 rushing yards per game and has only allowed three 200-yard rushing games this season.
Similarly, Auburn’s running game is one of the best in the country averaging 278.5 yards per game led by Kamryn Pettway (1,123 yards, seven TDs) and Kerryon Johnson (862 yards, 11 TDs). Oklahoma’s rushing defense is not nearly as stout as Auburn’s, allowing 160.8 yards per game. The Sooners have allowed at least 200 rushing yards in each of their last three contests, including 388 in a win against West Virginia.
– While containing the running game will be an issue for Auburn, the Tigers also will have to contend with quarterback Baker Mayfield and his favorite target Dede Westbrook. Both players were finalists for the Heisman Trophy and both are credited with spurring on the nine-game winning streak that earned the Sooners their second consecutive Big 12 title and an appearance in this game. Mayfield has six games with at least 300 passing yards this season. Westbrook has at least 100 receiving yards in eight of the last nine contests and has at least one touchdown in each of those games.
Mascot fight prediction: Could the Sooner Schooner outpace a Tiger? Or would the Tiger track down the horses, eat them and leave the Sooners to fend for themselves? Luckily for the Sooners, they probably have guns and would handle the Tigers easily.
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
