The day is finally here! No.4 Oklahoma will take on No. 1 LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl for bragging rights and a shot to play for the national title in New Orleans on January 13th. This is a historic match for both team as it will be just the third time meeting for each program. The last being the 2004 BCS National Championship in which the Tigers won 21-14. This will be the tie breaker and the one that sends one of these two storied teams to a date with destiny in New Orleans.
For the Tigers, it is their first appearance in the College Football Playoffs. For the Sooners it is their fourth appearance in the playoffs. They have never advanced past the first round, they have all the pressure on them to get past this round and advance.
Players to watch:
Oklahoma
Jalen Hurts is a dynamic play maker, not only is he the leading passer for OU, but as a quarterback he is the leader rusher for the Sooners as well “it’s not just his running, it’s not just his throwing, it’s not just his leadership on the team.” Junior safety Grant Delpit said at media day for the Peach Bowl. “He can do all three of those things, so everyone has to be on their P’s and Q’s.” The quarterback has the ability to beat teams with not only his arm but with his legs as well. The Sooners like to run a lot of quarterback counters and RPOs off of aggressive defenses. Look for LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to have safety Grant Delpit playing closer to the line of scrimmage today to help in run support.
CeeDee Lamb the Biletnikoff finalist might be more important to his team than Ja’Marr Chase. Lamb was the only thousand yard, double digit touchdown receiver on his team, the Tigers had two this year. Averaging nearly 21 yards per catch, Lamb is a game breaker and has the ability to change the momentum of a game with a single catch. He will most likely be matched up against All-American freshman cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. “He’s a freshman with a senior mindset,” Lamb told the media. “He knows the game well, he plays his technique very well. I’ve seen him on the field and I’m just like, ‘Wow, there’s no way he’s a freshman.’ But honestly, he’s definitely going to be by far the best DB I go against.”
LSU
Joe Burrow has played lights out this year for the Tigers. Rewriting the record books for LSU, the SEC and some of the NCAA. What has been hidden in some of those of records, or possible overlooked is Burrows’ ability to run the football in short yardage and pick up the first down. Not his scrambling ability, we all know about 3rd and 17 against Texas, or his 1st and 10 play against Georgia in the Sec championship. I mean the designed runs for Burrow, or the runs where he does have to make magic happen to pick up the first downs. Remember Oklahoma will be without their leading pass rusher, defensive end Ronnie Perkins as well.
Defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin has been a work horse up front for the Tigers all season long. Everything starts up front with the big men. Games are won and lost in the trenches. Run-wise, anything that Oklahoma wants to do will be affected by Shelvin. “No center can single block me.” Shelvin said during media day. “You cannot single block me on defense. You can’t, it’s impossible.” Look for Shelvin to cause havoc along the offensive line of Oklahoma.
Thaddeus Moss has been the “X Factor” for the Tigers this season. Not only having logged the most catches in a season in LSU history. But also having one of the most spectacular tight rope side line catches against Alabama earlier this year as well. Look for him to be involved heavily in the run game, and also as an outlet receiver for Burrow when protection breaks down.
