Oklahoma prepares for Clemson QB Watson

While some fans might be anxious about the team losing its groove with such a long layoff between games, OU coaches and players don’t seem to be concerned.

Despite severe weather in Norman, fourth-ranked Oklahoma arrived first, at about 1 p.m., at Miami International Airport, with players deplaning in sweatshirts. Alabama coach Nick Saban is so hard to play against when given the proper amount of time to prepare.

After losing 40-6 to Clemson in last year’s Russell Athletic Bowl, Oklahoma will be seeking to return the favor as the Sooners pursue their eighth national title. What coach Kirk Ferentz has done with this Iowa team is impressive. “You’ve got to keep him contained”, Oklahoma linebacker Dominique Alexander said of Watson, who finished third in the Heisman voting after throwing for more than 3,500 yards and rushing for nearly 900 yards.

“Somebody that I grew as a person and player with”, Henry said. They were the only team to finish undefeated, they won a 13th game (something that Oklahoma didn’t have to do) and still come into this game as the underdog by oddsmakers. Clemson likes to take several deep shots each game with Watson’s pin-point accuracy, and the results of those plays could swing the Orange Bowl. “Hopefully, we can go in there, execute and take care of that one, too”. “I don’t know yet”. “I feel like I’m risky either way”.

“The guys were excited (flying here) because they know were in the final four, ” Swinney said.

“We respect his game, what he’s able to do”.

It might not be the biggest game of the bowl season, but I also think Houston under Tom Herman can beat Florida State.

“I used to love playing with Tim Tebow, and then as the games, as I got older, I started playing with OR a little bit more”, Watson said.

After a 7-5 season in 1999, Oklahoma rose from 19th in the polls to the top with victories over five ranked opponents (three in the Top 10). “If he gets out of the cage, we’re going to have a problem”.

The No. 2 Crimson Tide’s complement to Heisman Trophy victor Derrick Henry has been hurt a lot this year.

Although the contest was not a playoff game, Michigan State defeated Baylor 42-41 in last year’s Cotton Bowl. He endured three injuries his freshman year-a red flag that will concern National Football League decision-makers-and started in five of the eight games in which he appeared. It’s possible. The Sooners have a big-time offense, and they can run it and pass it effectively. He’s a really good runner, be it a designed run or just extending the play. “We just try to come out every day and work”.

Michigan State has enough physicality to limit Henry’s damage, which should force Coker to have to make throws against a suspect Spartan secondary.

Although Clemson enters with the top playoff seed, the Tigers have arguably the youngest nucleus of key players among the four teams. “I looked at him and I told him, you’re going to be the Peyton Manning of Georgia high school football”, said Michael Perry, the school’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Spread-offense quarterbacks like Robert Griffin III, Johnny Manziel and Tajh Boyd, who preceded Watson as Clemson’s star quarterback, have struggled to find a consistent place in the pros. That means there will be an extra level of scrutiny facing Watson, who will be coming from an offense that an National Football League scout described as “basketball on grass”. They’re going to put up points against Clemson. The Spartans have played in big games, the 2014 Rose Bowl and wins over Michigan, Oregon and Ohio State, so the moment shouldn’t be too big for them. “Not to say anything about Deshaun that he’s a bad athlete, but Trevone’s a different animal”.

It’s nearly time to kick off the best games of the bowl season, and I’m banking on “Big Game” Bob Stoops to be at his best.

After days of above-average warmth, a cold front will move into the area on Friday and cause temperatures to drop into the mid-70s.