BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP AT&T STADIUM ARLINGTON,TX SATURDAY NOON/ET ABC
TEXAS (9-3) vs. OKLAHOMA (11-1)
Many times a rematch of conference rivals can be a bore. But not this one, because the higher ranked team today was beaten by the lower ranked team back in October. It was a 48-45 shootout, with the Longhorns winning with a dynamic offensive display. With another Win, Texas will go to a New Year’s Bowl, and OKLAHOMA will be knocked out of any chance for a Final Four slot.
KYLER MURRAY/QB/Oklahoma, #1, has a strong chance to win the Heisman Trophy if he leads his team to a high scoring victory. Longhorn QB SAM EHLINGER, #11, is not draft eligible, and is nursing a lingering injury, but if he can play he’s a fun watch as well. I expect this will indeed be another high scoring affair, with the Sooners having revenge on their minds.
Draft Prospects in this one depend mightily on which underclassmen are going to choose to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. The Longhorns have the two highest rated prospects on my Big Board in their two leading WR’s; #9 COLLIN JOHNSON, and #84 LIL’JORDAN HUMPHREY. They are both tall, strong guys who overpower smaller DB’s and outrun most of the guys trying to cover them. They will both need to have a big day if Texas is to put up enough points to outscore Oklahoma. On the other side of the field, Oklahoma features JR WR MARQUISE BROWN, #5, who is slight, (5’10/168), but is said to run in the low 4.3? range. And yes, he looks that fast out on the field, as well as quick.
The Sooners OL features serious pro prospects at both OG slots in #75 DRU SAMIA, and #72 BEN POWERS, both 300+ pounders who can move. Their Defense is so bad, it cost DC MIKE STOOPS his job last month, but they don’t look any better under Ruffin McNeill. I can’t recommend any serious prospects from that D, but the Sooners have one of the strongest legged kickers in the country in AUSTIN SEIBERT, #43, who handles Punts, (not that they Punt very often), Placekicks, and Kickoffs.
The Longhorns have a plethora of Draft eligible players of note, (mostly on Defense), although a healthy ANDREW BECK/TE, #47, has been a nice alternate weapon this season, as a change of pace option to the star wideouts. The Longhorns front-3 may all get drafted next April. BRECKYN HAGER, #44, CHARLES OMENIHU, #90, and CHRIS NELSON, #97, are all pro-size, with HAGER being the spark plug and emotional leader of the defensive unit. If you can’t quite read HAGER’s number 44, you’ll still know it’s him because he looks a bit like CLAY MATTHEWS, with his long flowing, golden locks spilling out from under his helmet. They also feature two very good prospects on the Corners, in #2 KRIS BOYD, and #18 DAVANTE DAVIS, (JR). Both of these guys are at least 6′ tall, and at, or over, 200 lbs.
I like the Sooners to get their revenge, and win this one by a field goal. This looks like a close second to ‘Bama/Georgia, as a must watch game.
ACC Championship Game Charlotte, NC Saturday 8PM/ET ABC
CLEMSON (12-0) vs. PITT (7-5)
With all due respect to PITT, (which was 3-4 in mid-October, then won 4 in a row to capture the ACC Coastal Division), this game looks like little more than a warmup for Clemson, on their way to the Final Four, and an ultimate matchup with ‘Bama. I’ll bet DABO is losing sleep trying to figure out how to not let his team lose their concentration and edge in this one. I believe they will be ready. Tickets online are available for this one, for as low as $28.
PITT does have some pro prospects who will be toiling in this game. It may not be glamorous, but perhaps the best FB in the 2019 Draft Class is their FB, GEORGE ASTON, #35. RB QADREE OLLISON, #37, is a powerful, hard charging player, who should be a Day Three draftee. On Defense, DE DEWAYNE HENDRIX had his best season as a senior after beefing up to 275 lbs, but he may miss this game. LB OLUWASEUN IDOWU is a tackling machine, and likely will get an NFL contract as an URFA.
Clemson almost has an embarrassment of riches all over the field. I am not going to speculate on which of their Juniors might declare, but I will tell you that the entire DL group is heading to the NFL, and may all be drafted before Round 2 is completed, next April.
Just in case you’ve been in a cave all season until now, their DL group consists of: #99 CLELIN FERRELL/DE, #42 CHRISTIAN WILKINS/DT, #90 DEXTER LAWRENCE/DT, and #7 AUSTIN BRYANT/DE. Two other seniors on their D who deserve a watch are: #34 KENDALL JOSEPH/LB, and #2 MARK FIELDS/CB, who will likely be Day Three guys.
The Offense is even younger than their D, but OT MITCH HYATT has been a quality starter since his frosh year. Ring him up as a Round 3 Pick. And don’t forget former walk-on WR HUNTER RENFROW, #13, who reminds me a lot of former Tigers wideout ADAM HUMPHRIES, who now plays in the NFL for the BUCS.
PITT is a feisty crew and they play tough, but this is a mismatch. Expect a double digit victory for Clemson, and give PITT a lot of credit if they hang in there by anything less than 10 points at the half.
Pigskin
