The 2021 Valero Alamo Bowl features the 10-3 Oregon Ducks against the 10-2 Oklahoma Sooners. Here is the 2021 Valero Alamo Bowl Preview.
Oregon Ducks (10-3)
Oregon won nine games, but will be without head coach Marion Cristobal, who left for Miami. They defeated three bowl-eligible teams, including Ohio State. They have one loss to a non-bowl eligible team in Stanford.
The Ducks score 31.4 points per game, which ranks them 45th in the country. They rush for 203.2 yards (ranked 23rd) and pass for 214.8 yards per game (ranked 83rd).
Anthony Brown has been at quarterback for the Ducks this season. He has passed for 2,683 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions on 63.7 percent completion. Four pass-catchers have at least 300 receiving yards on the season. Devon Williams leads the team with 35 catches for 557 yards and four touchdowns. Their second-leading receiver is running back Travis Dye who has 41 catches for 374 yards and two touchdowns.
Dye has taken over at running back after C.J. Verdell went down with an injury. He has rushed for 1,118 yards and 15 touchdowns. Brown has been the second-leading rusher from the quarterback position with 637 yards and nine touchdowns.
The defense allows 25.5 points, which ranks 60th in the country. They concede 130.5 rushing yards (ranked 37th) and 241.4 passing yards per game (ranked 88th). Defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux is the best player on the team, but has opted out of this bowl game. Linebacker Noah Sewell, Penei’s brother, has led the team in tackles with 104. Safety Verone McKinley has been a star in the secondary with six passes defended and six interceptions.
Oklahoma Sooners (10-2)
Oklahoma will also be without their head coach in Lincoln Riley after winning 10 games. They defeated four bowl-eligible teams this season. Both of their losses came to teams who made bowl games.
The Sooners score 38.3 points per game, tying them for 10th in the country. They rush for 176.3 yards (ranked 54th) and pass for 265.2 yards per game (ranked 31st).
Spencer Rattler entered the season as the preseason Heisman favorite, but Caleb Williams took over at quarterback and Rattler transferred. Williams has passed for 1,670 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions on 62.5 percent completion. Six pass-catchers have over 200 receiving yards this season. Their leading receiver is Marvin Mims, who has 648 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Jadon Haselwood decided to transfer to Arkansas. Michael Woods II and Mario Williams and Jeremiah Hall all have over 300 receiving yards and will need to step up in Haselwood’s place.
After sitting out the 2020 season, Kennedy Brooks returned to the lineup as the starting running back. He rushed for 1,111 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Williams is the team’s second-leading rusher with 408 yards and six touchdowns. Tennessee-transfer Eric Gray has chipped in with 330 yards and two touchdowns.
The Sooners allow 25.3 points per game, tying them for 56th in the country. They give up 123.8 rushing yards (ranked 24th) and 258.1 passing yards per game (ranked 108th). Linebacker Brian Asamoah leads the team with 80 total tackles. Nik Bonitto and Isaiah Thomas are tied for the team lead with seven sacks. Both players have opted out of this game though. Safety Delarrin Turner-Yell has patrolled the field well with three interceptions.
Prediction
Oklahoma losing the coaching staff, transfers and players opting out will ultimately be too much to overcome. Oregon should be able to run the ball effectively against an Oklahoma defensive front that has several players opting out.
Oregon Ducks 35 Oklahoma Sooners 31
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