The selection process and controversy of the College Football Playoff series go hand in hand, but the six-year-olds of the New Year with teams on the outside who are on the lookout usually offer the most convincing games. That was the case this season, and the Cotton Bowl between 6 Oklahoma and 7 Florida could eventually become the best game of all, as those are two teams that would be a great game for each other. The Sooners are one of the most popular teams in college football, having won a top-10 defense over the past few months. The Gators, meanwhile, have the country’s best offense with weapons across the field.
Oklahoma is looking for its first post-season victory since the 2017 Sugar Bowl against Auburn. The Sooners have reached the semifinals of the playoffs for the past three years, but have lost time and time again. Florida is hoping for its third consecutive victory under coach Dan Mullen, as well as its third consecutive season at the end of the season in the top 10 of the rankings.
Surprisingly, these two historically relevant programs met just once before this game. That was back in 2009 when Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer led the Gators to their most recent national championship over Sam Bradford and Bob Stoops in the Orange Bowl. Will the Gators get another win over the Sooners in Texas? Let’s take a look at the adjustments and storylines we need to follow before making some expert choices, straight and against the spread.
Stories
Florida: Exclusions were a big part of the 2020 season, both in the regular season and in the game in the coming. You could argue that no individual for a team is bigger than Kyle Pitts. In just eight games, Pitts received 770 yards – averaging nearly 100 yards per game and 18 yards per catch – and 12 touchdowns. He was the definition of the textbook of a mismatch for defense. However, he has the opportunity to be an NFL draft in the first round of the first round, so his decision to leave early and skip the pickup makes sense. Kadarius Toney has emerged as a legitimate WR1, but he is also out. So did Trevon Grimes and Jacob Copeland. Who is the impact catcher in this game?
Oklahoma: The Sooners defense arrived strong in the second half of the season, but Florida will be by far the toughest offense. Oklahoma has a good balance between the fights with defensive lines Ronnie Perkins and Isaiah Thomas, along with linebacker Nik Bonitto. At the back, defensive backs Tre Brown and Brendan Radley-Hiles play strict coverage. Defense coordinator Alex Grinch did an excellent job. The delay in Florida’s elite offense and getting pressure on quarterback Kyle Trask is the key to victory.
Do you want more college football in your life? Listen below and subscribe to the Cover 3 College Football podcast for the best insight and off-grid analysis, including a full preview and expert selection of the Cotton Bowl below.
View information
Games: Cotton bowl
Date: Wednesday 30 December | Time: 20:00 ET
Location: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Cotton Bowl prediction, pick up
Last chance:
Florida Gators +7.5
Florida is about a field goal favorite. The real test of whether Oklahoma can win is if the defense meets the challenge. Offensively, Oklahoma is still good, but a little less consistent than in the past. Getting Rhamondre Stevenson up and running is critical to controlling the game. Yes, points will be scored, but the Oklahoma defense must do enough to stop things from getting out of hand. It may even be enough to achieve the direct victory. Choose: Oklahoma +3 | Oklahoma 37, Florida 34
So who wins Florida against Oklahoma? And which side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which way to go, all from the model on a 56-36 run on top-rated college football picks this season.