Oregon vs. Oklahoma Alamo Bowl Picks and Odds Analysis
Oregon Ducks vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 9:15 p.m. ET (ESPN) at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
Oregon Coaching Changes
This season, Oregon was led by head coach Mario Cristobal, who accepted the head coaching gig at the University of Miami.
Cristobal will not stick around for this game.
Instead, Bryan McClendon will act as interim head coach for the Alamo Bowl. He served this year as the team's wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
Moreover, despite accepting the head coaching job at the University of Oregon, offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead will remain in this role for one last time.
Despite many of them making plans to move onto new programs, the remaining Duck coaches decided to coach alongside McClendon and Moorhead.
Oklahoma Coaching Changes
Oklahoma is dealing with a similar coaching situation at Oregon. But this does not inhibit one from deriving a strong betting angle from both teams' respective coaching situation because this similarity is less relevant to this bowl game.
Head coach Lincoln Riley has left for USC. His predecessor and long-time former Sooner head coach Bob Stoops will lead Oklahoma for this game.
Several former OU assistant coaches are following Riley to USC and are focusing on their futures at USC at the cost of leading Oklahoma.
One key absence will be defensive coordinator Alex Grinch who is largely responsible for the hype that the improved Sooner defense has received.
Coaching is an underrated aspect because we tend to focus on the players. But there is a reason why certain assistant coaches are sought out over others.
It looked uncertain whether the Sooners could even field a full coaching staff in light of these coaching departures.
Graduate assistants are having to step up as are other assistants on the offensive, defensive, and special teams levels.
Big Star Missing
Oregon will miss defensive end and superstar Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has already declared for the NFL Draft and could legitimately be selected first overall.
Thibodeaux arguably would have been the best player on the field. The unanimous All-American played in 11 games this season, accruing 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles in the process.
His absence was glaring. Stanford's game-typing drive at the end of regulation moved downfield because Thibodeaux had to leave due to a targeting call.
Without having to deal with Thibodeaux, the Cardinal offensive line remained sufficiently composed. It stopped committing false starts and could finally provide adequate pass protection.
One may counter that Thibodeaux did not play against Ohio State and that, therefore, Oregon should have no problem beating another high-profile team without him.
However, the Ducks did not win that game because of their defense.
Buckeye quarterback CJ Stroud dropped back 54 times and was only sacked twice and hurried once.
Absent Duck pass pressure allowed him to amass 484 passing yards and three touchdowns to one interception in his second ever college football game which followed a nervy showing against Minnesota.
Buckeye running backs also benefitted with TreVeyon Henderson accomplishing 4.5 YPC and Miyan Williams 5.5.
Other Missing Players
Other player absences will affect both teams on the defensive end.
For Oklahoma, linebacker Nik Bonitto, defensive end Isaiah Thomas, explosive defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, and linebacker Brian Asamoah have all opted out of the bowl game in order to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.
While all four guys are starters, one player worth highlighting is Thomas as he led OU with eight sacks and was second on the team with 11.5 tackles for loss.
As for the Ducks, top cornerback and well-decorated All-Pac 12 stud Mykael Wright opted out of this bowl game while fellow corner DJ James entered the transfer portal.
Key Offensive Players
While some Sooner pass-catchers hit the transfer portal, the team's leading wide receiver, Marvin Mims, will play.
Mims, with developing youngster Caleb Williams who amassed 18 touchdowns to four interceptions during the season and also posed a threat with his legs, will have a field day against a Duck secondary missing its best cornerbacks and its best source of pass rush.
Kennedy Brooks, who amassed 1,111 rushing yards on six YPC will also stay to provide offensive balance.
Oregon's offense is also taking this game seriously because, instead of initiating a youth movement at quarterback while looking to next year it elected to start Anthony Brown at quarterback in what will be the graduate transfer's final game.
With the absences in OU's front seven, a gladly run-heavy Oregon offense will face fewer obstacles.
Even without future NFL talent Devon Williams, the Ducks still have plenty of dangerous wide receivers. One noteworthy guy is former four-star recruit Kris Hutson who came on particularly strong at the end of the season, his freshman season.
The Verdict
Oregon will have a coaching edge for this game while both teams have the motivated and able offensive talents necessary to exploit both shorthanded defenses in order to create a high-scoring game.
Best Bet: Ducks +5 at -108 with Heritage & Over 61 at -108 with Heritage
Oregon Ducks vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 9:15 p.m. ET (ESPN) at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
Oregon Coaching Changes
This season, Oregon was led by head coach Mario Cristobal, who accepted the head coaching gig at the University of Miami.
Cristobal will not stick around for this game.
Instead, Bryan McClendon will act as interim head coach for the Alamo Bowl. He served this year as the team's wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
Moreover, despite accepting the head coaching job at the University of Oregon, offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead will remain in this role for one last time.
Despite many of them making plans to move onto new programs, the remaining Duck coaches decided to coach alongside McClendon and Moorhead.
Oklahoma Coaching Changes
Oklahoma is dealing with a similar coaching situation at Oregon. But this does not inhibit one from deriving a strong betting angle from both teams' respective coaching situation because this similarity is less relevant to this bowl game.
Head coach Lincoln Riley has left for USC. His predecessor and long-time former Sooner head coach Bob Stoops will lead Oklahoma for this game.
Several former OU assistant coaches are following Riley to USC and are focusing on their futures at USC at the cost of leading Oklahoma.
One key absence will be defensive coordinator Alex Grinch who is largely responsible for the hype that the improved Sooner defense has received.
Coaching is an underrated aspect because we tend to focus on the players. But there is a reason why certain assistant coaches are sought out over others.
It looked uncertain whether the Sooners could even field a full coaching staff in light of these coaching departures.
Graduate assistants are having to step up as are other assistants on the offensive, defensive, and special teams levels.
Big Star Missing
Oregon will miss defensive end and superstar Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has already declared for the NFL Draft and could legitimately be selected first overall.
Thibodeaux arguably would have been the best player on the field. The unanimous All-American played in 11 games this season, accruing 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles in the process.
His absence was glaring. Stanford's game-typing drive at the end of regulation moved downfield because Thibodeaux had to leave due to a targeting call.
Without having to deal with Thibodeaux, the Cardinal offensive line remained sufficiently composed. It stopped committing false starts and could finally provide adequate pass protection.
One may counter that Thibodeaux did not play against Ohio State and that, therefore, Oregon should have no problem beating another high-profile team without him.
However, the Ducks did not win that game because of their defense.
Buckeye quarterback CJ Stroud dropped back 54 times and was only sacked twice and hurried once.
Absent Duck pass pressure allowed him to amass 484 passing yards and three touchdowns to one interception in his second ever college football game which followed a nervy showing against Minnesota.
Buckeye running backs also benefitted with TreVeyon Henderson accomplishing 4.5 YPC and Miyan Williams 5.5.
Other Missing Players
Other player absences will affect both teams on the defensive end.
For Oklahoma, linebacker Nik Bonitto, defensive end Isaiah Thomas, explosive defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, and linebacker Brian Asamoah have all opted out of the bowl game in order to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.
While all four guys are starters, one player worth highlighting is Thomas as he led OU with eight sacks and was second on the team with 11.5 tackles for loss.
As for the Ducks, top cornerback and well-decorated All-Pac 12 stud Mykael Wright opted out of this bowl game while fellow corner DJ James entered the transfer portal.
Key Offensive Players
While some Sooner pass-catchers hit the transfer portal, the team's leading wide receiver, Marvin Mims, will play.
Mims, with developing youngster Caleb Williams who amassed 18 touchdowns to four interceptions during the season and also posed a threat with his legs, will have a field day against a Duck secondary missing its best cornerbacks and its best source of pass rush.
Kennedy Brooks, who amassed 1,111 rushing yards on six YPC will also stay to provide offensive balance.
Oregon's offense is also taking this game seriously because, instead of initiating a youth movement at quarterback while looking to next year it elected to start Anthony Brown at quarterback in what will be the graduate transfer's final game.
With the absences in OU's front seven, a gladly run-heavy Oregon offense will face fewer obstacles.
Even without future NFL talent Devon Williams, the Ducks still have plenty of dangerous wide receivers. One noteworthy guy is former four-star recruit Kris Hutson who came on particularly strong at the end of the season, his freshman season.
The Verdict
Oregon will have a coaching edge for this game while both teams have the motivated and able offensive talents necessary to exploit both shorthanded defenses in order to create a high-scoring game.
Best Bet: Ducks +5 at -108 with Heritage & Over 61 at -108 with Heritage
