Only one ticket to the National Championship Game is up for grabs in the Peach Bowl, and that will be contested by the Oklahoma Sooners and the LSU Tigers, who are both led by electrifying quarterbacks. Will Jalen Hurts make another appearance at the national title game, this time with another team? Or will Joe Burrow add more to his legend by taking the Tigers to the grandest stage in college football?
Betting on the Oklahoma Sooners (21-1 Overall/8-1 Conference)
Many would say that the Sooners are bracing for Joe Burrow, but it’s also fair to say the opposite — that it’s LSU that is more wary of their opponent in the Peach Bowl. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been fantastic this season. The former Alabama Crimson Tide `has 3,634 passing yards and 32 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. But aside from the great stats he’s put up this season, Hurts will be banking on his experience in the LSU game. Hurts know first-hand what it takes to win in such a big stage, having been part of Alabama’s championship team in 2017. Moreover, Hurts has played in three College Football games before, so the atmosphere in the Peach Bowl shouldn’t be an issue for him, which is a big factor, as his familiarity with the gravity of the contest will help him make better decisions. He’s also a dual-threat signal-caller who leads the Sooners with 1,255 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.
The Sooners are seventh nationally with 41.0 points per game. The under is 4-0 in their last four games overall.
Betting on the LSU Tigers (13-0 Overall / 8-0 Conference)
Sure, the Sooners have Hurts, but the Tigers have the best of them all in Joe Burrow. He’s got the hardware to prove he’s the best quarterback in the nation, as he’s just been recently named the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner. Burrow is having a magical season in Baton Rouge. He enters the Peach Bowl with 4,715 passing yards and 48 touchdowns against only six interceptions. He’s maximizing the Tigers’ talented wide receiver combo of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, both of whom are going to be a handful for Oklahoma’s pass defense. The Sooners’ defense against the pass has performed well against quality Big 12 teams, but Burrow has also passed the test against elite teams with formidable defenses like the Florida Gators, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Georgia Bulldogs. Against Georgia in the SEC title game, Burrow threw for 349 passing yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. What’s more, LSU’s defense is peaking right now. The Tigers are allowing 21.8 points per game this season, but over their last three games, they have only given up 12.3.
The Tigers are 3-1-1 ATS (against the spread) in their last four games.
