Boomer's 2012 Orange Bowl Preview

Preview: 2012 Orange Bowl 78^th edition “South Beach Thriller”

            Date/Time: January 4, 2012 8:30 PM (EST)

            West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Clemson Tigers Favorite: Clemson by 3.5

                                    (9-3)                              (10-3)

            All-Time Series: Clemson 1-0 (Last: 1989 Gator Bowl, Tigers 27-7)

Boomer’s Four Keys on squeezing the “Oranges”:

1)     Geno Smith vs. Tajh Boyd

Lets first start off talking about Geno Smith. Leader of the Mountaineers offense, Geno accounted for 3,978 passing yards (8^th in the nation) throwing 25 TD’s (26th in the nation) to only 9 INT’s. Standing 6’3’’ 214 lbs., he uses his height and strength to direct a Passing Attack that ranks 7^th in the nation (342 yards/per game). Tajh, (could you get two better first names to match-up) in his first season as the Tigers starting QB directed the Tigers offense to 441 offensive total yards per/game (27^th in the nation). Tajh’s individual numbers were up there as well, 3,578 passing yards and 31 TD’s (12^th in the nation, 11^th in the nation). I’m picking youth over experience in this match-up.

Advantage: Clemson

2)     WVU WR’s vs. Clemson Secondary

In an offense that passed the ball for 342 yards a game, the Mountaineers had two WR’s reach the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Leading the Mountaineers in receiving, Stedman Bailey had 1,197 rec. yards (WVU school record) and 11 TD’s (19^th in the nation, 15^th in the nation). Right behind Bailey the Mountaineers #2 WR Tavon Austin had 1,063 yards (32^nd in the nation) and 4 TD’s. It will be interesting to watch this game and see if these two guys have big games against a unit that gave up 203 passing yards per/game (35^th in the nation) and had 13 interceptions (1 per/game). It will be tough for the Tigers to take both receivers out of the game. Advantage: West Virginia

3)     Clemson WR’s vs. WVU Secondary

On the flip side, the Tigers also have some athletic receivers on the outside. Led by frosh phenom Sammy Watkins, 1,153 receiving yards (23^rd in the nation) and 11 TD’s (15^th in the nation), Tigers offense had three receivers with 500-plus yards on the season. West Virginia has had trouble in the passing game giving up 200-plus yards 6 times this season. In a game that I feel will have a lot of scoring, defense’s will struggle on both sides. Advantage: Clemson

4)     Dana Holgorsen vs. Dabo Swinney

Dana Holgorsen, in his 1^st season as West Virginia’s Head Coach, led WVU to its 7^th Big East Championship. Coach Holgorsen came over from Oklahoma State were he was the offensive coordinator. Coach Holgorsen, Mountaineers didn’t have a problem scoring points 35 points per/game (19^th in the nation). However, the Mountaineers defense gave up almost just as many 26.3 points per/game (62^nd in the nation). On the other side of the field, Dabo Swinney led the Tigers to their 14^th ACC championship (First since 1991). Dabo is 1-2 in bowl games, after taking over for Tommy Bowden mid-way through the 2008 season.  Coach Swinney’s offense scores 34 points per/game (24^th in the nation) while the defense gives up almost as many 26.2 points per game (61^st in the nation). It will be interesting to see how each Head Coach handles coaching in their 1^st BCS bowl games. Advantage: Toss-Up

Prediction: Clemson 37, West Virginia 34. (Side note MNF crew will be doing the play-by-play of this game, love me some Tirico, Jaworski, and Gruden.)