The Orange Bowl Preview pits the Mountaineers of West Virginia against the Clemson Tigers, and SportsOptions.com offers up a brief look at the players, team stats and some unique trends.
(261) W VIRGINIA vs. (262) CLEMSON (-3, 62.5) 8:30 PM – BCS – Orange Bowl – Sun Life Stadium – Miami, FL
West Virginia (9-3 SU/6-6 ATS) earned its bid by winning a share of the Big East title in coach Dana Holgorsen’s first season guiding the Mountaineers. WVU defeated Cincinnati, Pitt and USF in its final three regular season games to capture its third BCS bowl appearance since 2006, and its first since 2008. The 23rd-ranked Mountaineers are making their sixth major bowl appearance in school history. QB Geno Smith, a Miami-area native, has already broken single-season school records for attempts (483), completions (314) and total passing yards (3,978) with one game remaining. The Mountaineers rank 7th in passing with 342 ypg and 17th in total offense with 459 ypg, while the defense allows 340 ypg (#27). Smith is ninth in the nation in total offense with 326 ypg and the dynamic quarterback has thrown just seven interceptions all season. Stedman Bailey is the team’s greatest deep threat, catching 67 passes for a school-record 1,197 yards with 11 touchdowns. Tavon Austin, often used in the slot, ranks among the national leaders with 89 receptions and averages 191.2 all-purpose yards per game – which is second in the nation. He is one of the country’s premier kickoff returners, averaging 26.5 yards per return.
Clemson (10-3 SU/8-5 ATS)will enter the Discover Orange Bowl coming off a 38-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game. That victory gave Clemson a 10-3 record overall and a #15 ranking in the BCS. It also ties for Clemson’s highest final ranking in the BCS. The Tigers were also ranked 15th in the final 2007 BCS ranking. Tajh Boyd leads Clemson’s fast-paced offense that averaged a robust 440 ypg (#29) and 33.6 ppg (# 26). Boyd is 18th in total offense yards per game with a school record total yards this season. He has plenty of weapons at his disposal. Leading the way are tight end Dwayne Allen, freshman receiver Sammy Watkins – both named to the AP All-America Team – and tailback Andre Ellington. Allen was named first-team All-ACC and also won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end. He has 48 receptions for 577 yards and eight touchdowns – which are all school records. Watkins caught 77 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 TDs, while Ellington rushed for 1,062 yards and 10 scores. Clemson has a 1,000-yard rusher and receiver in the same season for just the third time in school history. Clemson will make their 34th appearance in a bowl game, the seventh consecutive year the Tigers have been selected. Clemson has 16 career bowl victories, tied for 18th best in college football history. Reaching a BCS bowl didn’t seem likely for West Virginia after a loss to Louisville on Nov. 5 dropped their record to 6-3, but the Mountaineers closed with three straight wins by a combined seven points, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit in each. That earned them a share of the Big East title and, eventually, their first Orange Bowl bid. Clemson is West Virginia’s fourth straight – and fourth different – ACC bowl opponent.
The Mountaineers, who are seeking to improve to 3-0 in BCS bowls, lost 23-7 to North Carolina State in the 2010 Champs Sports Bowl. The Tigers defeated West Virginia, 27-7, in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 30, 1989, in the only previous meeting between these teams. Clemson is 1-5 ATS as a favorite in bowl games and 4-10 ATS in their last 14 bowl games overall. WV is no bargain either, as the Mountaineers are 4-11 in the postseason, and they have historically struggled against ACC teams (9-20 ATS)
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