FSU football: 3 keys to defeating Oklahoma in Cheez-It Bowl
By Kelvin Hunt
Get Pressure On Oklahoma’s QB
The Oklahoma Sooners have the No. 28 ranked offense, according to FEI advanced metrics. They average 33 points per game and 6.27 yards per play.
However, they have an interesting dilemma with their starting running back, Eric Gray, and at least two offensive linemen opting out of the bowl game.
Gray was a senior and 1,000-yard rusher, with the next highest guy being a name that might be familiar with FSU recruiting folks.
Freshman Jovantae Barnes rushed for 411 yards and four touchdowns. The guy with the third-highest amount of rushes was quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
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Oklahoma was identical to FSU this season with a 57 percent to 43 percent run versus pass ratio. However, I expect Gabriel will have to put the ball in the air a bit more for any shot to win.
Oklahoma didn’t allow a ton of tackles for loss(64) and allowed 26 sacks, but they didn’t face a ton of great defenses, either. FSU was No. 25 nationally with 34 sacks and allowed 3.92 yards per rush.
Oklahoma playing without two starters on the offensive line will be a factor, and FSU should be in the backfield quite a bit in this game. Oklahoma receivers have struggled against man coverage, and forcing Gabriel to make decisions under pressure will play in FSU’s favor.