In case you didn't notice, and of course I will call it to your attention, I was 3-0 Monday straight up and against the spread. The overall record for three days of bowl picks stands at 6-5 against the spread and 8-3 straight up.
Clemson was simply amazing against shell-shocked Oklahoma. Clemson quarterback Cole Stoudt rose from the ashes and played the finest game of his career. He absorbed a lot of criticism, some of it extremely hateful from the lunatic fringe, but he just kept working. The coaching staff tried to tell us Stoudt did some excellent work during the bowl practices, but a lot of us just didn't believe it. His effort in the Georgia Tech game was still burned too deeply in our brains. But somehow, some way, the change in the offensive coaching staff -- Jeff Scott and Tony Elliott, co-coordinators; and Brandon Streeter, quarterbacks coach -- had a positive effect on Stoudt. Stoudt managed the game. He threw the ball to the right spots. His TD throw to Germone Hopper was the best of his career. He made a nice fake on a touchdown run. His final numbers -- 26-for-36 for 319 yards and three touchdowns -- were terrific. What an effort. What a way to finish a career. It was workman like. It was efficient. I rank Stoudt's performance as one of the best games ever by a Clemson quarterback because it was so unexpected. We can all learn one thing from Stoudt -- don't quit, don't ever quit.
We knew the Clemson defense was good. We didn't know it was that good. The Tigers limited the Sooners to 273 total yards and forced five turnovers. Oklahoma star freshman running back Samaje Perine rushed for 134 yards -- three yards above his average -- but he was never a factor. By the time, he broke a couple of runs, the game had been decided. The Tigers showed why they are the nation's No. 1 defense. It was a dominating performance. Clemson was agile, mobile, and hostile. The Sooners never had a chance. The 34-point margin of defeat was the second worst suffered by Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops.
That's 42 victories in four seasons for the Tigers -- four straight seasons with 10 wins or more. The last three bowls the Tigers have beaten LSU, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has said his goals include building a consistent program that competes with the nation's best programs. I think he's done that and then some. The 2015 signing class will bring some serious talent to Clemson. There will be plenty of weapons on offense next season. Deshawn Watson will be back at quarterback and he will direct an attack that will send a lot of opposing defensive coordinators into deep depressions. If the injury bug stays away, it is easy to see a record-setting offense at Clemson in '15. On defense, the Tigers lose a lot of solid players up front, but there are others waiting for their opportunity. The Tigers probably won't be the nation's No. 1 defense again, but they will be good enough to compete with anybody in the country.
Coming off an undefeated Monday, let's look at Tuesday's bowl selections. And as they say, these selections are for entertainment purposes only.
Music City Bowl
Notre Dame vs. LSU (-7.5)
Neither of these teams expected to end up in Nashville but this is where they landed. There has been some push back from the Nashville media telling the teams that if they don't want to be in the Music City, go home. The Irish enter this game on bad skid. They have lost four straight and have allowed an average of 44.5 points per game in those four losses. The Irish are having serious issues at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Malik Zaire is going to start the game instead of South Carolina native Everette Golson. It is awfully late in the season to be having a quarterback controversy.
LSU has won four of its last six. The two losses were in overtime to Alabama and a 17-0 setback at Arkansas. Head coach Les Miles isn't going to Michigan, so the LSU fans can relax. I like Miles' style. Eat grass and throw caution to the wind. When it is all over, the Irish will be singing a sad country song. Take the Bayou Bengals and give the points.
Belk Bowl
Louisville vs. Georgia (-7.0)
Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was run out of Athens. There is nothing he would like better than to beat the Bulldogs. Mike Bobo has bolted to Colorado State to be the head coach, so Georgia enters the game without an offensive coordinator. I expect Georgia's game plan will include heavy use of freshman running back Nick Chubb. Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino, considered one of the best offensive coaches in college football, has had a month to prepare for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs did not win the SEC East, lost to Georgia Tech in overtime, and did not get to use all of their bowl practices. I think Louisville will be more excited to be in Charlotte. Take the Cardinals and the points.
Foster Farms Bowl
Maryland vs. Stanford (-14.0)
This is a new bowl at the 49ers Stadium in Santa Clara. This spread seems high. I guess the bookies expect the cross-country trip to be a difficult one for the Terps. Stanford's defense is stout, really stout. The Cardinal allowed just 16 points per game and just two opponents scored more than 17 points in regulation against the Stanford defense. Maryland's offense revolves around quarterback C.J. Brown, who leads the Terps in both passing and rushing. Stanford has won two straight. Maryland blew a 25-point lead in its regular-season finale against Rutgers. The Cardinal defense will be too much. The spread is high, but I will give the points. I expect the Cardinal to roll.
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