ScoopDuck Predictions: Alamo Bowl Edition

The countdown has begun. It’s almost game day for the final time this season.

Oregon and Oklahoma will ride into San Antonio with interim head coaches and take on each other. It figures to be one of the more interesting bowl matchups this season.

Below are our predictions on how it will play out. This week was not a clean sweep for the good guys and frankly I’m not super confident in my prediction.

But alas, I made it anyways.

Jarrid Denney: Oregon 35, Oklahoma 24

Call me an optimist, but I think there’s a few players and coaches on this Oregon team who are going to want to end their time with the program on a strong note. I’m picking the Ducks to close out a roller coaster season with a convincing win.

Anthony Brown and Joe Moorhead will close out their Oregon careers with a steady offensive performance, Tim DeRuyter still has enough talent on the defensive side to contain the Sooners. I’m expecting Troy Franklin, Jeffrey Bassa and a few others to deliver massive performances and set the tone for the future.

Joel Gunderson: Oklahoma 38, Oregon 27

Look, I want to be optimistic. I really do. And I’m VERY excited for the future. I think coach Lanning and his staff, both official and rumored, are going to take Oregon to places never before seen. 

But they’re not here yet. And the team that takes the field against Oklahoma will be a shell of both the Oregon team of 2021 and what we’ll see in 2022. 
I expect a gallant effort from Anthony brown in his final game as Oregon’s quarterback. Without a doubt, he’s sustained his share of criticism (both deserved and not) and he’ll look to go out on top.

However, even with the Sooners missing a whos-who of starters on defense, and with Joe Moorhead (hopefully) free from the Mario-shackles, this Oregon team has just been through too much. 

They’ll put up a fight. Probably their most spirited since Ohio state. And it will pay off down the road, with the extra practices and reps being significant for a large group of players taking on major roles in 2022. 

But the results won’t materialize on this night. The Sooners will prevail, sending Bob Stoops out a winner once again. 

Jhop: Oregon 31, Oklahoma 28

I don’t know, maybe I’m being optimistic. I think we’ll get an entertaining game. Sure, there will be mistakes, probably even some ugly stretches. But it will be entertaining nonetheless.

Both will be led by interim head coaches although Bob Stoops has a lot of experience. But that said, there will be distractions on both sides. This reminds me very much of the Vegas bowl Mario Cristobal inherited. The biggest difference is there won’t be a hungry Bryan Harsin-led Boise State on the other side of the ball.

I think Anthony Brown will play well. Well enough for Oregon to win. The Ducks should have a field day on the ground with him and the running backs. That’s the difference in this one for me.

Oregon grinds out a win in a very Mario Cristobal-like fashion.