Game Information
The 85th edition of the Cotton Bowl will take place on Wednesday, December 30. The first New Year’s Six bowl game this year will feature the #7 Florida Gators and the #6 Oklahoma Sooners.
Spread
Oklahoma -3
Over/Under
68.5
Preview
Outside of the playoff games, this is the most exciting bowl game of 2020. The last time these two teams met was in the 2008 BCS National Championship game. The Gators claimed the National title with a 24-14 victory over the Sooners.
Oklahoma
Despite an ugly start to the 2020 season for Oklahoma, the Sooners have turned their year around and made something out of it. Oklahoma started the season of 1-2 after back to back losses to Big12 opponents. With Freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler being faced with some early adversity there was a lot of doubt in the program.
At 1-2 the Sooners were down to Texas in the Red River showdown when head coach Lincoln Riley pulled Rattler out of the game. He eventually made a return to the game and the Sooners won 53-45 in overtime. Oklahoma has not lost a game since then.
The Sooners ended their regular season on a 6 game winning streak and went on to win the Big12 championship. Oklahoma turned the ship around and is looking like the Oklahoma we all know. Expect the Sooners to come ready to play Wednesday.
Florida
Florida has had some highs and lows this season. But the story for the Gators has been their perseverance. After a heartbreaking loss to LSU to end the regular season, you had to wonder where the motivation would go. They knew their playoff chances were lost.
However the very next week, Florida represented the SEC East in the SEC championship. They would face the best team in College Football, Alabama. Alabama was favored -16.5 in this one. Even though Florida would not make the playoffs, they made a statement only losing 52-46 and giving Alabama a scare.
Florida is such a tenacious, high-powered team. They will not quit. The Gators have something to prove this Cotton Bowl.
Florida’s Disadvantages
Three notable and key Gators playmakers will not be playing in this Cotton Bowl. First, star TE Kyle Pitts will not see action on Wednesday. WR Trevon Grimes and WR Kadarius Toney will both not be playing after they have declared for the draft.
Author’s Prediction
Florida- 42 Oklahoma- 38
This is going to be an extremely close offensive game between these top tier offenses. What Florida did against Alabama proved that the Gators belong in this game. The only thing that will play a factor in this game is all of the Florida opt outs. However, both outstanding quarterbacks will be leading their teams in Arlington, Texas.