Two questions for the Sugar Bowl

If it wasn't for a rocky start for Oklahoma, the Sooners very well could have found themselves in the College Football Playoff. After losing two of their first three games of the season, a shocking loss to a good Houston team in the opener and a shellacking at the hands of Ohio State in Week 3, they won their last nine games and enter the Sugar Bowl as one of the hottest teams in the country.

Auburn also dropped two of its first three games, but unlike the Sooners, the Tigers were unable to win out, ending their regular season the same way it started, losing two of three, sandwiching a blowout cupcake victory between low-scoring losses to Georgia and Alabama.

Sugar Bowl
Auburn (8-4, SEC) vs. Oklahoma (10-2, Big 12)
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Time: Monday, Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT
Channel: ESPN

This game feels like a a gimme for the Sooners to many procrastinators. What about the Tigers should worry Oklahoma?

Shiloh Carder: Look, this Tigers defense has been great this year. They've faced some pretty good offenses, and the most points they've given up all year is 30 to Alabama. Still, that Bama game was the last one they played, and the Oklahoma offense they will be facing is on a roll. When your offense sends two of the five Heisman finalists to New York, you know you're potent.

Remember, this game will be played inside the Superdome, where the Sooners' speed will be on display.

Sam Greszes: You know that phrase about a cornered tiger?

Don't get me wrong, Oklahoma should win this game. But if the Sooners make the mistake of focusing only on Auburn's (admittedly fearsome) defensive front and don't prepare for Auburn's offensive attack, they'll be sunk. Keep in mind, this is going to be the first game in a long time during which QB Sean White and the entire Auburn backfield will be healthy. That should strike a bit of fear into the hearts of the Sooner faithful.

Daniel Tran : Kamryn Pettway. This kid is a bruiser and has the speed to run away from defensive backs. He has gained 1,123 yards on 185 rushing attempts this year and has been Auburn’s most consistent players on offense. His dynamic running style along with the offensive line’s ability to create lanes can spell danger for Oklahoma if they underestimate him.

All eyes will be on Baker Mayfield, but who are the under-the-radar players on both sides who can make a difference in this game?

Shiloh Carder: For Auburn, it's Sean White. The quarterback missed the last couple of games for the Tigers, and the offense suffered.

For Oklahoma, I know Joe Mixon has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late, but Samaje Perine is the guy to key on. Auburn's defense is just so good that if Perine can find a way to keep drives going and break some runs, it makes the Mayfield-Westbrook dynamic so tougher to deal with.

Sam Greszes: Hey, speak of the devil!

Watch for Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson, running backs for Auburn. Sure, they're not that under the radar — with a good performance in the game, Johnson could break the 1,000-yard mark — but if Auburn is going to win, both Pettway and Johnson are going to need to run effectively to open things up for Sean White to take advantage of Oklahoma's terrible pass defense.

Daniel Tran: His off-the-field conduct has been under a microscope, but Oklahoma's Joe Mixon has 1,632 yards from scrimmage with 13 touchdowns to his name. The Sooners will need him to keep Auburn honest on defense so Baker Mayfield can do his thing.

For Auburn, defensive lineman Carl Lawson can do a lot of damage if he can get pressure on Baker Mayfield. Trying to contain Mayfield is like trying to take a cloud and pin it down, but Carl Lawson has shown the ability get to the quarterback with his 9.5 sacks. If Auburn wants to shock oddsmakers, he will have to play a big part.

Mascot edge: You can learn all about what Sooners are here, but take note that both Boomer and Sooner are ponies, which doesn’t quite add up to the Sooner description. By default, I go Tigers, which may or may not have to do with my love for “Calvin and Hobbes.”