Alamo Bowl Preview: Oregon vs. TCU

Saturday, Jan. 2 at 6:45 p.m. ET
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

The Alamo Bowl features two offensively explosive teams who finished their season in very different ways.

Oregon looked to have felt the effects of losing last year's Heisman winner Marcus Mariota, starting the season 3-3. But since the Ducks lost to Washington State on Oct. 10, they have been one of the hottest teams in college football, winning six straight to finish out the regular season, including victories over USC and Stanford.

On the other side, TCU began the season looking to prove that it should've made last year's playoff, winning the first eight games of the year. However, injuries to the Horned Frogs' two big stars, quarterback Trevone Boykin and receiver Josh Doctson, led to a 2-2 record over their last four games.

With both Boykin now suspended for the game, though, it could be advantage Vernon Adams Jr. and the Ducks' high-flying offense.

HOW THEY STACK UP:

Oregon
Record: 9-3
College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 15
Points per game: 43.2 (5th)
Points against per game: 36.8 (113th)
Total Offense: 548.2 yards per game (4th)
Passing Yards: 260.4 (35th)
Rushing Yards: 287.8 (5th)
Total Defense: 480.3 (115th)
Passing Yards Allowed: 301.2 (125th)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 179.2 (74th)
Turnover Differential: +5 (T-33rd)

TCU
Record: 10-2
College Football Playoff Rankings: No. 11
Points per game: 41.7 (8th)
Points against per game: 26.1 (T-57th)
Total Offense: 564.3 yards per game (3rd)
Passing Yards: 345.5 (8th)
Rushing Yards: 218.8 (24th)
Total Defense: 396.7 (64th)
Passing Yards Allowed: 214.3 (53rd)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 182.3 (80th)
Turnover Differential: 0 (T-67th)

WHY OREGON COULD WIN: Though Oregon started the season slow, lately it has been one of the hottest teams in college football, mainly because no one has been able to stop the Ducks' offense. Led by Adams, the offense is balanced and has the ability to rip off a big play at any point in the game. Which, for TCU isn't a good thing, since the Horned Frogs have allowed 21 plays of 40 yards or more.

WHY TCU COULD WIN: The Frogs struggled late in the year in part because of the absence of Boykin and Doctson, but even with both of them not in the lineup, they still have a shot against the Ducks. Oregon's defense has been brutal this season, allowing opponents to pick up more than six yards per play and are ranked 125th out of 127 FBS teams against the pass.

IMPACT PLAYER TO WATCH: VERNON ADAMS JR., QB, OREGON

Oregon stumbled when Adams was sidelined with a finger injury, but once he was healthy there was no stopping the Ducks. The senior led his team to six straight wins to close out the season, while throwing 21 touchdowns and just four interceptions over that span. Had he been healthy all season, the Ducks could have easily been in the national title conversation.

With TCU's average defense and habit of giving up big plays, Adams figures to be in for a big day against the Horned Frogs.