SEC teams can exploit these weaknesses against bowl opponents

As the nine SEC teams playing in bowls fit game preparation around holiday celebrations and, often, final exams, there are some fine opponents to get ready for. We have already ranked the quarterbacks, the best offenses and the best non-QBs each SEC team must contend with in the bowl season.

Of course, two SEC teams are in College Football Playoff semifinals, so right off the top two of the top four teams in the country — Clemson and Oklahoma — are on the docket. And ranked teams such as Notre Dame, UCF and Northwestern also await SEC opponents during the 40-game bowl cornucopia.

But each of those opponents has at least one weakness. And coaches at SEC programs no doubt are spending extra time figuring out how to exploit those and maximize opportunities.

Those coaches don’t need our help, but nonetheless here are the leading weaknesses which each team facing an SEC opponent over the holiday season has shown in 2017:

Clemson (vs. Alabama): Kicking/punting

The Tigers have a lot of weapons on offense and defense heading into the Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, New Orleans), as the Crimson Tide will know well from meetings in the past two CFP championships. But when toe meets leather, Clemson isn’t as sound. To be fair, starting junior kicker Greg Huegel tore his ACL in September and is out for the season. Replacement Alex Spence has missed two extra points (41-for-43) and is 7-for-12 (58.3 percent) on field goals. He’s just 2-for-7 on attempts beyond 30 yards. Clemson is also ranked 103rd in the country in net punting with a 36.8 average.

Louisville (vs. Mississippi State): Returns

For all of the yards its offense churns out, Louisville has lacked a spark on kickoff and punt returns all season. The Cardinals are 95th in the country in kickoff returns (19.7-yard average) and 107th in punt returns (5.0 average). Neither unit has a touchdown return. Mississippi State will hope that the Cards won’t find a way to get one in the TaxSlayer Bowl (Dec. 30, Jacksonville, Fla.) because the Bulldogs will have enough on their hands trying to contain Lamar Jackson and the Louisville offense.

Michigan (vs. South Carolina): Offense

This won’t come as a shock to anybody who has seen the Wolverines even a little bit this season. Michigan is ranked 102nd in the country in passing, so it’s small wonder the Wolverines are also 105th in third-down conversions (60-for-173, 34.7 percent) and 87th in scoring at 25.8 points a game. Brandon Peters, who took the starting job midway through the season but missed the regular-season finale against Ohio State with an injury, will start against the Gamecocks Jan. 1 in the Outback Bowl in Tampa.

Notre Dame (vs. LSU): Getting to the QB

The Fighting Irish have few weaknesses heading into the Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla., ranking well in most offensive and defensive categories. Notre Dame is 104th in the nation in passing but with a quarterback who runs as well as Brandon Wimbush and especially with such a strong offensive line, the Fighting Irish won’t worry much about that. But being ranked 85th in sacks (22) has been a problem; against Miami on Nov. 11, Notre Dame didn’t have a sack and the Hurricanes cashed in with 374 total yards and nearly 34 minutes of possession in a 41-8 victory.

Northwestern (vs. Kentucky): Pass defense

Northwestern ranks No. 100 in pass defense (247.6 yards per game) but Kentucky is not a great passing team. The SEC’s Wildcats might want to work up a few passing plays that they feel comfortable with heading into the Music City Bowl (Dec. 29, Nashville) against the Big Ten’s Wildcats. Only three teams passed for more than 300 yards against Northwestern, but the teams that defeated Evanston’s finest were efficient: Duke, Wisconsin and Penn State combined to complete 65.1 percent — 69-for-106 — of their passes.

Oklahoma (vs. Georgia): Staying cool

The Sooners have the top total offense in the land, starring Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. But, like Louisville, Oklahoma has not generated much on special teams, ranking 96th in the country in both kickoff and punt returns. But Oklahoma’s worst ranking is in penalty yards at 109th (803 total yards) and Mayfield drew some heat for making an obscene gesture on the sidelines in a victory against Kansas.

Mayfield missed the opening series in the following game, though that turned out to be two plays. Oklahoma will need to stay patient in the Rose Bowl (Jan. 1, Pasadena, Calif.) because the Sooners won’t want to give the run-happy Georgia offense any cheap first downs.

Texas (vs. Missouri): Pass defense

Boy, is this bad news for Longhorns fans. Yes, Texas plays in the pass-oriented Big 12 so its statistical success defending air attacks is bound to be sparse. Sure enough, even with All-American safety DeShon Elliott, Texas is 108th in the country in pass defense, allowing 257.9 yards a game. And in the Texas Bowl, on Dec. 27 in Houston, the Longhorns will face the one SEC quarterback whose production most resembles that of a Big 12 quarterback: Missouri’s Drew Lock, who will attempt to add to his SEC single-season TD mark (43).

UCF (vs. Auburn): Defense

Much like Texas, this comes with a caveat because the Knights reside in another conference where offense is king, the American. In its past two games alone UCF has faced two of the top 10 total offenses in the FBS, No. 4 Memphis and No. 9 USF. And UCF puts up nearly 50 points a game, so its defense is often back on the field so fast that it barely gets time for a breather.

UCF is 93rd in total defense, allowing 429 yards a game, 11th in pass defense at 262.8 ypg and is tied for 92nd in sacks with just 21. Auburn might also get a free first down or two in the Peach Bowl, Jan. 1 in Atlanta, because the Knights have committed 940 yards in penalties. Only four teams have given away more penalty yards.

Wake Forest (vs. Texas A&M): Defense

The Demon Deacons had a rough time stopping opponents this season any way you slice it. Heading into the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 29, Wake Forest is ranked 107th in total defense (444 yards per game); 104th in passing defense (256.6 ypg) and 93rd at stopping the run (191.7 ypg). It’s frankly a bit surprising that the Demon Deacons are in the middle of the pack in scoring defense, allowing 26.3 points a game to rank 62nd — 19 spots better than the Aggies (28.7 ppg), in fact. But Texas A&M might be able to sustain drives because Wake is 112th in first downs allowed at 23.4 per game.

Jim Tomlin

Longtime newspaper veteran Jim Tomlin is a copy editor and writer with SaturdayDownSouth.com.