Discover Orange Bowl Tickets

2012 Discover Orange Bowl Preview The Clemson Tigers and West Virginia Mountaineers will clash in the Discover Orange Bowl on January 4 at 8:30 p.m.

Like the All-State Sugar Bowl, this is another matchup that lacks a lot of intrigue. Each team got here by way of winning the conference championship, but neither is considered a national powerhouse. In fact, both teams struggled mightily at various points in the season and are barely ranked.

Had Clemson not had Virginia Tech's number and beaten them for the second time this year in the ACC title game and West Virginia not won a tiebreaker based on their AP ranking, there's absolutely no chance either team would have qualified to play in a BCS bowl game.

The matchup to watch for in this game will be between the two quarterbacks. As Tajh Boyd goes, so goes Clemson. As Geno Smith goes, so goes West Virginia. Both quarterbacks are mobile and can make plays with their legs, and each is also susceptible to periods of inaccuracy throwing the ball.

The x-factor could prove to be West Virginia running back Tavon Austin. The Tigers, outside of their meetings with Virginia Tech, have really struggled to control the running game. Austin is one of the most explosive playmakers in the country either running the ball or catching it out of the backfield.

If Clemson can't contain Austin, he might have a monster game and carry the Mountaineers to a victory.

Prediction: West Virginia 34, Clemson 27