Forget getting your football gambling advice from the so-called experts who make a living in Las Vegas. For the best predictions regarding this season’s Orange Bowl between Clemson and Ohio State, just ask a bottle-nosed marine mammal.
Flipper, a dolphin with a truly unique name, spends most of his day at the Miami Seaquarium just being a happy go-lucky dolphin, but every year around this time the football fates are put in his fins as he is asked to make a prediction on the upcoming Orange Bowl. This year Flipper put his perfect Orange Bowl record on the line by leaping out of the water and making contact with a giant ball with a Clemson logo on it. The ball with the Ohio State logo was untouched, so Flipper seems to be pretty set on the Tigers winning this year;s Orange Bowl. Otto the Orange was on hand to verify the pick.
Flipper put his UNDEFEATED record on the line today, selecting @ClemsonTigers as the winner! @MiamiSeaquarium pic.twitter.com/j5v1TeHI1D
— Orange Bowl (@OrangeBowl) December 19, 2013
Flipper has a perfect record going in to this season’s Orange Bowl. Prior to the 2011 Orange Bowl, Flipper picked Stanford to defeat Virginia Tech. The Cardinal were dominant in the victory over the Hokies, winning by a score of 40-12. Having been successful with the first pick, the Orange Bowl asked Flipper for one more pick the following year. Once again, Flipper came out on the right side of a blowout, picking West Virginia over Clemson in the 2012 Orange Bowl. West Virginia blew away the Tigers 70-33. Flipper improved to 3-0 by picking Florida State to defeat Northern Illinois in last season’s Orange Bowl. The Seminoles pulled away from the BCS busting Huskies, 31-10.
It should be noted that Flipper’s prediction record is not exactly unblemished. Flipper was asked for a BCS National Championship prediction as well last year, with the game being played at the site of the Orange Bowl in Miami. On this one, Flipper whiffed by picking Notre Dame. The Irish were crushed by Alabama, 42-14.
If Clemson should happen to lose this year’s Orange Bowl and Flipper mysteriously goes missing afterward, you know who to call.