Oklahoma State

I'm afraid it's going to be a familiar refrain from me in this one, loyal reader(s). The season is setting up as a typical Stoops campaign. Some early losses, at least one that should have never happened, then riding an above average (but nowhere near elite) team to an empty conference title and a second-tier bowl appearance that no one will care about outside of (and possibly within) school circles. This will likely lead to some snarky and arrogant retorts by Stoops if/when questioned about the program falling off in the national picture. It's a broken record at this point (and yes I remember last seasons playoff appearance...where the Sooners were dismantled).

Oklahoma State comes to town in a tasty top 10 matchup. Sadly, it really means nothing beyond pride and viewership will likely be up due to a lack of anything else to watch today. Oklahoma State comes in on the tail-end of a nice season where they should probably be more in the playoff conversation than they are. Their QB will likely be a first or second round bust in the next 2 or 3 years, which means he's probably going to have a huge day against the Red Carpet.

I should backpedal a bit and say the Sooners did play a fine game in WVU two weeks ago. Though it should be noted that the Mountaineers did diarrhea all over themselves multiple times in that first half, basically gifting an insurmountable lead to OU. But in the interest of credit where due, OU did capitalize on the mistakes and came out with a nice win. Will The Sooner D show up today? Will the offense control the ball with the run-game in between bombs to the Secretary? Will Oklahoma State wear helmets shaped like actual cowboy hats and some kind of lights on their pants?

Offense

This is fun picking these. For all of the negativity I spew on the Sooners, they can score some points when the offensive line does their job. The skill players are all really great, and they are a nice complementary group with different strengths. I'd love to go Mixon or Perine, and I really think they'll both have very nice games. I also think Mayfield will do a nice job, but I'm going with The Secretary. Dede score 2 long touchdowns where he simply outruns everyone else on the field, goes over 150 yards receiving, and takes 3 mistake-free memos while covering the phones.

Defense

Still not going to do it. I just can't, and it annoys me when I do.

Score

It's a shootout...again. OSU will be ready and they are probably the more complete team simply based on our terrible defense. If this were in Stillwater I'd absolutely pick the pokes. But it's not, and I think being at home is enough. In a rare-for-this-season moment of optimism, I think OU wins this one 47-44.


Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Bedlam

Who's ready for some 10-2 and a Big 12 Title? Nobody, if you're fed up with 10-2 seasons, ornamental Big 12 Titles and falling just shy of being elite. On the other hand, 9-3 and Big 12 runners-up after a Bedlam loss does not have a nice ring to it at all. I'm kind of fiddle-farting around here (Technical Jargon) to say that this game is kind of a big deal.

The Sooners are coming off their most impressive win of the season against West Virginia. The Sooners eliminated the Mountaineers from Big 12 title contention and completely wiped them out of the national conversation. The Sooners took the fight to the Mountaineers early. The offense was firing on all cylinders and the defense delivered its best performance by far. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a lapse in the second half where Lincoln Riley forgot he did not have the luxury of a defense capable of protecting a four touchdown lead and said defense forgot there were four quarters in a football game. Still, it was by far the best total performance for the Sooners thus far this season and it came at no better time.

Oklahoma State, meanwhile, comes in riding a seven game win streak against opponents as impressive as Mike Gundy's mullet. Mike Gundy, by the way, tucks his sweatshirt into his pleated pants lest you believe the mullet is some part of some overall hipster persona. Sorry Poke fans he's just not cool. He's a putz.

OFFENSE

What more can you say, really? The Sooners are a juggernaut at this point. Two Heisman candidates in Baker and the Secretary, Dede Westbrook. The best running back tandem in college football and an offensive line that's getting better by the week. Oklahoma State simply can't matchup across the field to bottle up the Sooners. The only hope for the Cowboys is to turn the ball over multiple times and that's not going to happen.

For my OPOG I'm going with Dede. I've enjoyed his coming out party on the national scene and it would be awesome if he could put a nice tidy bow on his surging Heisman campaign by lighting it up.

DEFENSE

Here's where I'm at mentally. I can now step outside of myself and not be blinded by crimson colored glasses. I can see that the Sooners offense is fun enough to watch and, ergo, vis a vis, live with the fact that the defense is just bad enough that whoever they play will also score points. The result of which is a fun contest to watch. But the offense is so good that I need not sweat the outcome. At this point they will not play an elite defense Saturday or in a bowl game so let's just roll with it.

As for the Cowboys, they are not as lethal on offense as in years past. Mason Rudolph is average. Poke wide receiver James Washington (who is elite) and the Sooners secondary will make him appear slightly above average (hopefully not All World). The OSU running attack is meh.

For my DPOG I'm going with Jordan Evans for maybe the fourth week in a row. Again, he is the sharpest in a drawer of dull knives.

THE SCORE

The bottom line is the Sooners D is marginally (and I mean the thinnest of margins) better than the Cowboys. The Sooners offense is better at every position including wide receiver. The Cowboys don't have enough on either side of the ball to overcome BD Mayfield, Dede, Joe Mixon and Semaje Perine. Plus, it's in Norman.

I like the Sooners here big.

Sooners 52, OSU 35

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner