Bedlam

You couldn't ask for much more when the Sooners take on the Cowboys up in Stoolwater this afternoon. The winner remains in the hunt for the Big 12 championship game and the College Football Playoff. The loser is almost certainly out of the former and most definitely out of the latter.

This iteration features a Cowboys "wing and a prayer offense" against a defense that has a hard time not rewarding such gambles. And Baker Mayfield, a guy who you simply do not bet against. It's hard to imagine this one not living up to its name.

OFFENSE

The Sooners offense is now a fully formed juggernaut. Provided they can avoid stepping on their own dicks the Cowboys will find it difficult to keep the score low. I like the Sooners offensive line chances against the Cowboys front. I am saying that with little to no knowledge of the Cowboys front. Whoever they are they are not as good as the o-line.

In recent weeks the biggest developments have been the called runs for Baker and the emergence of Mykel Jones at wide receiver. There is speed, speed and more speed all over the field and when that needs a break you can go bruiser with Dimitri Flowers and Mark Andrews.

I would love to see longer ball control type drives of the sort the Sooners finished the Red Raiders off with last week. They went 65 or so yards  and it took 11 minutes and 18 plays or some nonsense. That is extreme. But some scoring drives that take four to seven minutes off the clock would be sublime. The Sooners M.O. is quick strike but with our D versus the Cowboys O, the Sooner offense could be the best defense today.

Obviously the OPOG has to be Baker but in the spirit of participatory medals I'll pick CeeDee Lamb today. That guy is a beast. He will be an all-time great before his days are done.

DEFENSE

The Sooners demonstrated the ability to adjust on the fly after a horrific start last week. So, that is promising. The changes were made up front and this week it appears that Neville Gallimore will be back in the lineup. This will be key.

Victory hinges on two things. First, get pressure on Mason Rudolph. He is, apparently, an NFL prospect but to my untrained eye the Cowboys have their version of Landry Jones. What I'm beating around the bush about here is that Rudolph will smear his britches and throw anyway if the Sooners can get to him before his receivers have time to run their routes. If this happens the second key is safety coverage over the top. Double team James Washington every play. Take your chances on everyone else.

Two picks from Rudolph and it's game over. Conversely, it spells doom for the Sooners if there's no pressure and characteristically poor coverage.

SPECIAL TEAMS

You have to make special mention of the fact that the Cowboys special teams are historically atrocious. This can't be overlooked. If it turns into a knife fight, the Sooners have the edge with the less harebrained kicker.

THE SCORE

The teams are so close statistically it's pretty bizarre. ESPN has the odds at 50-50. Two great offenses. It will be Bedlam for sure. As mentioned previously, I wouldn't bet against Baker Mayfield, especially in a situation where there are apparently no statistical differences between the two teams.

Sooners 45 Cowboys 38

Boomer to the motherfuckin' Sooner