OU vs. Iowa State

The Sooners head up to Ames, Iowa today. A place I treat like 7-Up; Never have, never will. But the Sooners should be much more interested in the trip as revenge is on all their minds. The Cyclones depantsed the Sooners in Norman last year and put Mike Stoops and the defense on their heels, a position they stayed in the rest of the year.

This year is different. Through two games the defense is clearly ahead of where they were a year ago at any point in the season. Whereas last years group hoped to just hang on, this years group has demonstrated an ability to hold down the fort while the offense gets its rhythm. This could come in handy today as the Cyclones are well coached and the Sooners are without Rodney Anderson. The day could require a complete team game.

OFFENSE

Losing Rod hurts badly. The offense struggled for quite a while after he left against UCLA. Credit the Sooners scheme and depth for being able to adjust in game. It doesn't hurt to have big time athletes all over the field either.

Today the key is who fills Rod's shoes. Trey Sermon has been mediocre. Marcelias Sutton can hit a hole hard but seems to have trouble getting to the second and third levels. This duo, or even T.J. Pledger getting in the mix, needs to provide more than a wrinkle.

Meanwhile, how do the Cyclones (or anyone) stop the Sooners passing attack? If they blitz, Kyler Murray will abuse you. If you hang back, Hollywood Brown or CeeDee Lamb will punish you. It's lethal and fun to watch.

Today for OPOG I'm going CeeDee Lamb. Not so much because of what I expect him to do today but as recognition for how badass he was last week. Good Lord is he good. That said, why can't he do it again today?

DEFENSE

I'm dying to be on this bandwagon. I'm like a guy hopping a train who is hanging on and getting dragged down the tracks while trying to pull myself aboard.

The team speed and collective discipline they've shown so far has been awesome. The front 7 is by far the best it's been in, what, six years or so?

I actually have players I want to pick and since I don't know anything about the ISU offense, save the fact they have a good downhill running back, I'm going to get on with it. I'm going Kenneth Michael Murray who, like CeeDee, got in the groove last week. He can build on that this week and start being Curtis Bolton's top sidekick.

THE SCORE

Make no mistake this is going to be a great test for the Sooners. It's their first road game. It should be a hostile environment. The Sooners have played against good coaches already but this is the first game against a team this settled and experienced. And there's some question in my mind about the Sooners running game.

I'm sure that last one will be resoundingly answered. If the D can maintain its discipline then I think the Sooners will just be too much and will punish the Cyclones.

If you can believe it I like the Sooners here.

Sooners 35, Cyclones 17

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner