The Cotton Bowl

 The Sooners snatched victory from the jaws of defeat once again this year, this time in the big 12 Championship. Although, held the crushing jaws of defeat open just long enough for the clock to expire is probably more accurate. The Sooners defense has definitely improved, but building leads and riding the defense like they’re the 2000 Ravens has not been successful for OU this year. Can Riley be content to take the defensive stops where he gets them and still try to score 50? Please? It’s still a win if you don’t leave a melted M&M in the seat of every Sooner fans jockey’s. 

Florida play a de facto away game in this one due to proximity to Norman as well as the many Sooner faithful in Dallas. However I think the limited capacity will more or less mitigate that. Also, the Sooners seemingly caught a break when all-world TE Kyle Pitts sitting out to prepare for the draft. They still have weapons, and the Sooner D still hasn’t fully convinced me. I think this one will be close. 

Offense

I’ve been fully on board the Rhamondre train and he’s done nothing but deliver so far. I think he’ll be a key in this one. As always Rattler will need to take what is there and not turn the ball over. I think the passing game will be key and I think (hope) Lincoln elects to not take his foot of the gas and aaa result I like Marvin Mims as my OPG in this one. I think this his national name recognition moment. 

Defense

Why break precedent? Step up in this one, and we’ll talk next fall. 

Score

Florida can score and Dan Mullen may be an ass but he knows how to coach a football team.  The Sooners really have their work cut out for them with a young QB and shaky defense. I think they step up enough on defense, Rattler lets the game come to him, Brkic gets his head out of his ass and the Sooners do enough, 33-31. 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida Gators

Goodyear Cotton Bowl? More like Badyear Coughing Bowl because of Covid, amirite? Enough jokes. We have a quality matchup of blueblood programs today in Dallas. The Sooners, as has become their stock in trade, have shrugged off inexplicable in-season losses and back doored their way into a New Years Day Six Bowl. The Gators are looking to re-establish their place amongst college football's elite. The Sooners can make a major statement with their defense, effectively putting the college football world on notice for next year. The Gators can make a statement by, well, beating the Sooners. Each team has much to prove. 

OFFENSE

I don't know shit about Florida football and I have zero interest in learning more than I have to. Here's what I do know. In general, the SEC takes pride in its big, fast, physical defenses. From what little I know of Dan Mullen, he seems to fit that mold. He kind of reminds me of Tom Herman for some reason. Anyway, I'm spinning this yarn to say I would think the Gators would like to bully and push around Spencer Rattler and his wide receivers. The Sooners offense, with the notable exception of Rhamondre Stevenson, seem to be finesse type players.

For instance, you won't see Rattler lowering his shoulder on his way out of bounds and then hopping up and woofing like Baker Damn Mayfield would. But I can damn sure see Florida woofing and trying to bully Rattler. They'd probably be happy with an early late hit on SR.

So can the Sooners take the punch, keep their poise and deliver some haymakers of their own? Yes of course through my crimson colored glasses I can see the way.  

Quick aside: Do we think Rhamondre was okay physically against Iowa State? I mean, some runs he seemed very slow in attacking the line. Was he trying to be Le'Veon Bell or was he unable to accelerate? it's important because he's key. He did have almost 100 yards and averaged 5.4 per so I'm inclined to think he's ok. 

Beyond, Rhamondre, it is crucial for the O-Line to have their best game of the year. If Spencer has time to throw it's game over. You know he can make All The Throws and if he meets with some early success it's swagger time. I'm taking SR for my OPOG. 

DEFENSE

It is reported that Florida is very heavily tilted towards the passing game. Well, whoopty friggin do is what any self-respecting defense in the Big 12 should say. But the Sooners are only becoming self respecting so they best not slip. 

I feel comfortable that they will have a good game plan. I see nothing that would indicate that they won't play hard. They are who they are at this point. 

Is Kyle Trask the best qb this defense will see all year? Is he better than Sam Ehlinger or Brock Purdy? The answer to both would seem to be yes. (Editors note: He's a Heisman finalist, stupid) That said, can the Sooners force him to make some mistakes and how will they do that without Trey Brown?

It is helpful that the Gators are without Trask's favorite receiver. That will somewhat offset the loss of Brown. The Sooners need to make Trask uncomfortable and hopefully he can't run. His career rushing average of .4 ypc would indicate he is not much of a dual threat. 

That seems like a big advantage. For my DPOG I'm going Perrion Winfrey. He's missed on a lot of backfield tackles lately but has been absolutely hounding QB's. I feel like he gets them today and generally makes life miserable for Trask.

THE SCORE

I think this will be another grinder. Good news is the Sooners are accustomed to it. I'm taking the Sooners here in their home away from home 35-28.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.  

Big 12 Championship

 Nothing like getting this up after kickoff. It will be appropriately short/bad as a result. 

Offense

Rhamondre Stevenson. He controls the ground game in full truck horn mode. 

Defense

Still not picking anyone here. 

Score

Sooners favored by 5.5, they win but don’t cover. Sooners take it 37-32. 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner. 

Big 12 Championship - Iowa State

Welcome Sooner Nation. I'm feeling like we may be set up for one of the best games of the year. The Sooners are playing their best football at the right time. This is probably the biggest game in the history of Iowa State football, at least in my lifetime and we've got a revenge factor and trophies on the line at a neutral site. Let's do this. 

OFFENSE

Matt Campbell's defense is the only one that consistently gets under the skin of a Lincoln Riley offense. The Cyclones can frustrate and create scoring lulls. Spencer Rattler et al cannot get flustered. Rhamondre Stevenson can help with this. The boys up front need to establish dominance of the line of scrimmage early so Stevenson can be in Lincoln's back pocket any time he needs it. 

Meanwhile, if Austin Stogner returns all bets are off. The Sooners have established a lethal supporting cast around Rattler with Marvin Mims, Stogner, Mikey Henderson and Theo Wease. But if Stogner is available as a security blanket and Rhamondre can be consistent then Lincoln can be ultra-creative.

I imagine the Sooners will have some challenges and I wouldn't be surprised if Rattler throws a pick or possibly two. He could easily start pressing. Lincoln will try to get him in a rhythm so he doesn't have to put it all on his shoulders. What Rattler cannot do is take sacks. The Cyclones will be dialing up pressure more often than not so Rattler will have to make quick decisions.

I'm picking Rhamondre for my OPOG because he can match the toughness of the Cyclones and be the kind of guy who can impose his personality on his teammates. They'll need that toughness today.

DEFENSE

I imagine this group can't wait to get on the field for some revenge today. Three time tractor pull champion Ronnie Perkins wasn't available last time and needless to say the Cyclones didn't catch the Sooners at their best. Today they will. 

Like the Sooners offense, Iowa State will try to impose their will through the running game. Hot take alert: Breece Hall is one hell of a running back.  I imagine the Cyclones will try to use a lot of play action and misdirection to get the Sooners on their heels and/or overrunning plays to find space for Hall.

The Sooner D, for their part, just need to keep doing what they've done for the last month. Play fast and get after the quarterback. This unit is so much better than they were in the first matchup it may make the Cyclones head spin. Fingers crossed.

For my DPOG I'm picking Bookie. Naw, blood, I'm kidding. Fuck that guy. I'll take Isaiah Thomas. He's been set to beast mode all season. 

THE SCORE

This will be the game of the year in the Big 12. It's going to be hard fought and low scoring but lots of haymakers and back and forth. 

Of course I like the Sooners to win their 6th 'ship in a row but it'll be close. I like the Sooners 27, Cyclones 21

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Baylor Bears

 Welcome welcome Sooner fans. The Sooners presumably made the most of the 'Rona bye week and are poised to dismantle the hapless Baylor Bears in Norman this lovely Saturday night. Let's get right into it you guys.

OFFENSE

I'm all aboard the Rhamondre train and if he's playing (apparently an if on account of Covid-19) he's my OPOG. Baylor has no answer and he'll go for 150. 

If you are looking for a sleeper pick and, let's face it, who isn't, then keep an eye out for this Mikey Henderson fella. He's listed as an H-Back but looks like a WR/TE and can run or catch with speed to burn. He's a menace waiting to be unleashed.

DEFENSE

Uh oh someone found a defense. I will not pick a DPOG today. However, I want to see Bookie not act like a dumbfuck. That would be a major step forward. Dude brah single handedly ruined momentum against the Cowboys and gave the Pokes life they never deserved to live. 

THE SCORE

The folks at the Oklahoman seem to think this one will be close but I'm not buying. Sooners roll big time. 42-14. Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

Baylor

 After a Covid related postponement, the Sooners will take on the Baylor Bears today at home. After having a very solid season last year under Matt Rhule, the Bears have taken a pretty big step back after his departure to the NFL. The Bears sit at just 2-5,  with OU getting an extra week of rest, things could shape up nicely for the Sooners this week. Coaches were evidently in short supply as Bob Stoops was back helping Riley in practice. There was even talk of him being on the sideline, but I think that has been nixed with enough coaches getting healthy/out of quarantine in time for the game. Let's hope Bob brings a little good gris-gris back to the Sooner sideline this week and the Sooners look strong. 

Offense

Since returning from his suspension, Rhamondre Stevenson has been an absolute beast. Picking up chunks on nearly every run and punishing defenders as well. He's definitely got the big rig truck horn on speed dial. So, picking him would be the smart play and will likely play out as a prudent choice, but I'm of course going to try and make a "savvy" (read: wildly inaccurate) pick. I'm going with the ever emerging Marvin Mims today. Now I can only assume he is out with Covid or for some other reason.

Defense

I'm not about to break precedent after the OSU game. Nobody gets the call here.

Score

Baylor's record is bad. OU has been slowly, but steadily improving since their abysmal start. The current spread is OU by 22. I, for no good reason, think Baylor is going to keep this a little closer than that. I like OU to win today 36-21. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Bedlam

 Big game on the docket today in the form of the rivalry matchup known as Bedlam. OU takes on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Norman today and it is a significant contest in the conference standings. Atypically, OU is looking up at OSU (18 and 14 respectively) and is the team looking for the upset. The Sooners have looked much better of late but this is easily their biggest test of the season.

Offense

Spencer Rattler got banged up a bit his last time out, but as far as I can tell he's a full go for this one. Which, most probably means he's out for the game. That's what I bring to the table. I think OU will once again needs its offense to be its best defense against an OSU team that I see little chance of stopping. With that in mind I'm doubling down on Rhamondre Stevenson in this one. The man has been a menace to opposing defenses since his return from his little wrist slap for crumblin' herb, so to speak. I think he beats up a solid OSU defense as the Sooners play a little ball control offense and keep their own worst enemy off of the field.

Defense

As you may have ascertained from OPG paragraph, I still don't have a ton of faith in this defense. I will admit they have looked improved the last couple of games. And, they've plenty of time to get ready for this one. That said, I'm not picking a DPG again this week. If they surprise me by looking competent tonight, we'll talk next week.

Score

In spite of the rankings, OU is giving 7 in this one (last I saw). I think it will be a tough game for sure and probably lower scoring than the experts think. I'm taking the under here and OU fails to cover in a  27-24 win. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Bedlam

2020 has decided to throw a bone to Sooner (and, begrudgingly, Cowboy) Nation with today's Bedlam matchup being meaningful, at night and on national television. Little Brother thinks this is their year so the prospect of the Sooners breaking their spirits while also getting back into Big 12 championship game contention is a cherry on the cake.

OFFENSE

The Cowboys believe they have a respectable defense for once and are eager put it on display. I do not wish them the best and am having difficulty imagining a scenario where they hold the Sooners under 35. The Sooners, and particularly Spencer Rattler, will need to make some poor decisions in the passing game to not make the magic number. 

Rattler's decision making continues to improve, however, and I think their plan today is to wear out the Cowboy defense with a bludgeoning mix of Rhamondre Stevenson and quick throws to the sidelines. It will pay off in the last 20 minutes with the Sooners going over the top and stocking the highlight reel. It's gonna be a party.

I'll go with Spencer today for my OPOG in what I can see being his best game as a Sooner. He's much more prepared for the spotlight here in late November than he was as the much ballyhooed wunderkind of early September.  

DEFENSE

There is no doubt the Sooner D is rounding into something resembling form but they need to be careful today. It's a knifes edge between playing fast and having that speed exploited and the Cowboys do have pieces around the field to turn strength to weakness. 

The key will be how Alex Grinch handles the second level. For instance, I would much rather see Brian Asamoah, DaShaun White, Nik Bonitto and David Ogwoegbu at the point of attack than having Bookie or, God forbid, Pat Fields trying to contain or shadow Spencer Sanders. 

You obviously have to stop Chuba Hubbard while also keeping Spencer Sanders from running the ball. Here is where the D-Line has to be aggressive like they've been all year without being too fast and running themselves upfield so quickly they get exploited. 

I may be prematurely prognosticating here but I'm going to pick a DPOG. Ronnie Perkins. He looks like a baby eater and will put on a show tonight.

THE SCORE

A lot of people think this will be low scoring by Sooner standards but I think the Sooners will get to that magic number of 35. The Cowboys will have to work hard for what they get and will get lucky a little too because it's Bedlam and shit gets wild. 

But I like the Sooners easy at home 35 Cowboys 20.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Kansas

 Good afternoon sports fans. The Sooners spend this fine (in New Orleans anyway) fall Saturday morning in the friendly confines of Owen Field. The Jayhawks of Kansas make a trip to town to (in all likelihood) get the living shit kicked out of them. I know absolutely nothing about KU except that they stink and have yet to win a game. The spread is 38.5 and OU is coming off probably their best win of the season. Which came on the heels of the previous best effort, hopefully this is a trend and the Sooners continue to improve. It's likely too late to make a run to the playoff as two losses (to mediocre opponents) is probably too much to overcome, but the conference title could still be had. Let's get down to business...

Offense

I was knee deep in wine and cocktails last Saturday night and watched almost none of the game as we were safely celebrating halloween on our porch. But, from what it looked like, Rhamondre Stevenson was just the tonic. He seemed to have his way with the Red Raider defense, while Spencer Rattler continued to (hopefully) come into his own. Marvin Mims looks like the next big deal at WR for OU as well. There are plenty of nice pieces to choose from but I'm going with Stevenson again this week. I think he's fresh, and he's fired up coming off of a huge game. 

Defense

I am still not ready to anoint anyone here. If they play respectably again today, I will reevaluate next week.

Score

All signs point to an old fashioned assbeat today. I mentioned the spread at 38.5. I think the Sooners win easily but for whatever reason, I don't see them covering. I like OU in this one 45-13.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner!

Oklahoma Sooners versus Kansas Jayhawks

Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. The Sooners take on the Jayhawks today in Norman in a contest that hopefully will be called faster than the Oklahoma presidential race this past week. Kansas is atrocious. Owasso High might be able to give them a game. 

The Sooners, for their part, are coming off arguably their most complete football game against Texas Tech, a game where the Red Raiders were shellacked by a feisty and opportunistic Sooner defense, run over by Rhamondre Stevenson and smoked by Spencer Rattler who was doing his best Pat Mahomes impersonation. 

OFFENSE

It's crazy but the Sooners return to Norman for the first time since the K-State loss on September 26th. The group taking the field today is much further along and should cruise on friendly territory against the hapless Jayhawks. 

Rhamondre Stevenson looked fresh last week and should be a proverbial bull in a china shop. He'll be my OPOG today but don't sleep on Seth MacGowan. Lincoln Riley is finding news ways to get him the ball every week. He could be devastating in the passing game today by being a check down for Spencer Rattler. Rattler, for his part, can continue to progress by going through his reads. 

The Jayhawks are target practice and it's going to be devastating.

DEFENSE

There was a lot to be excited about last week with the performance of the D. The return of two-time PRCA gold buckle winner Ronnie Perkins injected some much lacking fire and snarl. Better yet, that attitude persisted for four quarters and was rewarded with more batted balls, INT's and loose balls than I can recall in years. 

Again, today provides an opportunity to build on that performance and continue to add depth everywhere. The Sooners will throw the kitchen sink at the Jayhawks both in terms of scheme and personnel. This game at this point of the schedule is a gift on a par with what the SEC does with mid-season Division II games.

Out of an abundance of caution I will not pick a DPOG this week.

THE SCORE

The newspaper today said the over/under on this game was 63 which seems ludicrous as the Sooners will have to stop themselves from scoring 70. While a shutout would be capital, it's hard to see a mistake free game from the D.

The Sooners obviously win easily and take this one 70-7.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas Tech Red Raiders

Good evening, Sooner fans. I am begging your forgiveness for the tardiness and brevity of this puff piece. The Oklahoma bureau of Sooner Steamroller has been without power since Tuesday on account of an apocalyptic ice storm. 2020 is relentless in its commitment to being the worst. 

Alas we press on.

OFFENSE

Spencer Rattler did a fine job of game management last week and he found his playmaker in Marvin Mims, Jr. This week I'd like to see Rattler continue to build and a key to his development is Austin Stogner. He had a nice game against Texas but last week dropped at least three balls that were heavily defended. His mission in life is to catch balls in traffic that are heavily defended. Stogner is my OPOG today.

DEFENSE

These guys are almost decent. I was but much pleased to see intensity and speed for the entire game. The Red Raiders offer another great opportunity to take a step forward. A night road game against a shit team is a recipe for heady vibes and PlayStation type numbers.

I am not picking a DPOG today. However, there are a couple of candidates who, if they don't watch themselves, could find themselves getting called out in a great way on this platform.

As an aside, it is patently ridiculous that country music legend, PRCA bronco rider and Sooner defensive end Ronnie Perkins is still not eligible to play as a result of a positive marijuana test last year. What in the actual shit. Can someone pull the stick out of the NCAA's asshole, please? This defense improves dramatically with him on the field.

SCORE

The Sooners cruise on the road and look and feel good doing it. I like the Sooners big time today. 

Sooners 49 Red Raider 17

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Texas Tech

 Signing in to put up a piece of trash on halloween as the Sooners prepare to play Texas Tech tonight. I would say that last week OU put together their most complete game of the season. They poured it on early, got a lead and managed to not piss it away late. It was enjoyable football. I read today that Rambo and Turner-Yell will be out due to Covid. The former I think we can hide fairly well, but losing anyone resembling a competent defender could be devastating to an already horrendous unit. Nevertheless, play they will and hopefully they can cobble together a win.

Offense

Rattler has looked steadily better since his benching earlier this year. He's more content to "take what they give him" instead of trying to hit a home run every play. In my (meaningless and woefully uninformed) opinion, he could tuck it and run a little earlier but he's still doing a nice job. I will go with him today to have a nice night under the primetime lights. Which essentially means he'll throw 4 picks.

Defense

Though the D definitely looked better last week, it's important to note that better is a relative term and certainly not a synonym of good and/or competent. Still not picking anyone here.

Score

I know nothing of Texas Tech. I'm sure they are talented in spots and not-so-much-so in others. In other words, typical Tech. I imagine the Sooner D will regress somewhat from passable last week as consistent improvement isn't really their "thing". I'll guess OU wins a close one that shouldn't be close at all. Sooners take 38-33.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

TCU

The Sooners, in spite of themselves, managed to beat texas two weeks ago in an epic Red River for the ages. Even though the Sooners escaped in over time, it should have never even gotten past regulation. Spencer Rattler looked like garbage in the first half, even getting benched for an even worse Tanner Mordecai. Thankfully, when Rattler came back he looked a little more willing to take what the defense was giving and not sitting in the pocket for four hours. Hopefully that carries over for the rest of the season, because the defense is absolute shit. On the plus side, we don't have to ever see Sam Ehlinger again or hear any more about how great he is. TCU is on the slate today and it wouldn't surprise me if OU won or lost by 30. I really have no idea what to expect. On to the picks...

Offense

I pulled off one of my patented moves against texas by selecting a player that did not suit up for the game. I can't remember the last season where I didn't do that at least once. Today I'm hoping to not keep that streak going, but am unwilling to do a brief google search to ensure I don't. I just can't pick Rattler, I hope he has a great game of course, but his turnovers are horrendous and all too frequent. And, while I know picking WR is somewhat predicated on Rattler playing well, I'm still going with Mims on the outside today. He's looking like he's ready to break out, and hopefully today is the day.

Defense

I still can't pick anything here. It's too awful. Alex Grinch should be publicly horse whipped for continuing to play Pat Fields. The Sooners could suit up a scarecrow at Safety and theoretically improve, simply based on the fact that the scarecrow wouldn't commit PI on every 3rd and forever. 

Score

As I said before, this could really go any number of ways and I wouldn't be shocked. But I'm going be optimistic that with two weeks to prepare, the Sooners will be ready. I like the Sooners to win it today 31-27.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas Christian

 Good morning, Sooner fans. Would you agree that it's always a better feeling coming off a win against Texas? The Sooners won a classic by coming up big on defense in overtime but it shouldn't have had to come to that. Predictably and regrettably, that same Sooner D allowed Sam Ehlinger to run roughshod in the final minutes to tie the game up. Alas, a win is a win and it represents a step forward for the D. 

Today it's TCU and a perfect trap game for the Sooners. Gary Patterson is a crafty sumbitch and will no doubt have gleaned some key data points from the Sooners game tape. The key for the Sooners is, like always, can they bring the same mentality and effort level they had against Texas into Fort Worth today? History says it's doubtful.

OFFENSE

Spencer Rattler got benched in the first half which may have knocked him off a few Heisman ballots. More important, it exposed what seems to be his biggest weakness which is his trying to do too much. His arm is incredible and clearly people have told him as much. He believes that it's not only okay to throw back across his body into double coverage but that, unlike anyone else in the history of high level football, that it will work. Does he watch other football games? He needs to chill out and I think that's essentially what Lincoln Riley told him. To his credit, he came back out in the second half and played really well and made some nice throws when he had to. 

Importantly, he found his safety blanket in Austin Stogner. The next step is to find that wide receiver who makes things happen one on one or in space. That person is Marvin Mims. The O-line needs to provide enough push that the Sooners average 4.5 yards per carry. If they can do that it's ballgame.

Today I look for a ball control game with easy throws and reads from Rattler to continue to build up his game management skills. I'll pick him for my OPOG.

DEFENSE

Even if his defense has not turned it around as quickly as anyone would like, Alex Grinch is a breath of fresh air from an honesty perspective. His transparency with the media offers actual insight. For instance, he admitted that, like everyone, he had no idea what to expect with the pandemic and in hindsight believes he may have fucked his planning up tremendously. He said he tried to get young guys college ready and, before he knew it, they had to be game ready. Hence, the initial lack of fresh faces on the field, particularly in the secondary. Now some of those young guys are finding the field and hopefully they will be able to stay there. Also, it is my most sincere hope that there is someone coming up behind Patrick Fields who is just brutally awful this year. He sticks out in a bad way on an average at best defense. Grinch jokingly warned his team that if the play more consistently like they did against Texas they may find themselves being accused of being decent.

Today I fear the Sooners will not have the same mentality as they brought to the table last week. If they do bring it that's a win on a number of levels but none more important than it may signify Grinch's attitude shift is starting to gain traction. 

I also worry that Gary Patterson has some bullshit up his sleeve and we as fans are to be subjected to long sustained drives with back breaking third down conversions. Maybe I just have PTSD from watching it week in and week out for the last 12 years it feels like. 

In any case, I'm still not ready to pick a DPOG.

THE SCORE

I am optimistic that Spencer Rattler is going to take a step forward after having been benched and that the Sooner D is unwilling to take two steps back in their quest to be decent. I think if the Sooners can average 4.5 yards per rush it's ball game. 

Sooners 38 TCU 24

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas dba the Dr. Pepper AT&T Red River Shootout

The two programs solely responsible for the financial viability and national reputation of the Big 12 conference find themselves squaring off today in a race for the bottom of the Big 12. The Sooners (1-2, 0-2 Big 12) are coming off back to back disastrous losses to Kansas State and Iowa State and are staring into the void and struggling to find their purpose in a season that is on the precipice of becoming truly meaningless. 

The Longhorns (2-1, 1-1 Big 12), as per usual, are shithead assholes. Let's get that out of the way. Predictably, they were overrated to start the season and rode a victory over the Miners of UTEP to a top 10 ranking before throwing it all away against TCU last week. They aren't out of the top 25, though, because we live in a world where we're a month into the "season" and Ohio State hasn't played a game and is ranked number one.

So today is a chance for both teams to try and course correct and provide some glimmer of interest for the remaining campaign. It could actually be a pretty entertaining game from that perspective even if the national implication is pretty much zilch.

OFFENSE

The Sooners best defense today needs to be the offense. Sooner Nation has become accustomed to the high scoring, quick strike Lincoln Riley offenses and I am certainly not implying the Sooners should purposely take this off the table. However, the defense sucks so horrifically that the Sooners need to find ways to extend drives and hang onto the ball. Some of Lincoln Riley's best work is when he takes eight minutes off the clock and sucks the soul out of opposing defenses. Not only would this help the Sooners today but it could be big for the development of Spencer Rattler. 

That said, I would love to see a wide receiver break out in this one. It would be awesome if that wideout was Charleston Rambo but I think Marcus Mims is the better candidate. The Sooners need to find ways to get him quick catches, in space, and let him pick up yards in chunks. He's my OPOG.

DEFENSE

Prepare yourself now for pain and frustration. I see Sam Ehlinger in my fever dreams carrying the pile for first downs early and often. 2nd and 4? He'll run for 6. 3rd and two? He'll get three. Much like Coronavirus, you can wish it away all you like but it's coming and the Sooner D is playing like a person wearing a mask like a chinstrap. 

Forget one on one tackles, the Sooners need to, at a minimum, slow down the ball carrier at the point of contact. I'm talking baby steps to mediocrity here. Just slow them down and let the cavalry arrive. To add to the complexity, the Sooners need to be very aware of play action and not be too aggressive attacking the line or we'll be seeing the same plan I just laid out for Marcus Mims being deployed against the Sooners.

Still no DPOG. 

THE SCORE

Hey everybody I'm expecting the worst and hoping for the best here. Can the Sooners win? Of course they can because Texas is second to none in undershooting expectations and are the most perennially overrated team in the history of college football. But the Sooners have proven on the field this season that they are more than capable of pooping down their pants legs without having a spare pair of undies in the locker room. 

The Sooners need some one, or group of someones, on both sides of the ball, to step up and take control. It can't be the coaches or the gameplan or the environment of a rivalry game or any other magical thinking. The guys on the field need to take a step forward today. There's no better game and no better opponent to find yourself than the Longhorns and the Cotton Bowl.

::Puts on crimson-colored glasses:: I'm going to say Sooners 28, Longhorns 24

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

texas

 I’m so disgusted after last week that I’m really going through the motions more than normal this week. If it wasn’t texas I’m not sure I would have even had the energy. But, I think back to my first year at OU when the Sooners won two games the entire season, OSU and texas. It wasn’t a successful season by any stretch but it made an awful season slightly better. I don’t think OU is that level by any stretch but they are bad. The defense continues to hit new lows and the offense, while solid, isn’t bailing them out this year. It’s disappointing to say the least, but here’s hoping they at least best OSU and texas. 

Offense

Rattler has not been the juggernaut we’d all assumed he would be. However the bar was almost unattainably high for a guy who’d never played a meaningful collegiate snap. So, while I think he’ll put up good numbers, I’m not going with him today. I’ll take McGowan. If OU has any hope of winning, they’ll lean on the run game to do it. 

Defense

See last week’s non-pick. What a joke. 

Score

For the first time in several years, texas has a marked advantage at the QB position. That worries me, particularly with how terrible the defense has been. But, I will go against my better judgement and hope for a James Allen-esque miracle. Sooners win it 31-30. 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

Oklahoma Sooners versus Iowa State

Quick post today, my friends, because, like the Sooners against K-State, I too can bail on quality work before the game or season is over.

Why the hell is there a culture of ineptitude on defense? How can you roll over both player and coach personnel and still continue to have a culture that allows big plays at bad times and is always awful at tackling in space?

I'll give a pass to the offense because Spencer Rattler was making his second career meaningful start and is not accustomed to playing with his back against the wall. For him, it was a good learning experience. You look at the last three QB's and all were seasoned before they stepped foot on campus. But this defense, my God. They had an opportunity to take a step forward, to bail out the offense and to secure a game at home. Instead, they shit down their trouser leg and take three steps back. Maddening.

OFFENSE

Today the Sooners need to demonstrate a killer instinct and cannot under any circumstance take their foot off the gas. Spencer Rattler has to take a step forward and learn from last week's interceptions. He can't cram the ball into double coverage. There is no need. He doesn't need to play hero ball with his arm. For my OPOG I'm going Austin Stogner. He seems like a security blanket that Rattler can check down to instead of forcing something downfield. 

DEFENSE

Christ Almighty these guys. I guess the bar is so low here that I'd be satisfied if we can not allow a former walk on linebacker cum quarterback to turn in a Heisman worthy performance. Is that too much to ask? I fear it may be.

Look, I have to go to soonersports.com every week just to scroll through the roster to find someone to pick on this side of the ball and I've been doing that shit for about six years. I'm tired of it. I'm not picking a DPOG today and maybe not for a while until some one, any one, can start turning in a consistent enough quality performance such that I can remember their name from television from week to week. The whole defense can be DPOG by not stepping on their own dicks and maybe forcing a turnover. For real this is bullshit.

SCORE

You know Iowa State is going to play hard just like K-State and that they're well coached and that the Sooners have a preternatural knack for playing to the level of their opponent. So of course you should expect this to be closer than it ought to be. I'll say Sooners 35 and Iowa State 34.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

Iowa State

I’m still at a loss for last week’s game. My devotion to OU football has waned as I’ve gotten older. Of course I’m still a huge fan and make efforts to watch all of the games, but I don’t follow it like I did when I was in my 20s. But, games like that still infuriate me in the moment. At this point, you would think I’d be used to it as it’s happened every season for as long as I can remember. Nevertheless it still annoys the bloody hell out of me. On the plus side, now that the seats of the uniforms are fully shit stained, it makes the ensuing games less maddening. 

Offense

It was probably foolhardy to assume Rattler would just step in and win the heisman, but Riley has been a bit of a QB whisperer. But Rattler looked very unsure when up against the ropes in the second half. There is plenty of blame to be laid on the defense and special teams but sustaining even one drive down the stretch would’ve put that one away. I like a bounce back this week from Rattler and I’m going with him for my OPG. 

Defense

These assholes. I’ll go with no one until somebody looks remotely like they understand how to tackle. 

Score

I have no doubt Iowa state will play lights out. They must be tamping down boners right now at the thought of facing the OU D. But optimism gets the best of me and I like the Sooners to eke it out, 38-35. 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner. 

Oklahoma Sooners Versus Kansas State

 

The Sooners are 1-0 and happy to be here frankly. As of this writing, it is unclear whether Kansas State will be able to field a team on account of Covid. Such is the world we live in. The Sooners say they’re ready though and I feel sorry for the Wildcats as the Sooners come off a bye week and a glorified scrimmage against Missouri State. The Sooners looked polished in that one and proved the cupboard is not bare.

Spencer Rattler looked like the real deal as he fired 50 yard lazer beams that looked effortless. Also, standing out was Seth McGowan who physically looks like a leaner Trey Sermon but who has tremendous vision for the hole and speed to get to it and through it quickly [Insert “That’s what she said” joke here].

Let’s pretend this game will happen and that we have any idea what’s going to happen, shall we?

OFFENSE

I think Sooner quarterbacks combined to throw passes to no less than 34 different receivers so I look for that to continue this week as they feel out who can be reliable and the next “big star”. Marcus Mims threw his hat in the ring last week by flipping the field on punt returns (which was nice to see) and by hauling in one of the longer TD passes from (snake strike sound) Rattler.

I want to see more of this Seth guy, though, because he has legit homerun ability. He’s my OPOG today.

DEFENSE

I wish I could say I got some feel for these guys, at all, against the Bears but truth be told this game was over midway through the first quarter and I was in the hot tub already dipping into the bubbly.

Alas, there was a guy, number 24, Brian Asamoah, who seemed to be flying to the ball. He seemed ready for the moment. I’ll ride that pony to my DPOG this week.

THE SCORE

I like the Sooners big here provided the game gets played. Look for Spencer Rattler domination and I’ll predict the D gets two turnovers.

Sooners 49, Kansas State 14

 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

K State

After a week off, the Sooners resume the tenuous 2020 campaign. Coming off of a demolition of Missouri State that was no surprise (but let’s be honest, in the past there have been plenty of instances where B was not TC’d in similar instances), the Sooners look to keep rolling against a Kansas State club with a ton of inexperienced starters (including, I believe, the entire O Line). Speaking of those starters, they embarrassingly lost to Arkansas State in week 1. If trends continue, it will be a long Saturday afternoon for the Wildcats. Thanks to there being no network willing to show a top 5 team when there were about 6 other games two weeks ago, I have very little in the way of insight. But, getting any good intel from this column has become like having a firm stool after eating Arby’s, just isn’t going to happen. 

Offense

By all accounts Spencer Rattler was as advertised. I believe he played little, if any, of the second half after absolutely torching the pathetic Bears. Also, if you had any doubts about Rattler being selected over Mordecai (injury and game scenario not withstanding), both went 14/17 last week, but one went for 290 yards, 4 TDs and no picks vs 157/1/1. And  while Rattler is probably the safest bet for big numbers, I’m going with Seth McGowan for a big game today. He looked like the next standout Sooners RB and I’m eager to see him get more involved in the passing game as well. 

Defense

I’m hopeful that this is the year the D finally becomes average. And while that wasn’t much of a test two weeks ago, they still put up zeros. Which, as I alluded to earlier, was no given in years past. So, one benchmark made, now just keeping adding to it. No one player lit it up as best I can tell, but I’m going with Brian Asamoah. Mostly I’m hopeful he becomes a meaningful player on that side of the ball. 

Score

K-State no doubt had a wake up call two weeks ago. But, as I mentioned, they are pretty inexperienced. Plus, this is just year two with their new coaching staff and we still don’t really know how that will play out. The spread is just 28, that feels ripe for a little trip to cover city. I think OU fingerblasts the wildcats to the tune of 55-10. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin’ Sooner. 

Missouri State

Welcome back to another season of Sooner Steamroller. I'm frankly shocked that this is even happening, but here we are and the season appears to be going on. I know that you faithful reader(s) have come to expect subpar writing from me. I combine terrible writing with an almost complete lack of preparation. However, I want to say that I've lowered the bar even more this season as I've spent the last few weeks expecting a cancellation announcement and, in turn, have read literally nothing about the team. So here comes some garbage.

Offense

The combination of player attrition and my lack of attention have left me with an extremely limited list of players that I can even name on offense. But, even if I'd known every player on the offense, I still would've gone with Spencer Rattler. He's been given the access codes and he's now manning the console for the season. I, for one, am very much looking forward to hearing about his performance (as I'm not ponying up for PPV vs Missouri State...this is another tirade I'll spare you). I think he throws for 300+, rushes for 75+ and accounts for 4 TDs.

Defense

Full disclosure, off the top of my head I couldn't name one active defensive player this morning before I talked to Mitch. As a result, I fully agreed with him and went with Jaden Davis. I see him making tackles and generally seeing the field today.

Score

As a former attendee of Missouri State, located in my hometown, I can unequivocally say they've been abysmally awful my entire life. They did hire Bobby Petrino in an unabashed grab at relevance. That said, this will be a professional assbeat. The last spread I saw was 44.5, I think OU covers and wins 63-10. It's strange to be back.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Missouri State

 Welcome, Sooner fans, to the 2020 dystopian hellscape of a football season. Death and disease be damned, the show goes on. The Sooners hope to offer a glint of joy to we weary fans.

Enough of my doom and gloom. 

What do the Sooners bring to the table this year? Well, Spencer Rattler at the quarterback position for one. He's much ballyhooed and already appearing on Heisman watch lists. It's not as far fetched as it sounds what with Lincoln Riley being a quarterback whisperer. Also, the Sooners have very little in the way of returning running backs so Rattler will almost certainly be forced to carry more of the load until that position gets settled. Trey Sermon transferred, Kennedy Brooks opted out of the season and Rahmondre Stevenson is suspended. CeeDee Lamb is also gone. 

What I'm saying here is there are opportunities for new faces to step up. This is especially so this season because there is no eligibility limit. This is a free season for everyone so lots of younger players should see the field.

All this makes for some compelling television. 

OFFENSE

I've already spent some time talking about Spencer Rattler but there are other playmakers to watch for today in Charleston Rambo and Trejan Fields at the wide receiver position. As previously mentioned, the running back position needs to get settled. 

The O-line features a true freshman starting at left tackle. I'm too lazy to look him up. Honestly, I didn't think there would be a season so I don't know any of these fucking guys. 

Missouri State figures to be a perfect opener to knock the rust off and get up to speed. I'm taking Spencer for my OPOG.

DEFENSE

We last saw these boys getting their asses spanked by LSU and they still might be still be having nightmares from that shit show. 

However, just as last year was worth watching to see what the Alex Grinch defense might look like, so is this year worth watching to see if a giant leap forward is forthcoming.

It should, not only because of experience and comfort, but also because of that eligibility rule. Expect to see a ton of young guys get some opportunities to elevate this defense. 

Sadly,I'm not sure I could name a starter on this side of the ball. I'm excited to learn their names along with everyone else. It is my understanding that there is some solid young talent in the secondary which would be much welcomed.

In the meantime I will take Jaden Davis as my DPOG because I recognize his name and I imagine he'll see some snaps today.

THE SCORE

I'm going to say Sooners 70, the Bears 7. This is going to be a weird season with a giant asterisk at the end. But, it's football and it's a reprieve so let's enjoy what small pleasures we can these days.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.