Bedlam

It's Bedlam, bitches, and it's always more fun when it means something. Usually that something is Little Brother trying to wreck Sooner hopes and dreams. It is true that a Sooner loss would essentially end the season. However, Cowboy tears will be shed if their inexplicable bubble gets burst. It's win or go home today.

I'm not feeling all that confident about the Sooners chances. The Cowboys defense is legit and even if it were only passable that would give them an edge over what the Sooners have been trotting out more often than not. And, as mentioned, the Cowboys are playing for a title game berth and a shot at the playoff. It's in Stillwater at night. 

But let us not forgot who has been here before. In a dogfight you have to like the Sooners chances. God knows they can win close and ugly. You know the Cowboys could come out with either their nuts in their throats or overconfident. The Sooners are made for this. 

OFFENSE

I would love (though not enough to actually follow through looking for it) to watch the tape of some of these plays where Caleb Williams is going deep or hanging on to the ball forever just to see if there are any open underneath routes. I have to believe he's not going through progressions or something. There has to be something easier than what it seems like he is always trying to do. 

He needs to get settled down early. He needs to run early. I wouldn't be surprised to see some razzle dazzle to see if the Cowboys over run. 

CW needs to be the OPOG here but I'm picking Mario Williams. He's on the cusp of some big stuff.

DEFENSE

For all the shit talk on these guys they did play a nice game last week. It certainly seems like the infusion of Jalen Redmond is a big reason. Obviously, for the Sooners to have any chance they have to play their best ball today. 

This Cowboy offense is not exactly dynamic. They are certainly capable of mediocrity. If Redmond, Isaiah Thomas and Perrion Winfrey can get some pressure then the Sooners will get some breaks you can count on it. 

Conversely, this defense can also make the worst offenses seem dynamic. If they can't get off the field on third and medium plus I will be calling it an early night and sitting in the dark feeling sorry for myself like a little bitch.

My crimson colored glasses don't allow me to see this happening, though, and so I'm going to pick Jalen Redmond for my DPOG.

THE SCORE

The Sooners will show up on D. CW will use his brain and his feet. The Cowboy faithful will water their miserable little patch of prairie with warm coed tears.

The first team to 24 will win. Tonight it's the good guys. The Sooners win and make a pretty big statement, 31-17.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

OSU

 What familiar waters we find ourselves in this week. Trying to win, making a case, watching scoreboards etc. It’s as consistent as the leaves changing. The Sooners are once again on the outside looking in and while of course I want them to get to the conference championship, win the big 12 and eke their way into the playoffs, frankly they don’t belong there. The committee is nothing if not flawed, but they got it right keeping OU low. The offense has looked uncharacteristically bad, vanilla even. And the defense is, well, the same. I remarked to a friend last week, during a moment when it certainly looked like the Sooners were going to piss it away to Iowa State,  this has been an exceedingly difficult Sooners team to like. They do so many things shittily. So with that dose of sunshine, on to the picks. 

Offense

The Sooners have struggled mightily here, switching QBs, trying trick plays and still barely scoring any points. It is a thankfully unusual circumstance for one of Riley’s teams. And at this point he gets the benefit of the doubt that it’s an outlier. However, one things had been remarkably consistent, Kennedy Brooks. Dude is as good as they come with that rare blend of power, speed and vision. I am going with him again today. My only question: why are we only getting him 10-15 touches a game?

Defense

Christ they are bad. Horrid tackling, guys out of position, can’t get stops on third and fourth down…and round and round spins the broken record. 

Score

The Sooners go into this one as four point dogs on the road. I believe (though am too lazy to confirm) that this is the first game this year where they haven’t been favored. Nothing else has gotten their attention so far, I’m stupidly hopefully that this will. Sooners do just enough 31-30. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin’ Sooner 

Iowa State

Well, it wouldn't be a fall in Norman if the football Sooners didn't lose a stupid game they shouldn't have. I can't think of a team in recent memory more frustrating than this one. Their ability to play to the level of their opponents is absolutely unparalleled. Frankly, they were lucky to get to 9-0 before they lost one. Tulane should've beaten them week 1. It's been a maddening year, and one where the Sooners don't belong amongst the nations elite teams. 

Offense

I'll say Marvin Mims. My fire for the season took on a lot of water last week and I'm just having a hard time getting pumped up for this one. I hope the offense gets back on track and a good start would be getting the ball in the hands of a playmaker like Mims.

Defense

I'm a believer that coaches need time and a certain amount of leeway in order to get players that fit their systems, to establish their identity as coaches and to implement the strategies that comprise winning football. So I'm not saying Alex Grinch needs to go yet, but that leeway is being consumed at a prodigious rate. 

Score

Iowa State always plays OU very well. They just saw Baylor completely control both sides of the ball. I hope the Sooners might have gotten a wake up call however and can do enough to win today. I think they do, 24-21.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Iowa State Cyclones

 The Sooners luck ran out last week in Waco as the defense's inability to get off the field cost them dearly. I turned it off when the Bears rattled off a 15 yard run on a 3rd and 12. My crimson colored glasses had me believing that so many close games and comebacks portended a story book season where all the breaks go your way. All this time it was just dumb luck.

Anyway, speaking of disappointments, the Iowa State Cyclones come to Norman today. They no doubt saw the film last week and have some ideas on how to further ruin the Sooners hopes and dreams since they have nothing else to play for at this point. 

OFFENSE

Last week the Sooners just couldn't get into any rhythm. Caleb Williams kept looking to go deep and the running game was inconsistent.

This week there has to be some semblance of a plan to get easy throws to the middle of the field. There just have to be opportunities less than 15 yards down the field. There are too many good receivers for CW to have all day and only be looking for bombs. 

I guess I'll go CW today for OPOG although for the first time in ages it's hard to know where a spark will come from on offense.

DEFENSE

Fuck these guys. I'm so tired of watching them be in a position to stop or slow down someone at the line of scrimmage only to whiff and give up chunks of yards. Seriously, at the point of attack all a defender has to do is slow down the ball carrier and wait for help to arrive. Just wait for the cavalry. But no. It's painful to watch.

THE SCORE

I mean I think the Sooners can win but it's going to be another butt clincher. I'm going Sooners 20, Cyclones 17.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Baylor

 Since we last got together for a Sooners game the playoff rankings have been released. Many years ago in my younger and more naive days, the Sooners poor ranking would've given me much angst and vitriol to spew about fairness and blah blah blah. My nephew and I had a conversation that afforded me the new, and strange, role of talking him down as he had the same angst and vitriol I just mentioned. But years of watching, and being let down, have given me perspective and perhaps a whiff of insight. As I told him, none of it matters unless the Sooners win the rest of their games. One loss at this point, and we're pretty much done for the playoff anyway, regardless of our initial ranking. Like it or not, unlike Alabama for example, OU has done nothing to earn the benefit of the doubt. And, if the Sooners do win out (massive "if" given what we've seen from the defense), things will take care of themselves and everything we dream of each season will still be on the table. But, none of it matters if OU rolls into Waco today and loses a tough, conference road game. Which, I fear, is a very real possibility. 

Offense

Caleb Williams has ignited a Sooner fanbase unlike any player I can quickly think of since the likes of Adrian Peterson. Not since AD has any player, let alone another true freshman, been so obviously better than most (if not all) of the players on the field. He's so fun to watch because in addition to all the obvious athleticism and talent, he really seems to be a smart player inherently. Converse to the defense it's nice to watch someone not fuck things up regularly. This is a tough road game against a very good team. And while the Sooners don't win without a great game from CW, the run game is essential to controlling the ball and keeping our abysmal defense off of the field. As such, I like Kennedy Brooks in this one. He has decidedly been out of the limelight since CW took over, but he's still a complete badass. I like Lincoln to lean on him today, and he delivers.

Defense

If you just picked up the newspaper and read the box score, it would look like the Sooner defense played a pretty solid game (by their woefully low standards) against Tech. But it was still the same story of guys out of position, missed tackles, and generally shitty play. And as I threatened before that game I refuse to pick anyone on that side of the ball until they start playing respectably. 

Score

OU is 5 point road favorites, Baylor is a solid team with nothing to lose. This is a recipe for a bed shitting. I'm predictably nervous, and a loss wouldn't surprise me. From here on out the schedule is a real rectum tester. But, one game at a time. I think OU does enough to escape Waco with a win and remain unbeaten. Sooners win it, 27-24. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner