Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas Tech Red Raiders

 Hello Sooners fans and welcome to a rainy Saturday in Oklahoma. The Sooners, fresh off a curious Bedlam win, find themselves bowl eligible and looking to finish the regular season on a high note today in Lubbock Texas against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech.

Against the Cowboys the Sooners played a first quarter on both sides of the ball that looked like quality football. From there, the offense was anemic while putting on a clinic on how not to manage the clock. The Sooners played hurry up and punt while the defense, to their credit, played like what you might hope and expect a Brent Venables football team to play like. 

Today the Sooners need to clean up a lot on offense and continue to build on defense.

OFFENSE

This offense is 8 for 33 on third down over the last two games. Everyone has been responsible. Jeff Lebby, Dillon Gabriel, WR's dropping passes, penalties, you name it. But you have to start with Jeff Lebby today. He has to be able to adjust and someone has to help him manage the clock and timeouts. 

From there, Dillon Gabriel needs to chill the fuck out. In the first quarter last week he looked in rhythm. He was light on his feet and he had confidence. You can sense his tension and see it on the field in the last three quarters when he fires laser beams on short routes or takes dumb sacks.

He needs to relax, give his playmakers a chance and run every now and then. Jalil Farooq and Marvin Mims need to step up. They have about 10 drops between them in the last month. When they get a chance at a catchable ball, they need to step up. 

I'm taking Dillon Gabriel today who has to be pleased with some of what he saw on film. Build on it. 

DEFENSE

I did not see last week coming. One could argue that this is not the Oklahoma State offense of years past and you would be right. But the Sooners have been letting mediocre offenses embarass them all season. It was a huge boost to be able to turn the ball over, hassle Spencer Sanders and hang on for the victory. 

Notably, the line looked better. Isaiah Coe, Jaylen Redmond and Jeffrey Johnson have been getting some pressure. Ethan Downs and Jonah Laulu have been visible. Laulu, in particular, shows some promise. 

CJ Coldon has arrived on the scene at DB. He seems to have taken over for a much maligned and often abused Jaden Davis. Billy Bowman has been solid since he came back. 

Look. None of these guys are all Big 12. But over the last month they've played well enough to keep the Sooners in the game. 

Tonight they need to keep it up because Lubbock is always a tough place for the Sooners to play and the odds of DG not shitting himself are slim.

For shits and grins I'll take my man Laulu for DPOG. Fuck it.

THE SCORE

I get the sense that the wide receivers of the Sooners are going to put it together today. And I think Jeff Lebby learned something from tape before he strapped on a feedbag at his Thanksgiving dinner. These two developments are key for the Sooners as they have to score probably 38 points to make sure they win. 

It's a tall order. Still, you know me, I'm taking the Sooners here 38-31.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.