Happy college football Saturday, sports fans. Our Sooners are 3-0 at the conclusion of warm-up section of the schedule. They've looked mostly very good to this point. Dillon Gabriel is playing at a consistently higher level year over year and the defense is visibly much improved.
Today shit gets real. This will be Cincinnati's first game in the Big 12. It's the first true away game for the Sooners. The Bearcats will be fired up and ready to show they belong. Our boys are going to have to show some character today if they want to come out with a W.
OFFENSE
Reportedly the Bearcats have a pretty solid defensive line. They have 10 sacks so far this year. The Sooners offensive line has been a little spotty and they haven't nailed down personnel. Keep an eye out here. You know the Sooners will never give up on the running game, but we don't need to see Dillon Gabriel scrambling early and often as it may make him a little more accident prone.
It makes me wonder if Jackson Arnold might get in the mix if it does happen that the Sooners line can't keep the Bearcats in check.
Meanwhile, in the passing game, the Sooners took some shots last week which was great to see. Nic Anderson showed he can be a serious threat. He's tall and strong enough to shed defenders.
I like Nic Anderson today as my ovenmitts.com Hot Hand player of the game.
DEFENSE
I'm keenly interested to watch the defense today. The Bearcats QB is a dual threat transfer from Florida. It's a given that the Sooners are going to take the Bearcats best shot. There's probably going to be some breakdowns and the Sooners are going to get punched in the mouth.
Today we'll see if they've got some grit. I think the mentality is there but it's going to get tested.
Whoever is spying the quarterback is my DPOG. I don't know if that's Danny Stutsman, Jaren Kanek, Justin Harrington or someone else. But that's the key. I'm guessing they start with Kanek. I'm not sure if Harrington is even back from injury.
The Sooners have three guys banged up that they need back ASAP. Harrington, Dasan McCullough and Gentry Williams. Williams, especially. I'd feel much better about things if two of these three were active today.
OK so my DPOG is Kanek.
THE SCORE
This is the perfect test at the right time for the Sooners. The Bearcats are a team we should beat by more than 14 (current spread). It's the situation for the Bearcats that makes this one so much more difficult. On the road, first Big 12 game in history for a Cincy team that will want to prove they belong.
The Sooners need to play with an edge and attitude and squash the bug. The Sooners O-line needs to ball out and the defense needs to show some toughness.
If it works out, I like the Sooners 31, Bearcats 17.
Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner
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