TCU Horned Frogs vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Happy Thanksgiving, Sooners fans. I hope you all had a lovely day and have a terrific weekend in store. Today the Sooners tie a bow on the regular season in a special Friday tilt, at home, against the Horned Frogs. Last week the Sooners won ugly against BYU and lost both Dillon Gabriel to a concussion and Jackson Arnold's redshirt. It was a game the Sooners almost certainly would have lost last year. So while there is plenty to bitch about that needs to improve (game/clock management), it's important to remember that there has been some significant improvement this season. 

Alas, it's senior day in Norman, the Sooners will reach 10 wins with a victory today and they are still have a shot at making the Big 12 championship game. Let's go.

OFFENSE

My brother-in-law Kyle sent me an article this week that said DG is a no go against TCU and that he hadn't practiced all week. Kyle then said he saw DG practicing this week with his own eyes. An article in The Oklahoman says DG has been practicing and is probable. I think he probably goes today. 

Whether it's DG or Jackson Arnold, the Sooners have started rounding into form the last two weeks. Jeff Lebby seems to have realized that you need not rely so heavily on cute tricks and gimmicks when you have personnel that can play competent football. Gavin Sawchuk has been on beast mode, Drake Stoops is playing the best football of his life, Jaden Gibson and Nic Anderson are stretching the field. It's a simple game, really. 

Look for more of it today. I'm picking Drake Stoops for my OPOG. I've appreciated him but too easily dismissed the difference he makes. He really has had a remarkable year. On this, his Senior Day, he deserves some attention. I hope he goes for 100 with a score or two. None of that is a stretch.

DEFENSE

Kudos to this group for pulling the Sooner season out of the fire last week. Yes they gave up yards in chunks to a team that is not good at running the ball, but they got stops and turnovers when they had to. It's becoming a habit for them. 

I'm going to assume that TCU will be successful at something simple like a slant or RPO and it will drive us fans crazy. I would like to think our scheme is designed to tolerate success at something the opponent is not good at (like not worrying too much about a running attack) in order to take away everything else. I don't think we're that clever.

All this to say, we just need to keep getting stops when it matters and the occasional turnover from playmakers. Danny Stutsman is our best player and Billy Bowman is our best playmaker. I'm going Billy for DPOG.

THE SCORE

I laid out the plan last week. Win out, get help, win the Big 12, lose on national TV in the playoffs. It's all out there still. 

I like the Sooners big today on Senior Day. The best part; watch how few defensive players are playing their last game today. This team is young and this year could be a springboard for being truly in the discussion for the natty.

I'll take the Sooners today 35-10. Boomer to the motherfucking Sooner

Oklahoma Sooner vs. BYU Cougars

 Stop me if this sounds familiar. The Sooners ride high all season, beat Texas and are fully in control of their own destiny. They lose games they shouldn't and are no longer in control of their own destiny. They then win out, someone else helps them out, the Sooners make it to the Big 12 championship, win that and then go on to lose spectacularly on national television.

That's where we're headed.

OFFENSE

The Sooners rolled up 600 yards and Dillon Gabriel accounted for 8 touchdowns. Drake Stoops played the best game of his life. But Gavin Sawchuk was the secret sauce. He's my OPOG for today. If he meets with success, everyone else's life is easier.

DEFENSE

It says a lot about both Danny Stutsman and Kip Lewis that when Stutsman came back from his injury he changed positions to keep Kip Lewis on the field. That move has worked better than could be hoped. I'm picking Kip Lewis today.

THE SCORE

The line started at 20 and has moved to 25 which seems high. I like the Sooners to cover, however because BYU is inept in all phases apparently. Only an act of God in the heart of Mormon country can help the Cougars today.

I like the Sooners bigly, 42-14.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

BYU

 I have essentially given up on the OU team. This is probably discernable based on my even more half-assed-than-usual effort for these posts. I should be happy that they still have some kind of shot at the conference championship but I'm still under the delusion that this team should be competing for National Championships even though they are currently in the longest drought in school history since they won their first one in in 1950. Basically they've been slightly above average for a very long time. 

Anyway, BYU today. This game would've given me tremendous anxiety if OU hadn't already shit the bed twice. As it stands, it will be a tough road game against a team hungry to prove themselves in a new conference. OU will probably lose. It will not matter.

Offense

How about Gavin Sawchuck today? It's as wild of a dart throw as any. I'm going to roll with that on the road where a ground attack would prove useful. I'm sure Jeff Lebby is way smarter than that though and will call 127 gadget plays that don't work instead.

Defense

Stutsman

Score

I think OU ekes this one 28-21.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

West Virginia

 I am so disappointed in this Sooners squad. They have looked like absolute trash since they beat texas. I guess that was the goal of the whole season as they have been on a mission to completely fuck themselves in every game since. It's the same old song and dance on defense with a new wrinkle on offense of complete ineptitude. Fun times indeed. I honestly have pretty  much stopped caring. Lebby is completely overmatched and Venables doesn't seem to be the defensive wizard  everyone thought. Instead he looks like the buffoon defensive coordinator we fired all of those years back. 

Offense

I have no idea here. The offense has been so bad. Dylan Gabriel fucking sucks and now it's just showing up every week. I will get cute here and go with Austin Stogner. He's been completely forgotten on this offense and why would you look for a huge target on those critical 3rd and 6 or less downs? Maybe they remember he's on the team this week,

Defense

It appears Stutsman is back, and there you have my pick.

Score

Can the Sooners actually score some points tonight? Because I know they will damn sure give some up. What the hell, Sooners win 42-30.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner.

West Virginny vs Oklahoma Sooners

 Today your 6-2 Sooners return home to face West Virginia. The Sooners have hopefully been alternately stewing in their juices and taking hard looks in the mirror. 

The hallmarks of a poorly coached football team have been on display these last three weeks. Stupid penalties, bad clock management and not taking advantage of your strengths. 

The Sooners barely escaped with a win against Central Florida and of course they've lost the last two. 

Today, the Sooners take on the Mountaineers and its a game that went from an assumed win to a genuine question. That question is can these guys learn from mistakes and take a step forward?

OFFENSE

Jeff Lebby is showing that he doesn't seem to care for success. Every time he finds something that works he has to outsmart himself and switch things up. 

Today he needs to use Gavin Sawchuk and Tawee Walker to set up nic Anderson and Drake Stoops. West Virginia can't handle this if we do it properly. 

Alas, were just as likely to trot into halftime with two timeouts in our pocket. 

Ill pick Tawee Walker again. It's will and hope is all I have. Of faith, there is none. 

DEFENSE

The Sooners will be well ahead if they can keep from getting sideline penalties. What the fuck is that shit two weeks in a row? Embarrassing. 

Similarly, the pass defense has been abhorrent for two weeks in a row. 

Jaren Kanek has looked lost and useless. Danny Stutsman is sorely missed. There's been no.pressure on the quarterback. 

The boys are in for another single score game if they can't find an edge and stop being their own worst nightmare. 

I'm going Billy Bowman today. They need big plays and he's a guy that can make them. 

THE SCORE

I don't like the 9 or 12 point spread, whichever it is. This team is at a breaking point and they might not be smart enough to work their way out of it. The crowd may be less than into also, although a night game with good fall weather might help. 

This could be Lebbys last stand. 

I'm pinching my nose and taking the Sooners 28-24. 

Boomer to the motherfucking Sooner. 

Bedlam: The Final Chapter

Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. The Sooners did not follow my gameplan last week and now find themselves in a familiar position, having to win out and get some help in order to back door their way into the playoff conversation.

The Sooners took a massive hit in Kansas as Danny Stutsman, the heart and soul of this defense, injured his ankle/knee and his status is questionable coming into this one. Offensively, the Sooners are already down Andrel Anthony and now just this week Jalil Farooq got himself arrested during a traffic stop. 

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are on a four game win-streak and have the nations leading rusher in Ollie Gordon II. If you thought Kansas was motivated to beat the Sooners, wait until you see the atmosphere in Stillwater. 

The best example of my hopelessly dumb homerism is my belief that someday the Sooners will understand that when opponents play Oklahoma it's the biggest game of their life, and that the Sooners will meet and exceed that effort level because they know if they lose the opposition is going to cry for joy, rip down goalposts and have stories they'll tell their grandchildren. Every time. 

I am telling you, today, it's the same situation in Stillwater and I have my doubts the Sooners will meet the moment.

OFFENSE

Last week Jeff Lebby's gameplan was conservative to say the least. They ran the ball 16 straight times at one point. Everything they did was telegraphed. The Gavin Freeman jet sweep needs to be ripped out or redacted from the play sheet. Not once did the Jayhawks defense look like they were on their heels. This is unacceptable. 

First, hopefully, Tawee Walker returns after getting banged up last week. He showed he's RB1. Second, I will lose my goddamn mind if Nic Anderson doesn't get six targets. Third, the Sooners have to try and go vertical. 

It's staggering to me to watch this offense not find ways to scheme their playmakers to an open part of the field to let them make plays. 

Finally, clock management has to be addressed. If the Sooners find themselves in a two-minute situation in the first half again, with all their timeouts, and they run out the clock, well, it's time for a change of some sort. What the fuck is that shit? Pull your nuts out of your throat and get aggressive. The Sooners cannot score enough points to feel secure in a game. 

I am hoping to will into existence some schemes for playmakers to make plays and, as such, am picking Nic Anderson as my OPOG. That guy is going to play on Sundays and Lebby and Dillon Gabriel need to get him the fucking ball early and often.

DEFENSE

This defense has shown that they are good most of the time, great some of the time and almost always their own worst nightmare. Their ability to keep themselves on the field via penalty is staggering. They can't have that shit today. 

More than the potential loss of Stutsman, the Sooners need to have Gentry Williams at corner. Things go downhill fast when he gets hurt (and he gets hurt almost every game). 

Beyond dumb penalties, the Sooners need to either rush the quarterback or play pass defense. No pass rush and no pass defense equals disaster. The Sooners have been proving that too often of late. 

Oh and they also need to tackle this Ollie Gordon II fella because he will run rough shod on the Sooners and do it six ways from Sunday if it appears we didn't wear our tackling pants today.

I'll pick Dasan McCollough today for my DPOG. He looks like he's getting real comfortable and ready to make a leap.

THE SCORE

Did I mention how nervous I am about this one? The odds of the Sooners having their act together in all phases of the game are non-zero but not much better than that. Trouble lurks everywhere so the Sooners really need their shit together in the following areas:

• No cute bullshit in the running game. Give it to Tawee Walker and let him run north-south.
• Find ways to get Nic Anderson the ball in space and give Jaden Gibson some chances one-on-one to make a play.
• Limit, reduce or, gasp, eliminate dumb fuck penalties on defense.
• Blitz
• Make field goals
• Learn clock management (coaches)

If the Sooners find a way to do these things I believe they can win by two scores. I doubt they do though and they get hit in the mouth, find themselves down early with Little Brother losing their goddamn minds. If that happens hopefully the Sooners can buck up and find themselves having a chance to win by a field goal.

I'll take the Sooners here 37-34 in a fitting thriller to end this Big Brother-Little Brother rivalry.

Boomer to the motherfucking Sooner. 

Oklahoma State or The Last Bedlam

 What a joke that last game was. Brent Venables' vaunted defensive mind managed to put out the exact same defense we've had for the last 20 years. Where is this mastermind strategy? How do we leave a receiver completely alone on 4th and 6 on the game winning drive? How many times can we watch an opposing offense make miracle play after miracle play before we realize that they might not be miracles, and just terrible defense? It's abysmal and it's the worst way to lose. And we've made it an art. The most undisciplined, out of position, collapsing defense: your Oklahoma Sooners. I've exhausted this topic over the years and yet I still fool myself into thinking it isn't happening any more. What a dummy. Aside from the defense, can we mention Jeff Lebby? That guy can't scheme a window open in his own living room. Does he have nothing in the playbook to call when we desperately need a first down? When we need 3 yards? It's pathetic. I think Gavin Freeman is a fun player. He's a gadget guy with some great speed. But that end around that famously went for a TD the first time it was called last season? It isn't fooling anyone anymore, so maybe let's not call that play 7 times per game. The players could've done more to execute last game. Danny Stutsman getting hurt was a huge loss. But that L on the schedule is squarely on the coaches. Having the ball with (I'm estimating here) 90 seconds left and a couple of time outs before the half is the time where your "high flying, fast paced" offense should be stomping on the gas to get at minimum 3 points. Just letting the clock run out was ludicrous to me in the moment and man did it ever look stupid late in the game when a few more points surely would've been nice. I just can't be more disgusted with the coaching staff. 

Oh yeah, Bedlam is today. And if you were to believe Mike Gundy they are discontinuing the Super Bowl. Only a Super Bowl where one team wins 91 times out of 110. I know this is the biggest game for OSU, and I truly do appreciate the in-state battle. But this is less of a rivalry and more of a game OU tries hard not to lose every year. It pisses me off no end when OSU wins this, but in the kind of way that it pisses a dog off when a flea bites it. OSU is an elite mediocre football school. Mike Gundy does just enough coaching and mouth running to not get fired. His good ole boy speak rings true to their fanbase but what has he ever really won? I'll save you the google search, since his hiring in 2005 OSU has one (!) conference championship. In short he has elevated the program to a proudly sustained not-exactly-shitty level that people somehow love. But, true to form, he has ran his mouth ad nauseam about OU and texas leaving the conference. I guess he will miss getting his ass beat 9 years out of every 10. 

Offense

I don't know what to do here. Apparently Jalil Farooq was arrested for traffic violations this week, I have no idea if he is playing or not. Dylan Gabriel continues to be himself (this is not a compliment), and the RBs are a dart throw as to who Demarco Murray has taken a shine to when he woke up this morning. The fact that we really have no go-to weapon says a lot. Not having anyone that consistently steps up and makes plays in the big moment is troubling. I'm going to say that Gavin Sawchuck is the guy today. He's been the best back we have so far, which means nothing in terms of how much he will see the ball today. Here's hoping...

Defense

Danny Stutsman, is my go to. Sadly he is "questionable". At the time of my writing this, he seems probable. Kip Lewis (shame on his parents for that) looked like a solid replacement when he stepped in last week. In the interest of picking someone who I'm fairly sure is going to play, I'll take Dasan McCollough today for a big game. 

Score

OU is favored by 6. I don't really see a way OSU fans aren't tearing down goalposts after this one. The only thing in our favor is we just got embarrassed by an average KU team. Another year, another terrible loss against a team that had no business winning. Death, taxes... So with that in mind, I'll borrow Mitch's crimson colored glasses for a moment and say OU win 31-30. I'm already not looking forward to hating this game.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner