Auburn

 Well, here we go. Conference play officially starts today with a tilt against the unbeaten #22 ranked Auburn Tigers. Thankfully the Sooners get to start the slate on home turf. OU has gotten off to a great start, but 3-0 is really nothing in the scheme of things and it's no secret that the schedule is an absolute gauntlet of mostly the nations best teams. There will need to be a lot of breaks go the Sooners way to get to the playoffs, but you have to take it week by week and none of it happens without a little TCB at home today. It's still so early in the season that I have no idea if the Michigan win is a huge game, or if they'll end up being a very average team thus taking a bit of the luster off. I do know that Auburn is good, and this will be a really tough test at home.

The defense once again looked very tough last week. That is really the crux of the entire year in my opinion. If this defense can continue to look as elite as they have so far, then I think OU has a chance to make those coveted playoffs. The offense still looks shaky to me. Matter has been nothing short of a revelation, but the run game has to get going. We all know that SEC football frequently turns into a slugfest and relying on one guy to carry you just isn't going to work against top defenses. Today is a nice litmus test so to speak against a tough SEC team. Let's start by winning the turnover battle today, hm? OK, fine.

Offense

Last week I felt like an RB would have to step up and take some pressure off of the passing game. And while it was much better than the first 2 weeks, it still needs to get more consistent. I guessed Javonte Barnes. An early TD by him had me robustly patting my own back. Alas, he might as well have showered and gone home after that (maybe he did) as he was scarcely heard from again. However, Tory Blaylock really stepped up and thus far has been the most consistent back. The frosh has been really good and the run game has continued to improve. I think that continues today. At the risk of just picking a hindsight guy from last week, I'm going with Blaylock today and say he keeps it going at RB. 

Defense

So many good players on this side of the ball so far this year. It's been strange to see. I'm still very much waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak and see a team just expose us. Oh how I would love to be wrong about that, but history has jaded me just a touch. I don't really know a ton about Auburn, but aside from the usual need to stop the run, I think pressure on the QB will be essential to get off of the field today. I went with him before and whiffed, but I still believe R. Mason Thomas is due for a breakout game and I think it's today. He's my DPG.

Score

OU currently sits at -6.5. I think personally think this is lofty. I think this will be a bit of a grind and will really come down to the final few drives. I think Mateer and the offense do enough in the clutch to get out of here with a win. Sooners stay unbeaten 27-24.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner