texas

Once again my friend(s) the red river rivalry is upon us. The preseason top ranked longhorns have slid all the way out of the top 25 and our beloved Sooners have steadily inched up the polls to number 6. As has been true in so many disappointing seasons of the past, everything we are playing for is still in front of us and still in our hands. While today’s game won’t do as much to help should we win, it certainly could hurt to lose to an unranked team, even if it is texas. I would much prefer that texas was coming off of a win this week. I never like playing the team with something to prove. No doubt they are talented and with the rivalry this is almost always a coin flip anyway. 

Much has been made about arch manning being a bust. I’m of the opinion that he will still be a stud. HS to college is a big step and he has all of the skills. I think he simply needs more time before he figures it out. I’m hoping that “more time” includes this week. No doubt the D will be revved up and trying everything they can to make his day miserable. Let’s hope that he and R. Mason & Co., aka the dog pound, get acquainted with young arch early and often. 

Speaking of D, texas has one of the best ones in the country. What we can manage against them will tell the tale today I feel. Which brings us to the question that has pervaded the consciousness of all of Sooner for nation for the last (rubs eyes, thinks a minute) 2.5 weeks, will Mateer play? As of the time of “publishing”, he is listed as probable.  Which leads me to a second question I didn’t expect to be asking, will he be effective if he does play? 

Oh daddy, so much intrigue. I’m amped for this one. 

Offense

As I said before, this is the crux of it all in my opinion. Who steps up, who makes that big play to put points on the board? I’m going to defer fucking around and just say it, it’s Mateer. I think he plays, I think he plays well, I think he leads the Sooners to a W and I think he never pays for a drink on Oklahoma for the rest of his life. 

Defense

It’s an odd feeling to be excited about a Sooners defense. They’ve been very tough all season, especially up front. I think the front four/eight (it’s a deep unit) gets after Arch Manning all day and gets his pants a nice burnt orange on the inside. I like my man, R. Mason Thomas today to terrorize. 

Score

This is going to be a tough one and my picks are all predicated on a Mateer performance. If he is unable to play, this all goes out the window (we won’t even discuss that mess). I think texas comes to play, I think they have a lot to prove and really nothing to lose. That’s a dangerous club. But I think the D is stiff when it matters and I think Mateer gets enough done in the clutch. Sooners escape 31-27. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner