Big 12 Championship

The Sooners put together arguably their most complete game of the 2019 campaign with a yeaoman-like performance in Stillwater last week. Jalen Hurts did not turn the ball over, the Sooners utilized a punishing running game that didn't exclusively feature Hurts and the defense played very well. I may likely regret saying this but could the Sooners be peaking at just the right time?

The right time, for now, is the Big 12 Championship and a rematch with the Baylor Bears. To recap that first matchup the Sooners played maybe their worst defensive half in the first half before stepping up and playing their best half in the second. Jalen Hurts turned the ball over three times. CeeDee Lamb didn't play. The Sooners imposed their will in all phases of the game in the second half while overcoming a 25-point deficit. They shouldn't have been there in the first place and would be wise to avoid it in this second meeting.

OFFENSE

The Sooners never really had any issues against the Bears en route to a 31-10 halftime deficit. They (nee' Jalen) just shit down the pants legs upon entering the red zone. Two turnovers resulted in 14 quick points for the Bears. That sort of thing really changes the algebra.

Now, as ever, the Sooners need to value the football. I like to pick on Jalen because of his Alabama piss excellence pedigree but he's simply not the qb that Baker or Kyler are. He was first flummoxed then sacked by a three man front. He runs when he should hand off, stays in the pocket when there's nothing but grass in front of him and dances around instead of gettting rid of the ball. He's maddening and yet maddeningly efficient.

I like the idea of both Kennedy Brooks and Rhamondre Stevenson in the backfield. I like this Brayden Willis, a brick shithouse FB, who looks and acts like O.J. Howard catching balls. Riley can keep it simple for Jalen and take some of the decision making out of his hands. Stevenson and Willis can both play like receivers and help get the ball out of Jalen's hands quickly. Jalen just needs to go for broke on deep balls and let CeeDee and Charlston Rambo make plays.

For my OPOG I'm going Kennedy Brooks. He glides and he's been getting the ball a bunch. He needs to keep getting fed.


DEFENSE

I've seen some pretty heady stats come out this week about this unit. They were last in the Big 12 last year in total defense and they are currently 1st. They are 3rd in defensive efficiency. The last five games they've given up 48, 41, 31, 24 and 16 points. That's trending in a positive direction.

The Sooners offense was really their best defense against the Bears in the first meeting. But when the Sooner D was on the field in the second half they shut down the QB run game that had absolutely gashed them in the first half. So they apparently have a pretty good blueprint to work off.

I'm riding the hot hand this week and going with hero-cum-goat-cum-hero Parnell Motley. No one makes more plays when the Sooners have to than him and played his best game last week. Keep it up my dude.

THE SCORE

OU dominates the Big 12 Championship. I think the Bears, though, have more fortitude than some past opponents. This one is closer than many of the past but the Sooners prevail behind offensive balance and a defense that is peaking (or their version of it).

Sooners 49 Bears 28

BONUS PREDICTION

The Sooners make their case for the playoff and get hosed in favor of Utah. College football is still a sport decided by voters and these voters have OU fatigue.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus West Virginny

Gooood morning, undefeated Sooner fans! Here's to hoping the Sooners, fresh off a signature victory down in Dallas, are less hungover than I am today.  Today, West Virginia comes to Norman with arguably their worst squad since joining the Big 12. The Sooners are in the driver's seat and need to stay there. They can do so by staying engaged in this one. I know it's a lot to ask to match the intensity of a rivalry game week in and week out but that should be the goal.

OFFENSE

Crucial red zone takeaways marred what was otherwise another dominant performance by the offense against texas. The offensive line performed admirably. CeeDee Lamb made the case he is the best wide receiver in college football. Jalen Hurts showed resiliency after the two turnovers.

Today there is nothing to work out or get back on track. The hammer just needs to come down on the Mountaineers and there will be no answer, at least from their defense.

It's clinical at this point to assume Jalen or CeeDee will be offensive players of the game so it's not real fun to pick them. I guess I'll go with Kennedy Brooks today. I love his running style and he can pile on yards in a hurry.

On another note, I was checking the box score from last week and was surprised to see only five players caught balls for the Sooners. I bet that's the fewest this century but I'm way too lazy to check.

DEFENSE

The kudos, first trickling and now flooding in, are much deserved. This defense can win games and that is so massive and refreshing. Alex Grinch would very much like to create more turnovers but, **flicks on crimson colored glasses CSI Miami style**, that's what punts are.

However, if turnovers are the next evolution towards true saltiness then today presents an opportunity. Former Sooner QB Austin Kendall leads the Mountaineers and he's thrown seven INT's in five games and is sporting an abysmal 45.7 QBR (Jalen Hurts 95).

I think Alex Grinch keeps this group engaged today by keeping the aggressive play calling ratcheted up in an effort to start getting some of those turnovers.

Speaking of refreshing, how about being able to reliably pick a DPOG for the first time in years? Kenneth (dare I saw MF?) Murray is in full on beast mode. So, I've got to stretch the brain cells a smidge (not easy) and ID someone besides him.

I'll go Parnell Motley today in an effort to try to show some faith and support in homepiece. He's close to playing at a high level again. He could make a big step today.

THE SCORE

This one should be over by half time. I'm most interested in seeing what the attitude is like following a huge win and now being in the driver's seat. It's all out there in front of them. This is the time to shore everything up so that control is never taken away.

The Sooners win this one big, 56-14

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooner versus West Virginny

I saw a headline, the day after the LA Rams beat the Kansas City Cheifs 54-51, asking if the world had just witnessed the future of football. The fact the question is being asked is one of the few glimmers of hope remaining for this Oklahoma football team. However, OU fans have been living this supposed "future of football" for three seasons now and I can tell you, we'd love to see some defense. The future of football, devoid of defense, is by turns fun, frustrating, predictable and inexplicable.

Tonight the present and future, as seen through the lens of the Big 12, will be on full display. The two best quarterbacks in the league, the two best offenses in the league, the two best offensive play callers in the league and two below average defenses. The couches will burn one way or another in Morgantown tonight.

OFFENSE

The only question for the Sooners is how best to overcome a lack of depth at running back or, more pointedly, what in the world could they do if Kennedy Brooks goes down. There seem to be no assurances that TJ Pledger is available or Trey Sermon.

Obviously, Kyler Murray can pick up the slack. But I think his effectiveness depends on Brooks being available. Otherwise it's liable to be a highlight reel of Murray running for his life for 60 minutes.

I'm going to go against the grain and pick Mr. Brooks over Kyler for my OPOG. I hope it's not a jinx. He needs to stay healthy, be productive and give the rest of the offense the room it needs to operate.

DEFENSE

It seems like every season the defense plays over its head at least once. I suppose one could argue that the Sooners blew their wad against K-State or TCU. I'm not buying it. They have, at most, four more opportunities to show something this season. But if they don't do it today they'll be down to one opportunity and that will be in some sub-tier bowl.  I don't want to sound like an ungrateful asshole but that might be the mercy killing this group deserves.

But back to today. Will Grier is liable to pick this group apart early and often. OU's best shot is obviously getting the Mountaineers to punt. I just heard on TV that the Kansas Jayhawks defense has 15 interceptions this season. The Sooners have forced 8 total turnovers. Anyone who says it's just impossible to defend dynamic offenses in the Big 12 is full of shit. The Sooners are hard baked at this point and getting turnovers seems to be a pipe dream.

I'll pick Parnell Motley for my DPOG today. Even though I just said the Sooners have a hard time forcing turnovers and even though Parnell Motley has inexplicably been Gasrag McGee this year, he is the guy who seems to come up big when it matters most.

THE SCORE

OU has to be composed from the opening kickoff. Kyler Murray cannot be jittery like he was against Texas Tech. OU cannot get down by more than 10 and hope to have enough defense to catch back up and pull ahead.

I'm certainly not confident. This game could be over in the first quarter. But as I slip on my crimson colored glasses I hold out hope for an outlier defensive performance.

I have to take the Sooners so.. Sooners 56, West Virginny 49

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Bedlam

Another week, another big showdown for the Sooners. This one is the always heated in-state rivalry. OU didn't do so well in their last rivalry game, let's hope this isn't a repeat. The suddenly vaunted defense reverted to a very stoopsian feel against the high flying Red Raider offense. Sadly, I don't think it's going to improve much for the rest of this season anyway. Looks like OU will continue to have to outscore everyone in a track meet if they want to win games against the tough teams.

OSU is not as good offensively as they normally are, but this OU D is the cure for what ails any offense. I expect another shootout today, and OSU while inconsistent, has shown they can hang with and even beat some good teams. I'm thankful it's at home as a road test would have me clinched up like a snare drum.

Offense

It's becoming increasingly difficult to not look like a psychic when picking an OPG. Nearly every skill player goes off each week. Kyler Murray has been great, and after years of watching QB's in  his mold frustrate and tear apart the OU defense, it's a beautiful thing to have that on the right side. But, in a predictable attempt at outsmarting myself I'm once again going away from him. I like Trey Sermon in this one. Dude is a beast and he only seems to be getting better.

Defense

After two weeks of glad tidings against putrid offenses, the status quo was restored last week. Two uncharacteristic Murray int's early and an extremely questionable PI call on Parnell Motley late, didn't do them any favors, but they once again showed little ability to get consistent stops. I appreciate wanting to make offenses sustain drives, but the 18 yard cushion the DB's have been giving makes the 10 yard out all but guaranteed. I don't really have much faith in anyone, but Kenneth Murray has been pretty consistent, hopefully he'll do some nice things today. How's that for a tepid pick?

Score

The Sooners enter the day as 21.5 point favorites. I feel like I could make a decent living betting on Sooner opponents to cover. I certainly hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see how the D does enough to maintain that margin. I do think OU can score however and I like them to win this one 52-38, hitting the over in the process.


Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

TCU

Over the years the Sooners have lost to texas far more than I would like (read: more than once), but of all of the losses that one had the sweetest after taste, the Mike Stoops firing. I (halfway) joked to Mitch a few weeks ago that my phone had wear spots on the screen over the letters I use to type Fire Mike Stoops, now that dream has become a reality. I don't know how he maintained employment for this long, and as of almost two weeks ago, I no longer care. I do not think that the defense will magically be dominant now, but I will be happy if they do basic things like tackle and adjust to what offenses are doing during the game.

Now on to more pressing business. TCU started out this season ranked in the top 25 (I'm 60% sure of that, and 100% sure I don't really care either way) and played themselves impressively far out of it. Some bad losses and generally poor play is the fast track to doing that. However, as any Sooner fan knows, Gary Patterson has always been a thorn in the side of OU. I do carry some optimism though because most of the time they've beaten or at least made a close game of it, it's been 59-58 type of affair. Hopefully, those days are coming to a close (no pressure Ruffin McNeil, Sooner nation only demands a miracle).

Offense

That texas game was the most frustrating affair on offense of the season by a good stretch. Until that late barrage of points at the end, the vaunted Lincoln Riley's were largely held in check. Credit Tom Herman, he's done that repeatedly so far. But, in spite of the good plan by texas, Kyler Murray still had a tremendous game and I think he does it again today against TCU. It's a pretty thick limb I'm on going with the Heisman candidate for OPG. That's the kind of insight one comes to the Steamroller for.


Defense

While watching the game with Mitch and our friend Mark a couple of weeks ago, Mitch threw the term Gas Rag on Parnell Motley. It's been a couple of seasons since that award (?) has been used. But I think he's right, the Matt McCoy Memorial Gas Rag award goes to Parnell Motley. What a fall from grace after the Ohio State game last year where some other friends of ours were saying he should be MFer.... um no. Enough rambling diatribe on the shortcomings of Parnell Motley. I'm going with Amani Bledsoe today, Bledsoe is receiving his first official kiss of death from me.

Score

This is the biggest crapshoot of the season, I have no idea what to expect on the defensive side of the ball. I'm hopeful, but doubtful (naturally). Still, I think the Sooners keep their eye on the prize and with two weeks to prepare the Sooners do enough today to win it 44-31.


Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Iowa State

The Sooners come into this one off of a narrow and ugly win vs. a winless Baylor team. As usual, my crack reporting was woefully off, thinking Seth Russell still played for them--and as usual, I'll brush that off with a "fuck it." As you may have ascertained from my "piece" last week, I was fully drinking the Sooner Kool-Aid and felt as though they may never lose again. Ever. But hindsight, being what it is, it merits a quick review of teams the Sooners had beaten. UTEP, Ohio State, and Tulane all have what in common? None of them know how to execute the forward pass with any consistency. Granted QB or not, Ohio State has loads of talent, but OU has historically done well against run-first teams. Baylor passes first and asks questions later, the RB being mostly a "show-piece." This is alarming going into conference play where, as you may have noticed, the spread is all the rage.

In spite of the lamentations that the Sooners' bye was too early in the season, at this point I'm happy with its timing. If they had rolled over Baylor, I, too, may have wished for a bye a few weeks later to heal up, but as it stands, I think coming off a reality check where the D was exposed, the bye could be helpful. Ideally the Sooners have been "woken up" to the reality that maybe they aren't as complete as they thought they were. The offense continues to look good, but hopefully the defense gets it together and is ready for Big 12 play.

Iowa State is a solid team. 2-2 at this point, but narrowly losing a close rivalry game against a good Iowa team and also losing against texas who is probably better than their record would let on, belies a solid squad. They roll into Norman ready to give their absolute best shot to the number 3 team in the country. Coming off the bye, I hope the Sooners aren't looking ahead to the texas game and are focused on TCB today.

Offense

The worries coming into the year of having lost 3 essential skill players from last year have been mitigated by a great offensive line and a QB that elevates everyone around him. It seems each week that someone new steps up and has a great game, all of which of course is predicated on BD Mayfield. Today I'm throwing my dart in the direction of Mark Andrews. I feel like he's had an off-week to let that knee heal up and though he's played through that, I think he's close to 100% this week and has a big game against an Iowa State defense that I don't think can match up with him.

Defense

Whew, last week was ugly. PTSD inducing flashbacks to last year (and last several years). No ability to pressure the QB on obvious passing downs, and receivers getting open deep on said passing downs. It was a maddening effort littered with big plays and an inability to get off of the field on 3rd down. Aside from being torture to watch, that shit won't fly if a national championship is the goal. But I'm not ready to wash my hands of them just yet. While Parnell Motley has stepped up as the most reliable defender, I'm going to go with another DB that has been overshadowed a bit this year. I like Steven Parker to have a solid game today in all phases, stepping up in the run game and making a couple of big plays in the secondary.

Score

My mood has gone from overconfident to cautiously optimistic, or cold steel to firm chubby on the boner-meter for you high-brow types. And while I think Iowa State is better than their record, I think a Sooner squad at home, coming off of a bye is just too much today. I think the Sooners get back on track to some extend and win this one in a tune-up for Red River. Sooners win it 44-20.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner.

Baylor

Conference play for the Sooners opens up today down in Waco. Baylor comes into the game a paltry 0-3 and it appears the salad days are over. After Art Briles built Baylor into a perennial conference, if not national, title contender through some good coaching, recruiting and cultivation of a lawless, despicable culture his ouster seems to have brought the Bears back to earth. It isn't evident yet if Baylor will resume its role as a place to smear muddy boots for everyone else in the conference, but an 0-3 start doesn't portend an imminent upswing. On paper, today doesn't seem to be the launch-pad for a season turnaround either.

OU fell from #2 to #3 through no fault of their own last week. At this point, that fall is nothing to even bat an eye at. Frankly, I think it's deserving, Clemson went on the road against a pretty decent Louisville team (helmed by the reigning Heisman winner) and absolutely embarrassed them. That defense looks stout. Regardless, either #2 or #3 looks like a tough matchup for a Bears squad that lost at home to both Liberty University and The University of Texas...San Antonio, ouch. They do have Seth Russell still, who can definitely sling the ball, and although the next snap I see of Baylor this year will be the first, I feel confident that there isn't much of a supporting cast around him.

After a sluggish start last week that had 80,000 in Norman repeatedly saying "we're fine" amidst nervous laughs and non-sequiturs, the defense buckled down and Baker Mayfield did Baker Mayfield things and all was right with the world. I haven't seen enough of this team to know if that was this year's version of a "let-down", but if it is, then I'm going to have a 5-month chubby. To the picks!

Offense

CeeDee Lamb was on his way last week to creating the illusion that I knew what I was talking about for 2 straight weeks, before the referees observed him doing something along the lines of tackle football and kicked him out. Make no mistake, this sort of luck will not befall me again this season so sorry whomever I pick, the kiss of death may be back. Again, BD Mayfield is the easy choice, so naturally I'm not going to do that. Instead I'm going with a different weapon who stepped up last week and look really solid in Lamb's absence. I'm going with Marquise Brown, which a quick google search revealed he is from Hollywood, FL. You can't be from Hollywood, Anywhere and not be nicknamed Hollywood, so Hollywood Brown it is.

Defense

For the first time in a long time, the dart throw on this side of the ball is due to a plethora, rather than a dearth of options. That is one damn nice change of pace. I've gone DL, LB the first two weeks. I'm going to continue the progression to the secondary and resist the temptation no more by going with Parnell Motley. First of all, that's a fucking great name. Second of all, he has continued to live up to the billing each week and is on the verge of dusting off the Motherfucker moniker (stay tuned). Baylor will try to throw it all over the field, I think Parnell steps up and has fine game.

Score

The conference games are always tougher. There is history between the schools, familiarity with one another and the stakes of the conference championship to consider. In turn, the divide in talent is always lessened, particularly when the better team is on the road. But, I think the first quarter last week was a bit of a wake up call and I think the Sooners come out determined. Baylor will be fired up, three straight losses to open the year won't set well with them and the crowd will be fired up, no matter, the Sooners come out swinging a tire iron and beat some ass, 52-17.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner.

Tulane

I hate to discuss old business at the beginning of this every week, but that was a damn good time last Saturday. At the risk of disparaging Bobby Stoops, that was the type of performance that hasn't been seen at OU in a decade. I can't remember the last time the Sooners played on a stage that big (and no, a nationally meaningless sugar bowl does not count) and kicked a team's teeth in. Aside from a solid drive, following a big kickoff return to open the second half, Ohio State did nearly nothing. Which leads us to the crux of the situation and I can't believe I'm even saying it but, the defense looked fucking good. Granted Ohio State hasn't done one thing to prove it's a good offense at this point and the Sooners may have exposed JT Barrett as what he is, a running back playing quarterback, even still that was damn fun. Let's also not overlook the OU offense. Offensive question marks aside, I don't think many would argue that Ohio State has a bad defense, in fact their front seven is one of the best in the country. Last Saturday, the only team that stopped OU on offense was OU. Bask in that glow for as long as you like.




....and we're back. Tulane rolls into Norman today for a tilt with the, now number 2 in the country, Oklahoma Sooners. Tulane resides in the heart of a rabid college football town, alas the town is rabid for LSU. While the Green Wave is never much more than a blip on the national spectrum, this is no run of the mill doormat. Should OU roll? Yes. Should this game be a formality? Yes. But, Tulane generally has a handful of NFL caliber players on the roster, and this is a prototypical let-down game. Am I worried? For the first time in years, I actually feel confident. Did I mention I'm excited for the Lincoln Riley era?

Tulane evidently runs some old school option type offense. I'm sure this is a jazzed up (New Orleans joke) version with some odd formations that get them in that game, but it boils down to disciplined assignment football. Ohio State game aside, this is not the type of offense that the Sooners under Mike Stoops have struggled with. The reason that option football has all but disappeared is because defenders have gotten so fast and athletic that teams who don't stay disciplined, or that miss assignments can recover. Fortunately for Sooner nation, the OU defense is both fast AND athletic. Basically, OU needs to get out of this one healthy and tuned up for conference play.

Offense

Cutting and pasting Baker Damn Mayfield here would be a short and accurate way of nailing this each week, but that would deprive you loyal reader(s) of me making an absurd and stupid pick each week (Trey Sermon last week not withstanding). I read earlier this week that coaches expected Mark Andrews to play this week, but predictably the Oklahoman neglected to revisit the subject as practices commenced. Why would anyone be interested in the health of the Sooners second best offensive weapon? (Regardless of his health, it seems like a good week to rest him in that I think this is winnable without him.) I went RB last week and I think (for now) Sermon has solidified himself as the first option. That said I think I'm going to go with CeeDee Lamb, he looks like the real deal and as fun as Badet is to watch, I think Lamb has the makings of a star WR.

Defense

Wow, what a show last Saturday, several guys looked the part not the least of which is Parnell Motley who really has the makings of being a stud. He was tested several times and answered. I don't however, envision Tulane passing a lot (though the may be forced to eventually if the score dictates it) so I'm going with Caleb Kelly. He's been somewhat quiet the first couple of weeks and with his speed I think he's going to make a bunch of tackles against the Green Wave's run-first offense

Score

I do think there might be some letdown after last week's emotional win. It has to be hard to get up for a second tier team after beating the number 2 team on the road. I do think the Sooners roll, however, just maybe not as dominating as could be. Sooners tighten up in this one, 49-21. This is getting fun again.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner