Oklahoma Sooners vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Hi OH Sooner fans. It's another glorious football Saturday. Shit's getting real for the Sooners this week as they hit the road and take on a big name in the Nebraska Cornhuskers. I almost spit out my teeth when I read the news that the Huskers gave up 642 yards in a loss last week to Georgia goddang Southern. Not GeorgiaTech or plain ol' Georgia. Georgia Southern. That, my friends,  is a turd that cannot be polished and Scott Frost is now unemployed. 

Are the Sooners walking into a trap? Can the Huskers possibly re-compose in one weeks time and by sheer will  and the good Lord's blessing play well enough to beat a game Oklahoma football team?

No.

OFFENSE

The Sooners offense is still a work in progress. It would be a massive understatement to call most of their first half last week uninspired. I would love to blame the listless and spoiled home crowd for it.  One could even make the excuse that they might have been looking ahead to the Huskers. Fact is they're still looking for an identity. 

I think they want to be a punishing running team and they've been leading that effort with Eric Gray. Gray is good, averaging almost seven yards per carry, but Marcus Major is the way. Major is dorking people out of their shoes  and running through people if needs be. I think he's going to get more action today as he should. 

Dillon Gabriel has been great. I must admit I'm not blown away by anything he does so far but the fact that he's completing 70 percent of his passes and has zero turnovers is as good as you could hope for from him. Imagine when he has complete comfort in the offense. Methinks primetime tv against a big name team could do wonders for Gabriel's confidence if he can maintain his progress. Hopefully the Husker D is as shitty this week as last.

I'm going with Marcus Major this week for my OPOG. He earned more PT last week and he's too good to keep off the field. His success will make life too easy for DG and Marvin Mims et al. 

DEFENSE

I love the enthusiasm coming from these guys. They have been the backbone of the squad so far and that's exactly as it should be. They need to be steady today as the Huskers will no doubt be inspired by the coaching change. 

The simple key for the Sooners is getting off the field. They have to win the majority of third downs so they can stay fresh and drain the hearts of the Huskers.

I'll take Billy Bowman for my DPOG today. He has been in on a lot of tackles thus far. He's all over the field. It looks like he's got his sea legs under him and his confidence is growing game by game. Make the leap today, my guy. 

THE SCORE

I grew up with a couple of sisters whose family are die hard Huskers. I will never forget the shit they gave me in the 90's when it appeared OU football was in danger of being forever irrelevant. My how the tables have turned. Nebraska is sad. Scott Frost is the dead bounce after a 20 year free fall.

The Sooners show the world this today and they win big. 

Sooners 34 Huskers 13

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner 

Oklahoma Sooner versus Nebraska Cornhuskers

Welcome to the show, friends. It's week three for the Sooners and the Nebraska Cornhuskers are making a reluctant return to Norman in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Game of the Century. The Huskers tried to bail on this game on account of the fact they have been setting football back since they made the move to the Big 10. Alas, the Sooners wouldn't have it. 

The Sooners are coming off a win against FCS foe Western Carolina. It was a game the Sooners needed to look sharp in and managed to exceed those expectations. It was a testament to the Sooners for being interested (which makes me mad to even need to type it). 

The worst case scenario for the Sooners is that the Huskers manage to use the pomp and history of this one to rise to a level factors beyond what they have demonstrated in the last decade. A once a decade performance need not be seen this weekend in Norman.

OFFENSE

On offense today I'm looking for another step forward for Spencer Rattler wherein he needs to find that reliable second wideout. Marvin Mims is clearly his favorite target and, of course, why not. But after that it's flinging spaghetti at the wall. It's not a bad thing to have so many options but who is the safety blanket? I'm thinking it's some version of Brayden Willis, Theo Wease or Jaden Haselwood. Haselwood, in particular, seems ready to get more action. Also, while not a big target, Mario Williams seems keenly interested in showing what he can do. I'm going with him for my OPOG. Something tells me he's going to show out on national tv. 

In other news on offense, Eric Grey looked great last week but he still needs to be used as changeup to Kennedy Brooks. Brooks is the running equivalent of a quick slant in Sooner offenses of yore. You're going to get positive yards every time and more often than not you'll get more than that. Sometimes much more! I think Brooks gets 15-20 carries today.

DEFENSE

Earlier this week, Alex Grinch called out by name most of the returning players from last year and not in a good way. So I am expecting someone among that bunch to come out with fire lit. I'll say it's David Ugwoegbu (Originally spelled Ogboegbo by me before looking it up).  He's my DPOG today and will so earn it by keeping a good eye on Husker quarterback Adrian Martinez.

Martinez seems to be the entire Husker offense so as he goes, they go. 

Keep an eye on this dude named Danny Stutsman. I may doom him to redshirt by mere utterance of his name, but he's a freshman linebacker who is second on the team in tackles thus far and out of his ten, eight are solo. He looks like a guy who Alex Grinch needs to find a way to get on the field more. 

SCORE

The Huskers are hot trash and have been for nigh on a decade now.  The fans need to enjoy the pomp and circumstance of this one but the Sooners need to TCB (take care of business). Tulane is legit probably better than Nebraska. I think the Sooner D takes a big step today and makes life miserable for Martinez and the Sooner offense looks trim and efficient on their way to putting up about 56 on the 50th anniversary of the big game.

I like the Sooners big. 56-24. Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

OU vs. Nebraska, One Last Time, for the Big 12 Championship

It's been a long and winding road for the Sooners to get to this point. A couple of tough losses on the road, some shaky confidence at the QB position and in the entire defense and then redemption (and the driver's seat in the Big 12 South at the hands of the Cowboys. It didn't hurt either that texas had a season for the ages. In a bad way.

And now, the game the Sooners live for. During skeleton drills in the Summer and two-a-days in the fall, the goal is always to get to this game. It's for this reason, I believe, that the Sooners historically implode in their bowl games. The mountain has already been climbed, the goal already achieved.

That's why my confidence is sky high for this one. OU has some serious momentum. This is what Bobby lives for. Enjoy this one Sooner fans. The next game is a glorified exhibition and the Sooners will approach it accordingly. Today is trophy day.

Two other key points of off-field intrigue that will make this a great game. The Stoops and Pelini's go way back. There is no ceiling to how much they want to beat each other and do so in a surgical like manner. Also, it's the last time OU and Nebraska will play for a conference title. This fact is lost on no one.

On the field this one pits the best offense against the best defense. What more could you ask for? I believe the Sooners will be able to score some points. I think we get "Home Landry" today. What will the Nebraska offense bring to the table what with being without Taylor Martinez? Will the Sooners D bring the same effort they gave in Stillwater last week?

Of course the D is going to be ready to play. It's the Stoops v Pelini corollary. I expect to see lots of PA (Play Action to the layperson) and misdirection to keep the aggressive Nebraska D off balance. I also expect to see lots of Nebraska fans dressed like douchebags. I digress.

The Picks

Offense
Mini-limb, quasi hunch here. I'm going Kenny Fuckin' Shitbag Stills.  I think the Sooners have a couple of surprises in store using ol' Kenny. He's been a little quiet lately. Perhaps, too quiet. Hmm, hmmm?

Defense
Well, I'm not sure if Nebraska has a threat outside of Roy Helu Jr. Suffice it to say, stopping him should be of the highest priority. That means the Linebacking crew needs to bring their lunchpails. I believe they will. The Oklahoman says Ronnell Lewis needs to step up. I'm tempted to go with Austin "Soggy" Box. But I have to go with the best of the bunch, Travis "Old Steady" Lewis. I think his name will get called a lot tonight.

The Score
Well, I can't see the Huskers D holding the Sooners under 21 points if the Sooners play like it's a home game (which they should). I can't see the Husker offense doing a whole lot without Taylor Martinez. But some average Wide Receiver will probably be a thorn in the Sooner side much of the game and go all-world. I hope not. I like the Sooners pretty comfortably.

OU 28, Nebraska 14