The 120th Red River Rivalry

Happy college football Saturday, Sooner fans. It's a big one today, you guys, as our beloved Oklahoma Sooners take on the deservedly reviled texas longhorns in the 120th edition of the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. It marks the first time meeting as SEC foes, and it's already one of the top games in a conference where, "It just means more". Hopefully, it lives up to the hype.

The Sooners are 4-1 and happy to be there after an amazing come from behind win at Auburn two weeks ago. It was Michael Hawkins Jr's first start and it was memorable. MHJ was 10-15 for 161 with a dazzling two point conversion to cap the comeback after a Kip Lewis interception return for a touchdown.

Today, the longhorns come in ranked number one, a two touchdown favorite, with an 85% chance to win according to ESPN's matchup predictor. This one is going to be tough. 

OFFENSE

Michael Hawkins is the guy. The line play has been better since he took over, probably because he can read a defense and communicate what he sees. For the Sooners to win today, MHJ will need to take another big leap, so to speak, and sustain some drives. We know he can do it with his legs, and against Auburn he threw some dimes when he had to. I think to win, he's really going to have to demonstrate he can throw the ball to different levels of the defense and move it around so the Sooners can have some semblance of a running game. They have to be able to sustain drives, win the time of possession and essentially play keep away.

Also, to have any chance, it would be nice if the Sooners could get some or all of their banged up receivers and running backs. Some combination of Nic Anderson, Deion Burks and Taylor Tatum would be huge.

I'm going MHJ for my OPOG today. He's the first true freshman quarterback to start this game for OU in the entire history of this rivalry. Can he meet the moment?

DEFENSE

These boys are elite and they'll need to be today. Quin Ewers is back in the saddle for the longhorns and he obviously is the reason the horns are such prohibitive favorites. I like the Sooners chances of getting to him. Steve Sarkisian is a bit of a mastermind, I have to admit, so this one could be an epic chess match.

For my DPOG, I'll go with R Mason Thomas. This guy has that dawg in him when it's on the line. Today, it's on the line.

SCORE

Quite literally, everything has to go right for the Sooners to have a chance today. MHJ has to take another step forward. The Sooners need some key personnel on offense to be available and effective and the defense has to be their best version of who we now know they are. The Sooners need to win time of possession, keep Ewers off the field and get at least two turnovers.

Put it all together in a rivalry game and you can chuck that line out the window. If the Sooners win, it'll be a score of about 27-21

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

If it all works out, the Sooners can win 

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Oklahoma Sooners

 Good afternoon, Sooner fans. It's a hot day and big weekend in Norman. The Sooners kick off their SEC era again Josh Heupel and this town is hyped. Tennessee fans are everywhere. This is big time.

It's so big I have to be brief here. This one feels like when Texas Tech came in thinking they would make a national statement in Norman, at night. The Sooners smoked them. I'm not saying the Sooners smoke the Vols today, but they are not going to run over, around and through the Sooners.

If we know nothing else, it's that being the underdog is when we play our best.

OFFENSE

Obviously, it's the O-line. That's the story for every game from here on out. The Sooners will have Nic Anderson back today. Taylor Tatum is emerging as a stud in the backfield. Jackson Arnold can get you out of a jam. But without that O-Line, we're toast.

Today for my OPOG I'm going Taylor Tatum. If OU can run and win the time of possession battle, we have a chance.

DEFENSE

I saw a stat that said the Vols average more rushing yards per game than OU's entire offense per game. Erego, vis a vis, suffice it to say, the Sooners have to stop the run. 

The Tennessee QB has never played a true road game. The crowd and the D need to frazzle him. 

My DPOG is R Mason Thomas. Dude is a beast.

THE SCORE

I really don't think the Sooners can match the offense of the Vols. But if they do, they will win by of score of, say, 31-28.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner