Big 12 Championship - Iowa State

Welcome Sooner Nation. I'm feeling like we may be set up for one of the best games of the year. The Sooners are playing their best football at the right time. This is probably the biggest game in the history of Iowa State football, at least in my lifetime and we've got a revenge factor and trophies on the line at a neutral site. Let's do this. 

OFFENSE

Matt Campbell's defense is the only one that consistently gets under the skin of a Lincoln Riley offense. The Cyclones can frustrate and create scoring lulls. Spencer Rattler et al cannot get flustered. Rhamondre Stevenson can help with this. The boys up front need to establish dominance of the line of scrimmage early so Stevenson can be in Lincoln's back pocket any time he needs it. 

Meanwhile, if Austin Stogner returns all bets are off. The Sooners have established a lethal supporting cast around Rattler with Marvin Mims, Stogner, Mikey Henderson and Theo Wease. But if Stogner is available as a security blanket and Rhamondre can be consistent then Lincoln can be ultra-creative.

I imagine the Sooners will have some challenges and I wouldn't be surprised if Rattler throws a pick or possibly two. He could easily start pressing. Lincoln will try to get him in a rhythm so he doesn't have to put it all on his shoulders. What Rattler cannot do is take sacks. The Cyclones will be dialing up pressure more often than not so Rattler will have to make quick decisions.

I'm picking Rhamondre for my OPOG because he can match the toughness of the Cyclones and be the kind of guy who can impose his personality on his teammates. They'll need that toughness today.

DEFENSE

I imagine this group can't wait to get on the field for some revenge today. Three time tractor pull champion Ronnie Perkins wasn't available last time and needless to say the Cyclones didn't catch the Sooners at their best. Today they will. 

Like the Sooners offense, Iowa State will try to impose their will through the running game. Hot take alert: Breece Hall is one hell of a running back.  I imagine the Cyclones will try to use a lot of play action and misdirection to get the Sooners on their heels and/or overrunning plays to find space for Hall.

The Sooner D, for their part, just need to keep doing what they've done for the last month. Play fast and get after the quarterback. This unit is so much better than they were in the first matchup it may make the Cyclones head spin. Fingers crossed.

For my DPOG I'm picking Bookie. Naw, blood, I'm kidding. Fuck that guy. I'll take Isaiah Thomas. He's been set to beast mode all season. 

THE SCORE

This will be the game of the year in the Big 12. It's going to be hard fought and low scoring but lots of haymakers and back and forth. 

Of course I like the Sooners to win their 6th 'ship in a row but it'll be close. I like the Sooners 27, Cyclones 21

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Baylor Bears

 Welcome welcome Sooner fans. The Sooners presumably made the most of the 'Rona bye week and are poised to dismantle the hapless Baylor Bears in Norman this lovely Saturday night. Let's get right into it you guys.

OFFENSE

I'm all aboard the Rhamondre train and if he's playing (apparently an if on account of Covid-19) he's my OPOG. Baylor has no answer and he'll go for 150. 

If you are looking for a sleeper pick and, let's face it, who isn't, then keep an eye out for this Mikey Henderson fella. He's listed as an H-Back but looks like a WR/TE and can run or catch with speed to burn. He's a menace waiting to be unleashed.

DEFENSE

Uh oh someone found a defense. I will not pick a DPOG today. However, I want to see Bookie not act like a dumbfuck. That would be a major step forward. Dude brah single handedly ruined momentum against the Cowboys and gave the Pokes life they never deserved to live. 

THE SCORE

The folks at the Oklahoman seem to think this one will be close but I'm not buying. Sooners roll big time. 42-14. Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

Oklahoma Sooners versus Kansas Jayhawks

Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. The Sooners take on the Jayhawks today in Norman in a contest that hopefully will be called faster than the Oklahoma presidential race this past week. Kansas is atrocious. Owasso High might be able to give them a game. 

The Sooners, for their part, are coming off arguably their most complete football game against Texas Tech, a game where the Red Raiders were shellacked by a feisty and opportunistic Sooner defense, run over by Rhamondre Stevenson and smoked by Spencer Rattler who was doing his best Pat Mahomes impersonation. 

OFFENSE

It's crazy but the Sooners return to Norman for the first time since the K-State loss on September 26th. The group taking the field today is much further along and should cruise on friendly territory against the hapless Jayhawks. 

Rhamondre Stevenson looked fresh last week and should be a proverbial bull in a china shop. He'll be my OPOG today but don't sleep on Seth MacGowan. Lincoln Riley is finding news ways to get him the ball every week. He could be devastating in the passing game today by being a check down for Spencer Rattler. Rattler, for his part, can continue to progress by going through his reads. 

The Jayhawks are target practice and it's going to be devastating.

DEFENSE

There was a lot to be excited about last week with the performance of the D. The return of two-time PRCA gold buckle winner Ronnie Perkins injected some much lacking fire and snarl. Better yet, that attitude persisted for four quarters and was rewarded with more batted balls, INT's and loose balls than I can recall in years. 

Again, today provides an opportunity to build on that performance and continue to add depth everywhere. The Sooners will throw the kitchen sink at the Jayhawks both in terms of scheme and personnel. This game at this point of the schedule is a gift on a par with what the SEC does with mid-season Division II games.

Out of an abundance of caution I will not pick a DPOG this week.

THE SCORE

The newspaper today said the over/under on this game was 63 which seems ludicrous as the Sooners will have to stop themselves from scoring 70. While a shutout would be capital, it's hard to see a mistake free game from the D.

The Sooners obviously win easily and take this one 70-7.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas Longhorns

Good morning Sooner fans and welcome to the biggest day, so far, of the college football season. It's the Red River Rivalry and, thankfully, there is a lot on the line in this one. Let's dive right in.

The Sooners can remain undefeated this far into the season for the first time since 2011 and are looking to prove that the defense is worthy of some ballyhoo. A win places the Sooners firmly in the drivers seat.

This is must-win for the Longhorns. A loss might not cost them a shot at the Big 12 title but it eliminates them from any CFP consideration. A win and they are very much in the hunt and the national media will be more than happy to push that narrative. The prospect is nauseating.

OFFENSE

The Sooners have to negate the physicality of the Longhorn defense and take advantage of the apparent injuries in their secondary. I would normally think time would be well spent pounding the ball on the ground to negate blitzes and keep defenders honest. More likely the Sooners stick with what's been working and utilize some play action (RPO in the parlance of our times). If the secondary is the weakness and you have the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Charlston Rambo then, by all means, drop bombs early often.

In any case it depends on the offensive line. They are penalty prone, particularly Eric Swenson. This unit has to step up today. Play time is over. There are some dirty players on that Texas D and they cannot be allowed to push people around. The line has to set the tone and be able to match that physicality.

I believe in Jalen Hurts and he'll be cool as ice but he can't do it alone today. It will be interesting to see what his running game looks like today. I think it will be fairly limited. For my OPOG I'm going Rhamondre Stevenson even though I just talked about passing. He fits the mold of a "didn't see that coming" breakout which happens a lot in this game and he's a big play threat any time he touches the ball.

DEFENSE

Alex Grinch and his defense have to be licking their chops. Here they are, showing steady improvement this season, and now with an opportunity to make a legit statement. The Longhorns are more offensive than offensive juggernaut but Sam Ehlinger is a googly eyed media darling and the Sooners have been letting mediocre teams look good for years. The narrative can change today.

I anticipate an uptick in pre-snap movement from the D. I don't think Ehlinger can adapt and make quality reads. I also don't think he'll be able to get away from outside blitzes when they come. The key for the Sooners, surprise surprise, will be the front four. Texas will try to pound the ball and play keep away. This is the exact area that the Sooners have shown the most improvement this year. Texas would be dumb not to test it but even dumber not to have a Plan B.

You know I'd love to go with Neville Gallimore for my DPOG but I shall not. Instead, I'll go with Kenneth Michael Murray. As I sit here typing I am envisioning Alex Grinch finding new ways to use him. He can be a lethal X Factor if an offense doesn't know where he's going to be from play to play. Nobody besides Bookie Radley Hiles in this defense is able to do this like KMM and I'd rather see KMM do it than Bookie.

THE SCORE

I am very concerned about the Sooners offensive line and the physicality of the Longhorn D. The Sooner D has proven thus far that they can force some punts and get the offense back on the field. I like the Sooners getting out to an early lead. The key will be keeping the hammer down because Texas will not quit.

In the end I like the Sooners going away (can you believe it?) and sending a big statement to talking heads. OU has an opportunity, as mentioned, to be undefeated deeper into the season than they have been since 2011. I like the odds of a Heisman front-runner against a depleted defense and revamped Sooner D with everything to prove.

Sooners 34, Longhorns 17

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner!