TCU Horned Frogs vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Happy Thanksgiving, Sooners fans. I hope you all had a lovely day and have a terrific weekend in store. Today the Sooners tie a bow on the regular season in a special Friday tilt, at home, against the Horned Frogs. Last week the Sooners won ugly against BYU and lost both Dillon Gabriel to a concussion and Jackson Arnold's redshirt. It was a game the Sooners almost certainly would have lost last year. So while there is plenty to bitch about that needs to improve (game/clock management), it's important to remember that there has been some significant improvement this season. 

Alas, it's senior day in Norman, the Sooners will reach 10 wins with a victory today and they are still have a shot at making the Big 12 championship game. Let's go.

OFFENSE

My brother-in-law Kyle sent me an article this week that said DG is a no go against TCU and that he hadn't practiced all week. Kyle then said he saw DG practicing this week with his own eyes. An article in The Oklahoman says DG has been practicing and is probable. I think he probably goes today. 

Whether it's DG or Jackson Arnold, the Sooners have started rounding into form the last two weeks. Jeff Lebby seems to have realized that you need not rely so heavily on cute tricks and gimmicks when you have personnel that can play competent football. Gavin Sawchuk has been on beast mode, Drake Stoops is playing the best football of his life, Jaden Gibson and Nic Anderson are stretching the field. It's a simple game, really. 

Look for more of it today. I'm picking Drake Stoops for my OPOG. I've appreciated him but too easily dismissed the difference he makes. He really has had a remarkable year. On this, his Senior Day, he deserves some attention. I hope he goes for 100 with a score or two. None of that is a stretch.

DEFENSE

Kudos to this group for pulling the Sooner season out of the fire last week. Yes they gave up yards in chunks to a team that is not good at running the ball, but they got stops and turnovers when they had to. It's becoming a habit for them. 

I'm going to assume that TCU will be successful at something simple like a slant or RPO and it will drive us fans crazy. I would like to think our scheme is designed to tolerate success at something the opponent is not good at (like not worrying too much about a running attack) in order to take away everything else. I don't think we're that clever.

All this to say, we just need to keep getting stops when it matters and the occasional turnover from playmakers. Danny Stutsman is our best player and Billy Bowman is our best playmaker. I'm going Billy for DPOG.

THE SCORE

I laid out the plan last week. Win out, get help, win the Big 12, lose on national TV in the playoffs. It's all out there still. 

I like the Sooners big today on Senior Day. The best part; watch how few defensive players are playing their last game today. This team is young and this year could be a springboard for being truly in the discussion for the natty.

I'll take the Sooners today 35-10. Boomer to the motherfucking Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners versus Texas Christian Horned Frogs

How about that 21 point come from behind victory against the reviled Longhorns, Sooner fans? And how about that Caleb Williams? Should he start? 

• The Sooners had 500 yards and scored every time he touched the ball when he was in the game.
• The Sooners are trying to win games not please parents.
• What message does it send to the rest of the team if you start Spencer Rattler?
• Rattler was benched for his play, not for an injury.

In short, I'll be shocked if Williams doesn't start. He earned the time the same as any other position. The Sooners are at home and prohibitive favorites. If he's ineffective you bench him. For now, today, he has beat out Rattler. I would be stunned if he doesn't get the call. The offense has not been firing under all cylinders with Rattler thus far. We got a taste with Caleb Williams. Sooner Nation is dying to see how the Cadillac drives. 

OFFENSE

I would love to pick Kennedy Brooks for my OPOG today but loyal readers already know where this column is headed. Brooks has landed on my just announced All Underrated  Running Back Team. He joins Demarco Murray and Samaje Perine in this century and Greg Pruitt from last. Brooks performance against Texas was so strong and he continues to get no love.

Appropriately, we're riding the Caleb Williams train today. The guy has an extra level and electricity that comes through the television. When he trots on the field today the crowd is going to lose their shit. This dude has it.

He's my OPOG and it's job until he loses it. I love how he stuck in the pocket, commanded the offense and made confident throws. He's got this.

DEFENSE

As per usual I have no idea what TCU brings on offense. I'm guessing an average QB who will play solid but throw at least one really dumb INT. They'll have a running back who is solid between the tackles but won't get to 100. I bet they have one really good wide receiver who will expose Jaden Davis or Latrell McCutchen. 

Today I expect a defense that has consistently done "just enough to win" to be their usual selves but they'll shine because the Sooner offense will look more like its expected self. 

For my DPOG I'm going Shane Whitter. He caught my eye last week. Maybe I should rename this award to the Hot Hand on D because that's how I roll. 

THE SCORE

I like the Sooners big on what otherwise might be a letdown alert for a few reasons. First, Caleb Williams starting. Second, homecoming. Third, at night. Iowa is losing at home as I write this. Anything can happen any week. But with factors in play that give the Sooners an extra edge there is no letdown today.

Sooners big. OU 49, Horned Frogs 17.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

Oklahoma Sooners versus TCU Horned Frogs

The Sooners certainly are not boring. At our big football watch party last week we were unabashedly calling for the benching of Jalen Hurts in the first half. He had taken my game plan (don't make dumb choices, turn the ball over) and executed it horribly. The defense, for their part, looked like doo-doo. Then, the second half. It was clinical PlayStation execution.

The season is still alive and means something here on senior day in Norman.

OFFENSE

Hopefully Jalen remembers the offense is at its best when all options are involved. They were forced by the unfortunate CeeDee Lamb injury to learn this in the second half last week. Under no circumstances is it necessary for him to carry the ball 30 times. Spread the love. Get rid of the ball quickly and decisively. His running should be the first option maybe 10 times.

It is in this vein that someone besides Jalen should be OPOG. I'm going out on a limb here and picking Austin Stogner. I will also pour one out for the brief, semi-illustrious career of Grant Calcaterra.

DEFENSE

Let's be very clear that the Sooners offense was the best defense before we go sucking each others popscicles about the performance of the D in the second half last week.

Now, when they had to, they certainly played well. Let's keep it going this week. The proverbial turnover monkey is off the proverbial back so maybe they keep it going today. The key is a plus two turnover differential.

Who gets the first one? I'm going with my DPOG and Country Music Legend Ronnie Perkins.

THE SCORE

I feel like this one is not going to be clinical. TCU has a history of coming to Norman and making things difficult. They are the eager spoiler today. They take the loss but make it interesting.

I'm going Sooners 31, Horned Frogs 21

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Christian

Two weeks ago, at halftime of the OU-texas train wreck, the writers of this blog and its most loyal reader openly speculated, nee pleaded, for Mike Stoops to get fired at halftime. We hoped Lincoln Riley would hand the playbook and play calling duties  to Ruffin McNeil and allow Mikey to scream up in the booth to his heart's content whist causing no further damage to the Sooners.

Turns out it may have happened. Stoops was gone by Monday. Now the most intriguing part of this is not that Ruffin McNeil will be calling plays. That will be improvement enough. No, it's this Bob Diaco fellow. He's had a bit of a winding road at Notre Dame, UConn, Nebraska and now here. But, at OU he's been a "defensive analyst". The job description sounds a lot like any other asshole watching games except he got to meet with coaches and help conceive game plans (get turnovers, tackle, etc.). He couldn't go to practices, he couldn't interact with players and he couldn't be near the field on game days.

Now he can. So he can be an actual breath of fresh air for the players while Ruffin McNeil provides some transitional stability. Given that Mike should have been let go when Lincoln Riley came on board but was let go mid-season a year and a half too late, I guess this is as good an outcome as we could hope for.

OFFENSE

I'm running out of superlatives for Kyler Murray. You can watch any other game and see quarterbacks who look like they are in quicksand when the pocket collapses. Murray's ability to not only escape but be at full speed in two steps is a game changer. His 60 yard run against texas probably would have vaulted him to the top of the Heisman heap had the Sooners had an inkling of a defense.

The best news for this offense coming into this week is that the running game is rounding into form. The Sooners averaged seven yards per carry against texas. I'm not buying what TCU is selling this year. These numbers should continue for the Sooners.

Out of sheer vanity I don't like Kyler Murray leading in rushing. However, that's moronic. If it works do it.

That said, I'm going with my guy Hollywood this week. I just want to see him shred the Horned Frogs.

DEFENSE

We all know the D is going to look like baby eaters this week. They played so bad they got their coach fired. Now they have a new voice, a fresh start, open positions and they are facing a quarterback who, in 100% honesty, I have never seen make such poor decisions at the position.

Have you ever seen a razzle dazzle play where a non-quarterback is throwing the ball, the play unravels, he shits his pants and makes the worst decision of all time to throw across the field into triple coverage? The TCU quarterback does it five times a game. No shit, I cannot imagine how bare the cupboard is behind him. He has no business being on the field.

So, the Sooners will likely force more turnovers on Saturday than they have up to this point this season combined (5).

For my DPOG I'll go Curtis Bolton. He apparently was the most fired up about the D's woeful showing. He's been as good as anyone all year. He's a senior. He should step up.

I'd also like to say for the record that while a solid defensive showing is so predictable that Vegas isn't taking bets on it, the real thing to watch for is two or three weeks from now. What the D looks like then will determine the fate of this football team. Literally anything looking like competence could give the Sooners a sporting chance to make the Playoff.

THE SCORE

This is the perfect situation for the Sooners. A coaching change coming off a loss and a bye week. They play against what might be the worst starting quarterback in the Big 12 (saying something). The Sooners are going to cruise.

Sooners 56 Horned Frogs 17

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

The Big 12 Championship

The Sooners have played their way into the Big 12 championship yet again and have a chance to start putting a pretty bow on a season for the ages. To recap,  Bob Stoops resigned and the Lincoln Riley era began. Baker Mayfield returns to "finish what he started". Then, in spite of losing their top wide receiver and top two running backs from a year ago, Baker manages to run an offense that's arguably improved over last year. Aaand, he's running away with the Heisman Trophy.

Following the inexpicable Iowa State loss, the offense has rolled on and the D has done enough to not ruin hopes and dreams. They've run the Big 12 gauntlet. Everything is out if front of them.

I am, dare I say, optimistic. It's all out there for the taking. A win and they're in the playoff. Standing in the way is a pesky Gary Patterson TCU squad. He will be pulling out all the stops.

OFFENSE

At this point there are no surprises. The presumptive Heisman trophy winner, the best O-line in college football and play makers all around. The Sooners need to take care of the football and not take sacks to win this one. TCU has to play otherworldly and still the Sooners will score points.

Round 1 of this matchup was the Rodney Anderson show. He dominated rushing and receiving. This may have been born more out of necessity than game plan as TCU has a salty pass defense. It's going to take a more complete collective effort from the wide receivers to build up enough scores to get comfy. Distributions to a variety of wide receivers and a bruising run game should soften things up nicely.

Baker is OPOG 1A (and spoiler: he will be for every remaining game) but for 1B I'll go Marquise Brown. Just a gut feeling. Visions of him catching the ball in stride in open space get me fired up.

DEFENSE

The oft maligned defense has managed to do just enough over the course of the season to win but, to their credit, they've battled, made plays when they absolutely had to, and made more adjustments both in game and in season than I can ever recall.

The good and frustrating thing about this D is they tend to play with an edge in big games. So they should be good to go. Why they can't do it all the time is beyond me but I'm moving on from it. All I care about is good effort and good tackling.

Much like the last time these teams met I'm not scared of Kenny Hill. He is average at best. This offense is a pretty good matchup for this defense. I'm sure there will be some frustration with awful tackling including some missed chances in the backfield and a run or two up the middle that go for big yards. It's just what you get with these guys. All you can ask is to keep it to a minimum.

I don't think there's a individual you can pick in this group. It'd be a stretch to say that's a good thing because the collective is untrustworthy. If forced I'll take Caleb Kelly. He has the potential to make an impact blitzing Hill, stopping the run or defending the pass.

SCORE

I'm feeling pretty good about this one. I ain't skeered of the TCU offense. I think the Sooner D will step up but they are going to take some big shots from the Frogs. Again, TCU has nothing to lose and will relish playing the spoiler role. The Sooners offense is going to do what it do. I'd like to see the Sooners keep the hammer down. No points are too many. No lead is safe. Hopefully they don't have to play from behind.

The D really just needs to be it's average best. If TCU punts more than five or six times I think that's enough cushion for the Sooners to build up a solid lead. Then it's on to the next round.

I'll take the Sooners 42-28

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

Sooners versus Horned Frogs

Look no further than Sooners v. Horned Frogs if you wanted to make the case that college football doesn't need a playoff because the whole season is, itself, The Playoffs. For the record I think that argument is bullshit. The Sooners, in a massive win last week, eliminated the Cowboys, made most Oklahomans shit themselves and had me saying out loud that I was done with football (due to painfully numerous and long reviews). Now the Sooners and Horned Frogs play in another elimination game. This time it's in Norman. At night. Baker Damn Mayfield called out the fans this week. I have a feeling the fanbase is going to respond. This one could get rowdy.

The Horned Frogs come in with just one loss and, surprise surprise, I haven't watched them so I assume they are yet another well coached Gary Patterson squad that wins because they don't beat themselves. Patterson is one of those rare coaches that plays chess in a checkers world. Can they game plan the Sooners a la Iowa State and, if so, can the Sooners adapt?

OFFENSE

How about that Marquise Brown. Holy smokes. I don't usually like nicknames from on-air personalities but if you go for 260 yards in Bedlam, have a full mouth of gold teeth and you're from Hollywood, Florida, I'm good with the nickname Hollywood. It's always awesome to see someone so fast they make other players look like they're in slow motion.

Navin made a great point last week about how incredible the running back group has been by stepping up as a platoon and replacing Joe Mixon and Samaje. You can now say the same about the receivers. DeeDee, Mark Andrews, Brown, Bedet, Mykel Jones. Lethal.

To say it all goes with/through Baker though is such an understatement and a broken record though. He is a bona fide Sooner legend at this point. One of the all time greats by any metric.

For my OPOG I'm breaking me own rule and going with Baker. It's not my fault he's this good and I shall not punish him for it.

DEFENSE

I mean, I just don't know what to make of this situation. My head about popped off last week when Jordan Thomas cemented his place as one of the all time worst corners in OU history. It boggled my mind though when Parnell Motley was benched before Thomas for being ineffective. I mean, I get it if Motley was off. But how much worse could he have been than Thomas? Anyhow, they both wound up getting replaced by freshmen and it might happen again today.

I am impressed by Mike Stoops willingness to get out of his comfort zone and change personnel until he find pieces that a) give a shit and b) are effective. But Stoops is living in his own little playoff scenario wherein he's scheming for his coaching life. At OU anyway.

I don't care what happens as long as Kenny Hill Jr. gets knocked on his ass many times. This is a particular kind of asshole. He tried to patent his nickname, "Kenny Trill" for fucks sake.

For my DPOG I'll go Tre Brown. I think he's the freshmen CB who had two INT's wiped out by penalty last week. There is a very good chance he won't see the field today.

THE SCORE

I'm really thinking this is a low scoring (compared to last week) slugfest. TCU will score because they can fog a mirror and the Sooners offense will have to work it's ass off to get things rolling. Still, Sooner Nation wants this to be a legendary evening and the collective will wins out.

Sooners 34 Horned Frogs 28

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

OU vs. TCU

The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs come to Norman thinking upset and for good reason. This game reeks of letdown what with coming off a big win and the Longhorns looming next week.

Speaking of big wins, most of the world figured the Sooners would be 3-1 by now. But no, bitches. A thumping of Notre Dame has the crimson colored glasses in full effect. At the quarter pole, the Sooners find themselves in contention. Better still, they're already playing the nobody believed in us card, a key emotional intangible for long-term success.

OFFENSE

I officially have a Bellboner for the Belldozer. He's a gamer. My favorite thing about what he brings to the offense is that he has more than two brain cells. It appears that the days of looking to the sideline for the pre-snap read are over. Some semblance of a hurry up is back in play. He's making good reads and of course he can run if plays break down. I'm fired up for the Blake Bell era. Related Note: The looking to the sideline routine of yesteryear lends credence to my pet theory that Landry Jones is not smart.

It didn't hurt either that the line was awesome last week. Bell could have had a pack of Pall Mall's rolled up in his jersey sleeve because he had time to smoke in the pocket on some of his passes.

Today, let's shoot for "more of same". The TCU defense is dinged up. Their best player is out. I'd like to see some better effort in play calling on 3rd down and in the red zone. Other than that let's keep on trucking.

I suppose I'll go with Sterling Sheperd here. He's starting to stick out as guy who's ready to make the leap.

DEFENSE

By all accounts, the TCU offense is pretty pathetic. A 30 point outburst against SMU isn't particularly scary. The Sooner D is much improved and actually pretty hard at this point. The big plays they gave up against Notre Dame were embarrassing at first glance but Notre Dame executed really well. The D more than made up for it with big plays of their own so their confidence is justifiably sky high.

The Linebackers in particular have shown up. I'm assuming they are more effective because the D-Line is getting some good push. I don't care what the reason is, it's awesome.

For my DPOG I'm going Julian Wilson. No gut feelings or anything here I just like his game. He's got a nose for the ball as they say and seems to be heavily involved when good things happen.

SCORE

Well, believe it or not I like our chances here and I don't think a letdown is in play. The Sooners have plenty still to work on and need this week to button these weaknesses up before another emotional game next week. Mentally, I think this team is stronger than year's past. There's an edge to them that is oh so nice to see again.

I like the Sooners here 31 - 7. Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner.

OU vs. TCU

Well that was exciting wasn't it? It was easily a top 5 Sooner game I've seen in person.

For grins, my top 5:

5. OU vs. Texas 1996. It was my Freshman year at OU. Only RRR game I've been to. I bought my ticket the day I enrolled. My seat was about 3 rows behind the texas bench and on the 50 yard line. OU was shit that year but won in overtime. First walkoff win I saw until...

4. OU vs. Oklahoma State 2012. A puncher's brawl. No Defense. Last team with the ball wins. OU had the ball last. Unbelievable game by the Sooners. If half the teams of the Stoops era had this team's guts, Stoops would probably have 3 titles.

3. OU vs. Nebraska 1985 - Being but a wee lad I had no idea what was on the line here. Winning seemed as natural as Saturday morning cartoons. I don't have much memory of the game except for sitting in the North End Zone with my Dad and freezing our asses off. This, along with parking cars for money to buy tickets, are my first memories of Sooner football.

2. OU vs. Nebraska 2000. The cherry on top of the cake that was Red October. Best football atmosphere I've ever felt. First time I physically felt electricity in the air.

1. The National Championship game versus Florida State 2001. The culmination of a boyhood following the Sooners. Grew up during the good times, went to OU during the bad. Standing at the doorway of the real world back on top.

Back to last week.

Man, what a game against OSU. No Defense except when it mattered. A classic Lonnie game. One stereotypical costly pass and gaudy numbers otherwise. Two double digit comebacks. Then an awesome celebration that made you remember these are just college kids. The wind was so strong up in the 103 that my eyes started misting over.

So now TCU. It's TCB Saturday Part Deux. Win and a BCS game invite is all but assured. (Great question posed by friend Lucas Howard. Do you want the Sooners to go to a BCS and face Oregon? Holy smokes. I like their chances against Kent State.) Potential letdown maybe? Sure, but this team has shown over the course of the season that they can take a punch. According to Rocky that's what winner's do.

OFFENSE

Man I want to throw Landry a bone here but I can't. I dare not even speak of what he's been doing the last couple of weeks. Instead I go Justin Brown who's been as reliable a receiver as any of the greats the last few years. He's gathered in something ungodly like 30 catches the last three weeks. Sure handed, hard to bring down, great blocker. Damn, sure do wish we had this guy another year.

PS. Please, dear Baby Jesus, don't let TCU see the tape what happens when you get pressure on Landry.

DEFENSE

It seems ludicrous to say, but maybe the boys are getting their sea legs back under them. Sure, they've given up yards in chunks and they're as soft up the middle as a three dollar tart, but they made plays when they had to last week and they need to hang their hats on these modest victories.

That said, TCU does not have the kind of offense that can score 50 points against average defenses. Even these supposed experts who say the Horned Frogs rush the ball very well are being kind at best and paranoid at worst.

TCU is not that good. I can't believe I'm doing this but I'm going Javon Harris here. If he makes me look like an asshole then it will be no surprise. But, if he can turn 3 whiffs into tackles, the defense just got about two touchdowns better. It's time for him to be a difference maker in a good way.

THE SCORE

TCU comes into the game being able to exploit the soft run defense of the Sooners. But can the Sooners take away the pass and make TCU one-dimensional enough to lock in on the run? Is the historically great TCU defense good enough to keep the Sooners offense off the field?

Maybe and no.

The Sooners are too much of a load on Offense and this could be almost like a home game for the Sooners. Fort Worth is an over 50 Sooner fan's wet dream. The only better regional location is Branson.

All things bode well for our Sooners.

OU 31 TCU 17

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner