I'm afraid with an inexperienced o-line and the air raid taking away our best player we lose in Knoxville. UT 31 OU 24
We're not big enough to line up seven and stop their run game. We'll need help.Its the Mike Stoops show on Saturday.... His D will prove they are for real especially if Vols try to run on this front 7
That was the first game and Coach Stoops knew that Tennessee was coming up. We did not show last Saturday the same offense we will demonstrate against the Vols. Think back to when Tekas was good, and how many times we would not look so great on offense, until we unleashed the full spectrum of plays against the Horns. With Shepard and Westbrook to the outside, Mixon and Perine in the backfield, we will show a wide range of options we did not show against Akron.
Playing in Knoxville will not be easy, but we can win this. The one thing that worries me is turnovers, and we did a decent job against Akron. One fumble by a returner trying to break the big one and one pick by a now-backup QB known for throwing picks doesn't have me too concerned. I believe we win this game convincingly, unless we give the ball away several times!
Micco, we have a much better chance of stopping their running game than they do of stopping our passing game. We can mitigate their defensive strength (DL) by utilizing short routes and screen/draw plays. What can they do to mitigate our run D? All other things being equal, I see OU has having the matchup advantage. We have a far better chance of stopping their run game than they do of stopping our Air Raid.We're not big enough to line up seven and stop their run game. We'll need help.
That's my only big fear of this game. If we can't stop their running attack, it's going to be a 38-35 type game.
I think this is one of the most intriguing Sooner games going in, in a long time. It is hard to imagine that Bowling Green is more likely to score more points against UTenn in Knoxville than OU might. We struggled on offense for a while, for various reasons. They were the kinds of reasons that can get magnified in a road game. But then, UTenn got lit up more than a little by a less than terrific lower level conference football team.
So their defensive weaknesses might match up with our offensive weaknesses.
On the other hand, their offense was pretty much great. And so was OUr defense. So that will be a wonderful match up too.
I think OUr special teams might be really special. I am very interested to see how this obviously special true freshman kicker handles 105K screaming obscenities at him when it really matters. This week, it really matters.
I got to watch the replay for the first time tonight. I'm more impressed with everything good in the game than I was on Saturday. I think the Sooners are a top ten team. Maybe better than that. Not a chance if they don't put up a win this weekend, but I think they have a great chance to.
Stuff happens on the road and it will be hard to hear. But I think this defense has first line guys at every position and quality depth everywhere. The OLine needs to grow a little, but I think they will. Sooners win 38-27.
Protect the damn ball.
I hardly ever post, being here in Afghanistan but I think this game is so nerve wracking by us fans is because way down deep inside each of us we believe we saw a little something last week that reminds us of 2000 and we are scared to death to fall for it this early in the season. When we do beat UT this week we are going to really start having those feelings again. Get by this week with a win and we could go undefeated up to the final 3 games, making them super games. I think we open it up and win convincingly.
PoncaCitySooner, thank you for posting. I agree that we will win convincingly. And as K2C said, stay safe over there.
OU 29 UT 28
OU 26 UT 24
OU by 3.....That's my prediction.
After watching the Vols vs. BGSU replay, their defense looks plenty big & fast for the starters but it quickly drops off for the backups. On the other hand, OU's two-deep in skilled positions is better than it has been in years.
Call it cliche', but conditioning will play a huge role in this game. Their 1s on our 1s is close. Our 2s on their 2s is a massacre for OU.