@BPrzybylo - Despite all the talk of revenge not being on its mind, you know full well Oklahoma is heading into Jack Trice Stadium with something to prove.
Embarrassed by being upset at home in 2017, the Cyclones won’t be a team that can sneak up on the Sooners this year.
Problem is that just when you felt OU was starting to hit its stride, now Rodney Anderson is out for the rest of the season. It’ll take some time to find the perfect adjustment, and it won’t happen Saturday in Ames, at least not all the time.
It will be up to quarterback Kyler Murray to generate some offense with the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown and perhaps the first big outing for tight end Grant Calcaterra.
ISU is coming off scoring three points vs. in-state rival Iowa, but the perceived lack of offensive firepower obviously didn’t matter last October at Owen Field. OU’s aggressive nature must continue on defense. And if it does, it could lead to some difference-making plays in the secondary.
Forcing ISU into tough passing situations, the Sooners earn at least two interceptions to make things easier on the offense.
Trey Sermon carries the bulk of the load, while Marcelias Sutton and T.J. Pledger step in for spot-duty and do enough to have OU rush for more than 150 yards.
OU, not looking like a well-oiled machine all the time, still wins comfortably to check off that first road game and first in-conference contest.
Oklahoma 34, Iowa State 13.
@Eddie_Rado -
So far so good. That's probably the easiest way to describe Oklahoma's season through the first two games. Sure the Rodney Anderson injury wasn't news anyone wanted to hear, but the season (to date) has produced a number of positives.
Mike Stoops back? Not Texas back and we're certainly not ready to make any kind of outlandish proclamation but it's apparent there's tools to his disposal. A new energy and youth movement of sorts lends reason to think this thing might be able to be turned around. Hell, I've even developed a mancrush on Curtis Bolton. Special shouts to Neville Gallimore, too. What we do know is maximum effort is being given. Players are flying to the football. Fundamentals are being executed. Something you couldn't have said in recent years. It's a starting point.
Can there be anything learned on Saturday? Sure. This certainly doesn't feel like a revenge game. But how will Oklahoma handle it's first road trip of the year? Perhaps this is the biggest test for the Sooners leadership core to date. Strange things can happen on the road ... who is the leader? Who is the voice? Look for Kenneth Murray to set the tone once again.
Don't expect the Cyclones to make it two years in a row. Oklahoma takes care of business in a manor that will please the Crimson Corner.
Oklahoma 41
Iowa State 17
@Josh_M - I went into this game week very interested in how this match up could go. Could Oklahoma really deal without maybe the nation's best running back?
I wasn't buying.
Frankly? I'm still not.
Now that being said Iowa State has very real issues offensively. Without Kyle Kempt I just don't see Iowa State consistently moving the ball against Oklahoma.
Now I will say that I think it's a very interesting matchup for a Oklahoma's offense, and that we may get a real chance to see just how comfortable this team is with the depths of their playbook. I say that because this Iowa State team will take away some things that Oklahoma wants to do but can they take away everything Oklahoma wants to do, probably not.
I would expect this one to maybe start off a little ugly and then see Oklahoma pull away maybe starting late second quarter.
I am expecting a big day from Kenneth Murray yet again.
Oklahoma 44
Iowa State 14
Embarrassed by being upset at home in 2017, the Cyclones won’t be a team that can sneak up on the Sooners this year.
Problem is that just when you felt OU was starting to hit its stride, now Rodney Anderson is out for the rest of the season. It’ll take some time to find the perfect adjustment, and it won’t happen Saturday in Ames, at least not all the time.
It will be up to quarterback Kyler Murray to generate some offense with the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown and perhaps the first big outing for tight end Grant Calcaterra.
ISU is coming off scoring three points vs. in-state rival Iowa, but the perceived lack of offensive firepower obviously didn’t matter last October at Owen Field. OU’s aggressive nature must continue on defense. And if it does, it could lead to some difference-making plays in the secondary.
Forcing ISU into tough passing situations, the Sooners earn at least two interceptions to make things easier on the offense.
Trey Sermon carries the bulk of the load, while Marcelias Sutton and T.J. Pledger step in for spot-duty and do enough to have OU rush for more than 150 yards.
OU, not looking like a well-oiled machine all the time, still wins comfortably to check off that first road game and first in-conference contest.
Oklahoma 34, Iowa State 13.
@Eddie_Rado -
So far so good. That's probably the easiest way to describe Oklahoma's season through the first two games. Sure the Rodney Anderson injury wasn't news anyone wanted to hear, but the season (to date) has produced a number of positives.
Mike Stoops back? Not Texas back and we're certainly not ready to make any kind of outlandish proclamation but it's apparent there's tools to his disposal. A new energy and youth movement of sorts lends reason to think this thing might be able to be turned around. Hell, I've even developed a mancrush on Curtis Bolton. Special shouts to Neville Gallimore, too. What we do know is maximum effort is being given. Players are flying to the football. Fundamentals are being executed. Something you couldn't have said in recent years. It's a starting point.
Can there be anything learned on Saturday? Sure. This certainly doesn't feel like a revenge game. But how will Oklahoma handle it's first road trip of the year? Perhaps this is the biggest test for the Sooners leadership core to date. Strange things can happen on the road ... who is the leader? Who is the voice? Look for Kenneth Murray to set the tone once again.
Don't expect the Cyclones to make it two years in a row. Oklahoma takes care of business in a manor that will please the Crimson Corner.
Oklahoma 41
Iowa State 17
@Josh_M - I went into this game week very interested in how this match up could go. Could Oklahoma really deal without maybe the nation's best running back?
I wasn't buying.
Frankly? I'm still not.
Now that being said Iowa State has very real issues offensively. Without Kyle Kempt I just don't see Iowa State consistently moving the ball against Oklahoma.
Now I will say that I think it's a very interesting matchup for a Oklahoma's offense, and that we may get a real chance to see just how comfortable this team is with the depths of their playbook. I say that because this Iowa State team will take away some things that Oklahoma wants to do but can they take away everything Oklahoma wants to do, probably not.
I would expect this one to maybe start off a little ugly and then see Oklahoma pull away maybe starting late second quarter.
I am expecting a big day from Kenneth Murray yet again.
Oklahoma 44
Iowa State 14
