@BPrzybylo - Oh, have two minds about the 2018 edition of Bedlam. One, it’s gonna be a party for Oklahoma on Saturday evening against Oklahoma State.
Two, ruh roh, it’s gonna be a struggle until the very end.
OSU feels like either a team that is saving everything it has left for this weekend, to spoil the Sooners chances at another berth in the college football playoff. Or a team that is ready to call it a day and just go through the motions these final three weeks.
The only other times the spread has been this wide in Norman, whoops, 2001 (OSU 16-13) and 2014 (OSU 38-35 OT). So yea, having a big spread number at Owen Field hasn’t meant much of anything toward OU’s success.
The difference, and why option No. 1 is what leaning toward, is that OU’s 2018 offense is light years ahead of 2001 (Nate Hybl) and 2014 (Cody Thomas). It’s hard to see how the Cowboys stop Kyler Murray and company on a consistent basis.
The offensive line has played its best game, it feels like, four weeks in a row. That’s pretty nuts. We’ve said it repeatedly about this team. If the defense can get one or two early stops, this could turn into a laugher in a hurry.
What could accelerate that process is if OU’s defense can be aggressive and make things happen. This feels like a good Saturday to be Curtis Bolton, Kenneth Murray and Jalen Redmond.
So we’ll go in between. It won’t be 42-38, won’t be 70-21, we’ll go...
OU 55
OSU 31
@Eddie_Rado - This is a weird one. By the end of the week we usually (think to) have a pretty good feel for the game. That's no different than this week. But I do pause, because everyone else is on the same side.
Oklahoma by a million. Maybe less. But certainly Oklahoma wins. Right?
Everything on paper tells you so. Oklahoma State has been dreadful on the road this season. Recent losses in Manhattan and Waco certainly point to that. But it is Bedlam. 2014 says hello. I don't think Lincoln Riley would re-kick.
Something tells me Oklahoma 'puts it together' on the defensive side of the ball. Maybe even forces a few turnovers. Curtis Bolton 3+ sacks on the day. That friends ... is a hot sports opinion.
Offensively I think it'll be more of the same ol, same ol. Kyler Murray stays hot. Kennedy Brooks takes his turn as the feature back. And CeeDee Lamb makes up for last weekend's outburst. Grant Calcaterra will be good for another meeting with the endzone as well.
Oklahoma 60
Oklahoma State 31
@Josh_M - I came into the week thinking that Oklahoma State might be sneaky for the Sooners but the more I watched their meeting with Baylor, they just feel like a team that is all out of sorts. In years past I was always a bit unnerved by how much reliance there was on the deep ball to create their offense.
Well this year Taylor Cornelius is far less of a vertical passer than Mason Rudolph has been the past few years and not only is the passing offensive less dynamic because of it - though Tylan Wallace is a potential Biletnikoff winner someday - but the running game has not found the same room to work.
Add in an offensive line that is solid but not the experienced, and cohesive, unit that we've seen over the last few years and you've just got an offense that while having some highly talented pieces like Wallace and Justice Hill doesn't have the continuity throughout.
Meanwhile that defense is an even bigger issue.
I'm right on board with Eddie and Bob here.
Oklahoma 55
Oklahoma State 27
Two, ruh roh, it’s gonna be a struggle until the very end.
OSU feels like either a team that is saving everything it has left for this weekend, to spoil the Sooners chances at another berth in the college football playoff. Or a team that is ready to call it a day and just go through the motions these final three weeks.
The only other times the spread has been this wide in Norman, whoops, 2001 (OSU 16-13) and 2014 (OSU 38-35 OT). So yea, having a big spread number at Owen Field hasn’t meant much of anything toward OU’s success.
The difference, and why option No. 1 is what leaning toward, is that OU’s 2018 offense is light years ahead of 2001 (Nate Hybl) and 2014 (Cody Thomas). It’s hard to see how the Cowboys stop Kyler Murray and company on a consistent basis.
The offensive line has played its best game, it feels like, four weeks in a row. That’s pretty nuts. We’ve said it repeatedly about this team. If the defense can get one or two early stops, this could turn into a laugher in a hurry.
What could accelerate that process is if OU’s defense can be aggressive and make things happen. This feels like a good Saturday to be Curtis Bolton, Kenneth Murray and Jalen Redmond.
So we’ll go in between. It won’t be 42-38, won’t be 70-21, we’ll go...
OU 55
OSU 31
@Eddie_Rado - This is a weird one. By the end of the week we usually (think to) have a pretty good feel for the game. That's no different than this week. But I do pause, because everyone else is on the same side.
Oklahoma by a million. Maybe less. But certainly Oklahoma wins. Right?
Everything on paper tells you so. Oklahoma State has been dreadful on the road this season. Recent losses in Manhattan and Waco certainly point to that. But it is Bedlam. 2014 says hello. I don't think Lincoln Riley would re-kick.
Something tells me Oklahoma 'puts it together' on the defensive side of the ball. Maybe even forces a few turnovers. Curtis Bolton 3+ sacks on the day. That friends ... is a hot sports opinion.
Offensively I think it'll be more of the same ol, same ol. Kyler Murray stays hot. Kennedy Brooks takes his turn as the feature back. And CeeDee Lamb makes up for last weekend's outburst. Grant Calcaterra will be good for another meeting with the endzone as well.
Oklahoma 60
Oklahoma State 31
@Josh_M - I came into the week thinking that Oklahoma State might be sneaky for the Sooners but the more I watched their meeting with Baylor, they just feel like a team that is all out of sorts. In years past I was always a bit unnerved by how much reliance there was on the deep ball to create their offense.
Well this year Taylor Cornelius is far less of a vertical passer than Mason Rudolph has been the past few years and not only is the passing offensive less dynamic because of it - though Tylan Wallace is a potential Biletnikoff winner someday - but the running game has not found the same room to work.
Add in an offensive line that is solid but not the experienced, and cohesive, unit that we've seen over the last few years and you've just got an offense that while having some highly talented pieces like Wallace and Justice Hill doesn't have the continuity throughout.
Meanwhile that defense is an even bigger issue.
I'm right on board with Eddie and Bob here.
Oklahoma 55
Oklahoma State 27
