* 12-11
** 38-35
*** 15-21-1
**** 8-2
Just another big week for Big 12 football. As I said here a few weeks ago, if Texas loses to Texas Tech it's going to turn this conference and the BCS upside down. And it's very much looking that way. As far as the Big 12 Conference goes, I still think we're in for a few surprises..If OU beats Tech, then we have a 3 way tie for first place..And the numbers will be oh so close between OU and Texas getting to the Big 12 title game. If OU beats Texas Tech and then loses to OSU (a real possibilty), it means because of their head to head win over Texas that TT makes it into the Big 12 title game for the first time ever.
But I think the forgotten team in all of this mess is Missouri. What if we see a Tech/Mizzou matchup? And what happens if Mizzou wins? A real possibilty since Mizzou took care of this Tech team rather easily last season. And the fact that Mizzou has the experience of being there just last season, and are playing in their backyard.. What happens then? The only team that would be left in the Big 12 with just one loss would be Texas. Would they make it to the title game without ever playing in their conference championship? If Oregon State keeps winning games, the BCS will have a choice of a USC or Texas team who didn't win their conference. Of course I'll be pulling for OU through all of this. But if OU happens to lose, it will give me alot of pleasure to see the BCS officials squirming over these two teams. But as far as the Big 12 goes, the last thing I want to happen is to see a one loss Texas Tech team beat Mizzou in the Big 12 Championship game, and then go on to play for the national championship..In my opinion, if this is the case, then I don't believe the Big 12 will be represented by it's best team. Which if it isn't Texas, is certainly OU.
OU (-6.5) over Texas Tech ***
In his press conference today, Bob Stoops challenged the OU fans to get off their hands and make more noise in E.K. Gaylord Stadium than they've ever made before. And come Saturday night, I'm betting that 85,000 drunken fans are going to make their presence known. And I wouldn't take this advantage lightly...The homefield advantage has been huge in the Big 12 this season. Especially among the top 4 teams in the South Division..And I think it continues here. OU is 60-2 at home for a reason. Norman is a snakepit for opposing teams..The Sooners are simply a different team at home. The only two losses that they've had over the years are as 25 point favorites over TCU and 27 point favorites over OSU...Both unexpected huge upsets..The point is, under Stoops OU has never lost a must-win marqueee matchup in Norman. And I don't think it changes here.
The Texas Tech/OU game has always been about matchups. And Leach & TT's gameplan is simple..We're going to make you cover and account for our 7 best skill players with your 7 best defensive backs. And there are basically only two teams in the Big 12 who can do that. And that is OU and Texas. Stoops has always been able to defend against Leach's schemes because OU has the skill players and the talent to play one on one defense and account for all of the TT receivers.. Unlike OSU and some of the thinner less skilled defenses, the Sooners have the players who all have lightning speed and can tackle in space. Which is the key here..You absolutely HAVE to be able to tackle in space against this TT team, because they are better than anybody at catching the ball in space and making big yardage out of short yardage passes. They can make you look bad in a hurry if you don't have the right matchups and schemes for this offense.
All I've been hearing this week is "how is OU going to stop this TT attack"? But I haven't heard very many media talking heads say how TT is going to stop OU's offense. Who do you think is going to be more succesful, the team with the more balanced offense with the better running game playing at home, or the visiting team who has to put up with the 12th man? I'm betting TT's offense will be more disrupted than OU's. More things I'm hearing is if the OU defensive line can't get to Harrell then he's going to pick OU apart...I've got news for you, OU has very seldom ever gotten to Harrell or any other TT QB. Stoops doesn't use this kind of gameplan to beat TT. Their simply too good on the OL to get to Harrell. Texas couldn't do it, and OU won't try.. OU will rush 4 men and keep the blitzes to a minimum in this game in order to make TT beat them all the way down the field. And the more Harrell passes, the more he opens himself up for mistakes. When you have the amount of skill people in the secondary as OU has you can do this. OSU has some good players on defense..But they don't have nearly enough bodies who can handle all of the TT receivers & RB's one on one..And that was the big difference in that game. I also haven't seen any team that has been able to consistently stop OU. Especially in this last month since RB Demarco Murray is now 100% healthy and running with more confidence than he ever has before... OU's running game has totally made this offense lethal..And OU will also have senior WR Manuel Johnson back from injury for this game. He was having an outstanding season before he got hurt, including that unbelivable receiving performance against TCU earlier in the year..OU is fully loaded and ready. And I look for a great perofrmance out of this offense, and a great gameplan out of Venables and Stoops, who have had 2 weeks to prepare for this TT offense...TT is really an improved team on both sides of the ball. And they won't go easy...Harrell is one of the smartest QB's that I've ever seen. And this team is on a roll..But they haven't played in an atmosphere that is anything like the one they'll be in on Saturday night..This is a big stage for a team who is not used to big stages..Much like what happened to Mizzou against OU last season (twice). And TT on the road hasn't seen a quick striking offense that is anything like OU's. They hit you fast and hard..And I have my doubts that TT can hold up to this kind of heat in Norman...Unlike some of the homers around Oklahoma, I don't expect an OU runaway..I think it will be a tough hard hitting game. But I just don't think the TT defense can withstand 60 minutes of Sam Bradford and company....I expect OU to win in a 38-28 type of game.
** 38-35
*** 15-21-1
**** 8-2
Just another big week for Big 12 football. As I said here a few weeks ago, if Texas loses to Texas Tech it's going to turn this conference and the BCS upside down. And it's very much looking that way. As far as the Big 12 Conference goes, I still think we're in for a few surprises..If OU beats Tech, then we have a 3 way tie for first place..And the numbers will be oh so close between OU and Texas getting to the Big 12 title game. If OU beats Texas Tech and then loses to OSU (a real possibilty), it means because of their head to head win over Texas that TT makes it into the Big 12 title game for the first time ever.
But I think the forgotten team in all of this mess is Missouri. What if we see a Tech/Mizzou matchup? And what happens if Mizzou wins? A real possibilty since Mizzou took care of this Tech team rather easily last season. And the fact that Mizzou has the experience of being there just last season, and are playing in their backyard.. What happens then? The only team that would be left in the Big 12 with just one loss would be Texas. Would they make it to the title game without ever playing in their conference championship? If Oregon State keeps winning games, the BCS will have a choice of a USC or Texas team who didn't win their conference. Of course I'll be pulling for OU through all of this. But if OU happens to lose, it will give me alot of pleasure to see the BCS officials squirming over these two teams. But as far as the Big 12 goes, the last thing I want to happen is to see a one loss Texas Tech team beat Mizzou in the Big 12 Championship game, and then go on to play for the national championship..In my opinion, if this is the case, then I don't believe the Big 12 will be represented by it's best team. Which if it isn't Texas, is certainly OU.
OU (-6.5) over Texas Tech ***
In his press conference today, Bob Stoops challenged the OU fans to get off their hands and make more noise in E.K. Gaylord Stadium than they've ever made before. And come Saturday night, I'm betting that 85,000 drunken fans are going to make their presence known. And I wouldn't take this advantage lightly...The homefield advantage has been huge in the Big 12 this season. Especially among the top 4 teams in the South Division..And I think it continues here. OU is 60-2 at home for a reason. Norman is a snakepit for opposing teams..The Sooners are simply a different team at home. The only two losses that they've had over the years are as 25 point favorites over TCU and 27 point favorites over OSU...Both unexpected huge upsets..The point is, under Stoops OU has never lost a must-win marqueee matchup in Norman. And I don't think it changes here.
The Texas Tech/OU game has always been about matchups. And Leach & TT's gameplan is simple..We're going to make you cover and account for our 7 best skill players with your 7 best defensive backs. And there are basically only two teams in the Big 12 who can do that. And that is OU and Texas. Stoops has always been able to defend against Leach's schemes because OU has the skill players and the talent to play one on one defense and account for all of the TT receivers.. Unlike OSU and some of the thinner less skilled defenses, the Sooners have the players who all have lightning speed and can tackle in space. Which is the key here..You absolutely HAVE to be able to tackle in space against this TT team, because they are better than anybody at catching the ball in space and making big yardage out of short yardage passes. They can make you look bad in a hurry if you don't have the right matchups and schemes for this offense.
All I've been hearing this week is "how is OU going to stop this TT attack"? But I haven't heard very many media talking heads say how TT is going to stop OU's offense. Who do you think is going to be more succesful, the team with the more balanced offense with the better running game playing at home, or the visiting team who has to put up with the 12th man? I'm betting TT's offense will be more disrupted than OU's. More things I'm hearing is if the OU defensive line can't get to Harrell then he's going to pick OU apart...I've got news for you, OU has very seldom ever gotten to Harrell or any other TT QB. Stoops doesn't use this kind of gameplan to beat TT. Their simply too good on the OL to get to Harrell. Texas couldn't do it, and OU won't try.. OU will rush 4 men and keep the blitzes to a minimum in this game in order to make TT beat them all the way down the field. And the more Harrell passes, the more he opens himself up for mistakes. When you have the amount of skill people in the secondary as OU has you can do this. OSU has some good players on defense..But they don't have nearly enough bodies who can handle all of the TT receivers & RB's one on one..And that was the big difference in that game. I also haven't seen any team that has been able to consistently stop OU. Especially in this last month since RB Demarco Murray is now 100% healthy and running with more confidence than he ever has before... OU's running game has totally made this offense lethal..And OU will also have senior WR Manuel Johnson back from injury for this game. He was having an outstanding season before he got hurt, including that unbelivable receiving performance against TCU earlier in the year..OU is fully loaded and ready. And I look for a great perofrmance out of this offense, and a great gameplan out of Venables and Stoops, who have had 2 weeks to prepare for this TT offense...TT is really an improved team on both sides of the ball. And they won't go easy...Harrell is one of the smartest QB's that I've ever seen. And this team is on a roll..But they haven't played in an atmosphere that is anything like the one they'll be in on Saturday night..This is a big stage for a team who is not used to big stages..Much like what happened to Mizzou against OU last season (twice). And TT on the road hasn't seen a quick striking offense that is anything like OU's. They hit you fast and hard..And I have my doubts that TT can hold up to this kind of heat in Norman...Unlike some of the homers around Oklahoma, I don't expect an OU runaway..I think it will be a tough hard hitting game. But I just don't think the TT defense can withstand 60 minutes of Sam Bradford and company....I expect OU to win in a 38-28 type of game.
ffice
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