#3 Oklahoma @ #12 Oklahoma State football preview

Sooners face rival Cowboys with potential BCS Championship Game on the line

Based on what happened Thursday night in Austin, Bedlam takes on another meaning Saturday night in Stillwater, Okla.

After No. 2 Texas dismantled Texas A&M, 49-9 and had enough style its in win, the pressure is on No. 3 Oklahoma to do the same with rival No. 12 Oklahoma St. in them annual renewal of the Bedlam Series.

With so much at stake, the Sooners understand that simply winning may not be enough.

“We just have to realize that no matter where we are at, we have to come out and win,’’ Sooner defensive back Dominique Franks said. “It’s all on us.’’

While the Sooners are the latest trendy team for the voters to fall in love with, the pattern in the Big 12 is that the road team has struggled in these big games. Texas Tech was the latest to fall last week when they went to Norman.

Will the Sooners be next?

The Bowl Championship Series separates Texas (.921) and Oklahoma (.913) by a thin margin. As for the Big 12 South title, there is still much left to be decided:

If Texas Tech beats Baylor and Oklahoma wins, the BCS computer will send the highest ranked Big 12 South team to the championship game Dec. 6 in Kansas City.
If Oklahoma State and Tech win, Texas Tech goes because it wins the head-to-head with Texas.
If Oklahoma and Baylor win, Texas goes because it wins the head-to-head with the Sooners.

However, neither Texas nor Oklahoma has to play in the Big 12 title game to get the BCS championship game.

What was so impressive about Oklahoma’s 65-21 win over Texas Tech was that the Sooner defense delivered relentless pressure on the Red Raider offense. The unit will need to do that against the Cowboys who are averaging nearly 493 yards per game.

OSU got some good news when coach Mike Gundy said he expects Big 12 leading rusher Kendall Hunter (1,434 yards) to be at full strength.

That would take some of edge off quarterback Zac Robinson who has thrown 2,481 yards. However, the Cowboys really need sophomore wide receiver Dez Bryant to show up for a big game. Against Texas and Texas Tech, he really was not a factor.

Since the loss to Texas, the Sooner running game has found great resourcefulness as it piling up well over 200 yards per game. With DeMarco Murray at 959 yards and Chris Brown at 899 yards, Oklahoma has a chance to produce two 1,000-yard backs since 1973.

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That makes it nearly unbeatable for Heisman Trophy leader quarterback Sam Bradford to sit back and pick defenses apart. Bradford is already at 3,710 passing yards and 42 touchdowns this season

“Thankfully, we have played a lot of high-powered offenses and been very successful against them,’’ Cowboys linebacker Seb Clements said. “I think we have to really study them to know what they are coming at us with. I think we have a good game plan.’’

Oklahoma has won the last five in this series. The Sooners should make it six.

Prediction: Oklahoma 39, Oklahoma St. 26

OU @ oSu Notable:

Oklahoma is only the school to produce four coaches with at least 100 wins. Bob Stoops (107-23, 1999-2008), Bennie Owen (122-54-1, 1905-26), Bud Wilkinson (145-29-4, 1947-63) and Barry Switzer (157-29-4, 1973-88).
The Cowboys will say good-bye to 15 seniors including punter Matt Fodge who is one of the nation’s best at 44.4 per effort. He is a Ray Guy Finalist.

Bedlam Series

No. 3 Oklahoma (10-1, 6-1) @ No. 12 Oklahoma St. (8-2, 5-2)

Day/Time: Saturday/7 p.m. CST
Site: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Okla.
TV: ABC
Series: 103rd meeting. Oklahoma leads, 73-16-7

By Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Fans Staff Writer

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