Oklahoma vs. Stanford  

Sun Bowl  

December 31st 2:00 ET CBS

Despite a very disappointing season, the Sooners still get to face a very good opponent in the Stanford Cardinal. The 7-5 Sooners look to finish a season filled with a bevy of injuries on a high note. To do so they will have to limit Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart.

Stanford enters the contest at 8-4 and enters their first bowl game since 2001. The aforementioned Gerhart had a dream season rushing for 1,736 yards and 26 touchdowns. However, they are not simply a one man team. The Cardinal has one of the best young QB’s in the nation in Andrew Luck. The freshmen signal caller threw for 2,575 yards and 13 scores.

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Oklahoma lost Heisman Trophy winning QB Sam Bradford in the 1st game of the season and was never the same. Freshmen QB Landry Jones showed progress as he gained more experience but the offense still lacks the explosiveness when Bradford was under center in 2008. Jones threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season. He will look for wide out Ryan Broyles to make big plays down the field.

Prediction: Oklahoma will not be able to completely shut down Toby Gerhart. Instead they will need to keep him in check and force Luck to beat them. On offense, the Sooners’ offensive line shouldn’t have any problems with Stanford’s front four. RB Chris Brown will find big gaps and Landry Jones will have a very good game against the Cardinal defense. In what should be a very good game which is filled with pro talent, Oklahoma will show a glimpse of the future and pull off the upset. Oklahoma 34 Stanford 28

By Scott Dryden
DFN SPorts Senior Staff Writer

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