3 posts tagged “oklahoma sooners”
Gators -3 1/2 vs. Sooners
Controversy and the BCS seem to go together like cookies and milk. Once again there is an outcry over Oklahoma getting the nod with an identical record as Texas, even though the Longhorns beat the Sooners. If head-to-head matchups do not count, why bother playing the games is the sentiment of many college football fans, particular located around Austin, Texas.
But the game is what it is and it is still a terrific matchup of traditional college football powers meeting for the first time ever as Florida meets up with Oklahoma in Miami on Thursday, January 6th.
Two Heisman Trophy winners will match up as this year's winner Sam Bradford will take on runner-up and last year's winner Tim Tebow. Bradford was tops in the country with 48 touchdown passes against only six picks. Tebow was almost equally as solid with 2515 yards, 28 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He also rushed for 12 scores on the ground.
The Gators will be attempting to win their second title in three seasons and third overall title, while the Sooners are looking for their eight national title and first since 2000. The team made the championship game in 2004 and 2005, losing both times.
The controversy surrounding Oklahoma's placement in this game takes a hit when it is shown that the Sooners (12-1) scored 58 points or more in each of its last six games, including posting 65 on the former number two team in the nation, Texas Tech. That stretch of offensive fireworks has not been seen since Tulsa had a similar run in 1919.
Florida (12-1) weathered an early head-scratching loss to Ole Miss to win their final nine games and dispatched number one and undefeated Alabama in the SEC championship game.
For the Sooners to claim victory, they will have to weather the Gators homefield advantage. While roughly 330 miles separates Gaineville and Dolphins Stadium, with all apologies to the Seminoles and Hurricanes, Florida is Gatorcountry, at least for this past decade. Making more comforting surroundings is the fact that the Gators have 13 players from or near Miami. A year ago, Ohio State was unable to weather the home-state advantage LSU held in the Superdome, roughly 76 miles from Baton Rouge.
Sooners -7 vs. Cowboys
For the first time in awhile both Oklahoma teams will face off with much on the line. When one side has been good, the other has usually been down. But when the teams meet up this Saturday night in Stillwater, they will be meeting for the first time when both teams have nine victories.
It is hard to think of a team that has a better, more complete victory than Oklahoma's win last week. The Sooners (10-1, 6-1) not only beat the previously undefeated and second-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders, they made a statement in doing so. Oklahoma built an insurmountable lead and cruised to a shockingly easy 65-21 victory. Sam Bradford, who has had a storybook season by throwing for 42 touchdowns on only six interceptions, completed 14 of his 19 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
The win helped the Sooners climb into number three in the BCS standings behind Alabama and Texas. Oklahoma is hopeful one of those two teams will fall, allowing them to go to the title game. If victorious in this game, the Sooners have a very good chance at staking claim to the Big 12 South title.
This game should be an offensive explosion. Oklahoma is third in total yards and Oklahoma State is seventh. The Sooners are the best team and the Cowboys are the seventh best team in points scored. Each team does an aspect of their offense very well. The Sooners are better as passing, third in the country, while the Cowboys are eight in rushing.
Oklahoma State (9-2, 5-2) though disappointed about losing two of their last four, can hold their heads up high. It has been a long time since the Cowboys have had this much success in a season and their losses to Texas and Texas Tech were to teams that were ranked at or near number one at various points this season. Oklahoma State can mark a terrific season and stop their archrivals from winning the division with a home victory.
Last time out the Cowboys beat Colorado and spoiled their home finale 30-17. In that game, star running back Kendall Hunter rushed for 102 yards with a touchdown. The sophomore has had a stellar year by rushing for 1434 yards and 14 touchdowns. Hunter has rushed for at least 100 yards in all but two games this season.
Oklahoma State has not won in the series since 2002, a 38-28 home victory. Oklahoma has won five straight and seven of the last ten.
Sooners -7 vs. Red Raiders
Texas Tech concludes a brutal stretch of three games against Top 10 opponents as they travel to Norman to take on Oklahoma. The Red Raiders were off last week as they prepared for the Sooners after a close contest with Texas went Tech's way 39-33 and a blowout of Oklahoma State two weeks ago 56-20. This may be Texas Tech's toughest test as they venture to the road for the first time against the Big 12 titans. Also in the back of their minds they know that the Longhorns were concluding a brutal stretch of games when it faced off in Texas Tech for the final game of that stretch November 1.
On the line for number two Texas Tech (10-0, 6-0) is their first Big 12 South Division title and a shot at a BCS berth. No one expects Oklahoma to lay down for perhaps the college football story of the year as the number five Sooners have plenty to play for. A shot at the division and a shot at a BCS berth is foremost on the minds of Oklahoma (9-1, 5-1).
The Sooners will get their chance at much heralded Graham Harrell who heads the nation's nest passing attack with 433 per game and the third best scoring team with almost 48 per contest. Two weeks ago, the Heisman hopeful threw for 456 yards and six touchdowns as the Red Raiders topped a video game-like 600 yards for the amazing fourth time this year.
Oklahoma says I see your Harrell and raise you one Bradford. Sam Bradford to be exact. Lost in some of the Harrell and Colt McCoy coverage is Bradford who is leading the third best passing attack in the country at 355 passing yards and 549 total yards. Bradford tossed four touchdowns and 320 yards in a 66-28 throttling of Texas A&M two weeks ago. Oklahoma has scored 35 or more points in each game this season.
Texas Tech won the last contest 34-27 last season in a game which saw Bradford leave in the first quarter with a concussion. Texas Tech will be looking for their third win in four years, however Oklahoma has dominated the long-term matchup by winning seven of the last ten.
