No. 12 Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-2 5-4-1 ATS) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (6-5 3-6-1 ATS) Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman OK, 12:30 PM EST Saturday November 28, 2009
by Jason Green at Predictem.com
Point Spread: Cowboys +9.5 / Sooners -9.5
Over/Under: 48.5
This Saturday afternoon in the Bedlam rivalry the Oklahoma Sooners host the 12th ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. To say the Sooners’ season has been a disappointment is a major understatement, as they were though to challenge for the National Championship, but Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford is out for the season and if they lose this game they will finish the season at .500.
The Cowboys are 9-2 and even though they lost to Texas and will not play in the Big 12 championship game they still have an outside shot to play in a BCS game, but they have to win this game and may have to do it in a convincing manner. The Cowboys have won 3 games in a row and that is without star WR Dez Bryant, who has been suspended for the season.
The Bedlam rivalry is huge for both teams, as if the Cowboys lose their BCS hopes are dashed and if the Sooners lose they will get a decent bowl game at best.
The Sooners do have 5 losses, but they have only lost one game at home this season.
Last week the Cowboys narrowly beat the Colorado Buffalos 31-28 while the Sooners were absolutely crushed losing to the Texas Tech Red Raiders 41-13.
Even though the Buffalos had more passing yards in their loss to OSU the Cowboys dominated the running game out-rushing Colorado 232 yards to 13 yards. OSU played a sloppy game committing 4 turnovers and they had to score 2 TD’s in the 4th quarter to win the game. The Cowboys’ defense came up big late in the game, as they held the Buffalos scoreless for the last 8 minutes of the 4th quarter. The Cowboys were favored by 18 points so they did not cover the spread and the posted total for the game was 48, which was surpassed.
In their loss to Texas Tech the Sooners had fewer passing yards and allowed the Red Raiders to run for 161 yards while they only had 48. Tech only had a 17-6 lead at halftime, but in the 2nd half the Sooners’ D let them down allowing the Red Raiders to score 24 points. It also did not help that the Sooners had 2 turnovers in the game. The Sooners were favorites by 6.5 points so they were nowhere near covering and the posted total of 52 points was surpassed.
OSU has lost this Bedlam rivalry game 6 years in a row.
OSU Zac Robinson is banged up with a bruised shoulder and a minor head injury, but he will play in this game.
The Sooners allowed Texas Tech to rush for 161 yards last week and this week they will face a tougher test in Cowboys’ RB Keith Toston (1,130 yds 11 TD). If Toston has a big game the Sooners will be in big trouble.
The Sooners must contain Toston and make Robinson, who leads the Cowboys’ 94th ranked passing offense, beat them with his arm. That will be a tough task for OSU since the Sooners rank 5th in the nation with 35 sacks this season.
The Sooners have a legit defense ranked 11th in the nation, but they gave up 41 points in their last game.
Oklahoma has to get back to playing good defense against a Cowboys team that has the nation’s 21st ranked scoring offense.
Since Bradford was lost for the season freshman QB Landry Jones has been decent leading the Sooners and their 18th ranked passing offense. Since the Sooners only have the nation’s 67th ranked rushing offense Jones may have to move the chains in the air.
OSU has the nation’s 31st ranked defense and they will have to keep Jones from having a big game.
The Cowboys are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games and are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 road games. The Sooners are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games and the total has gone Under in 7 of their last 9 games.
Jason’s Pick: Even though not much has gone right for the Sooners this season they can go out on a high note with a win in the Bedlam rivalry. However, this season the Cowboys may be a better squad and they will score the upset in this game and because of it may be rewarded with a BCS bowl berth. Take the Cowboys and the points in this game.
