Football Saturday in Oklahoma
Matt had a pretty good weekend last Saturday, going 7-2 with his picks. My picks weren’t as solid at 5-3 (abstained from the LU pick). The season records are a little closer now – Matt: 45-13; Joey 45-12. It doesn’t get much closer.
• Kansas(1-5) at Oklahoma (4-1) •
The great prognosticators here at OSB picked OU last week by a combined 10 points. The Sooners dominated Texas, winning by 42. Apparently, even Big Tex was so ashamed that he simply burst into flame. Do the lowly Jayhawks stand even a remote chance against the Sooners? Recent history (a seven-game winning streak) and the all-time series record (69-27-6) say, “No.”
Matt’s pick: 54-13; Joey’s pick: OU 59-23
• Iowa State (4-2) at Oklahoma State (3-2) •
Any Cowboy fan remembers that Iowa State gave OSU its only loss last season, in a double-overtime game played on a tragic day with many heavy hearts. The Cowboys’ offense was limited last week due to injury and the 20 points scored made up the lowest total in three years. A win today would make coach Mike Gundy the winningest coach in OSU history. The Cyclones come in at No. 24 in the first BCS release this week.
Matt’s pick: ISU 35-31; Joey’s pick: OSU 41-37
• Rice (2-5) at Tulsa (6-1) •
Tulsa has won eight of the last nine meetings, but owns only a 9-7-1 series advantage. The Golden Hurricane is strong on both sides of the ball. TU puts up 41.1 ppg, leading Conference USA, while on defense recording 4.7 sacks per contest, tops in the nation. Alex Singleton needs one rushing touchdown to break out of a three-way tie for the school’s top spot.
Matt’s pick: TU 42-24; Joey’s pick: TU 42-14
• East Central (3-4) at No. 24 Henderson State (7-0) •
The Reddies are 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings in the series. Henderson State is leading the nation in scoring at 57 ppg. The Tigers defense will have its hands full and may rest its hopes on getting turnovers. ECU has gained 25 turnovers this season, tops in D-II. HSU quarterback Kevin Rodgers is the GAC co-Offensive Player of the Week and is No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency.
Matt’s pick: HSU 51-13; Joey’s pick: HSU 38-14
• Central Missouri (5-2) at Northeastern State (0-6) •
It’s been a struggle for the RiverHawks in their first MIAA season. The road doesn’t get easier with a stop in Warrensburg. NSU running back Joel Rockmore needs only 39 yards on the ground to hit the 1,000 yard mark and five more move into fourth place on the NSU career mark since Northeastern has moved into D-II. This is the ninth meeting in this series; NSU leads 7-0, with a forfeit on the win in 1986.
Matt’s pick: UCM 35-14; Joey’s pick: UCM 35-21
• Panhandle State (3-3) at Northwestern (0-7) •
Last year, the Aggies finally broke the Northwestern curse with a last-second 41-35 victory, ending a 24-game losing streak to the Rangers. NWOSU is struggling in its first year of transition into the NCAA and is going into its eighth game still looking for a win.
Matt’s pick: OPSU 24-21; Joey’s pick: OPSU 35-28
• Southwestern (1-5) at Southeastern (2-4) •
The Bulldogs stopped a nine-game losing streak to the Savage Storm last season winning 23-20 on a last second field goal. Southeastern owns a seven game advantage in the all-time series, due in large part to that streak, and this will be the 81st meeting. The Storm matched their win total from last season with the victory over Northwestern. The two teams were picked to finish in a tie for sixth in the GAC preseason poll.
Matt’s Pick: SOSU 24-21; Joey’s pick: SOSU 24-20
• Southern Nazarene (1-6) at Southern Arkansas (5-1) •
The Crimson Storm finally notched their first victory for 2012. SNU quarterback Dylan Terry threw three TD passes in that win. Southern Nazarene travels to Magnolia for its first ever meeting with Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders shutout East Central last week. SAU running back Mark Johnson has 26 career rushing touchdowns and needs only one to tie the school record.
Matt’s pick: SAU 38-10; Joey’s pick: SAU 35-14
• Bacone (5-2) at Texas College (1-6) •
Bacone is riding a four-game winning streak, but will be playing on the road for the first time since Sept. 22. Texas College is facing an Oklahoma school for the third consecutive week and has come up short in its two previous games, although the Steers pushed Langston until the last play of the game.
Matt’s pick: BC 24-14; Joey’s pick: BC 31-14