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Starting the season as sure CFB Playoff contenders, the Oklahoma Sooners have become one of the many good, but not great, teams in the Big 12. While Oklahoma may be out of the playoff race, they are still looking to accomplish goals and win 10 games this year. The Oklahoma State Cowboys, on the same note, were once contenders, but have since fallen from grace, losing five straight games after a 5-1 start.
Playing without Trevor Knight for the past two games hasn’t hurt the Sooners one bit because of the lack of quality opponents. However, Oklahoma State is better than their previous two foes and Oklahoma will have to rely on freshman quarterback Cody Thomas yet again since Knight has been ruled out. Thomas is just 20-49 on the year with 222 yards, one touchdown pass and four interceptions while seeing more success on the ground, rushing for 149 yards and a score. Samaje Perine will be the main offensive component in this one as the freshman running back has been great this year, rushing for 1,428 yards and 19 touchdowns on 6.7 yards per touch. Sterling Shepard and Durron Neal will give Thomas some help in the pass game as the two have combined for 90 receptions for 1,465 yards and eight scores.
It hasn’t been the ideal season offensively for the Cowboys as it started on a bad note when they lost quarterback J.W. Walsh to a season-ending injury. Junior backup Daxx Garman has stepped, but the offense has been nothing more than mediocre, ranking 58th in pass yards, 101st in rush yards and 83rd in points per game. A concussion sidelined Garman in their last contest, but the Cowboys’ fill-in starter has thrown for 2,041 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this year all while completing 54 percent of his passes. David Glidden has become the team’s favorite target, catching 39 passes for 549 yards and two scores while the next closest receiver, Brandon Sheperd, has just 27 catches for 483 yards. The run game has been a snoozefest with Desmond Roland leading the way, but Tyreek Hill has been a force in the run and receiving game.
Defensively, the Cowboys have given up at least 34 points in four of their past five games — all resulting in losses. In fact, when Oklahoma State allows over 30 points this year, it is just 1-5. The Cowboys rank 99th in points allowed and 98th in total yards allowed per game. Oklahoma has fared much better, ranking 37th in points allowed and 54th in total yards surrendered per contest. In each of the Sooners’ losses this season, they have allowed 30 points or more.
Oklahoma State will travel to Oklahoma to take on the Sooners at 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 6. The game will be broadcasted on FOX Sports 1.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 20, Oklahoma 37
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Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
