It’s Bedlam.
No. 7 Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) has had a lackluster last four games, but came out victorious in the last three. No. 21 Oklahoma State (8-3, 5-3) is starting to hit its stride after season-ending injuries to star receiver Tylan Wallace and rising quarterback Spencer Sanders.
Again, the Sooners are in a must win situation if they want to play in the College Football Playoff and will need to win in style.
Here are three keys for Oklahoma in Bedlam against Oklahoma State.
CHUBA, CHUBA, CHUBA
Oklahoma has heard about him all the week, and the Sooners are going to hear more about him here.
Chuba Hubbard may well be the best running back in college football. The explosive running back is averaging 6.4 yards a carry for 1,832 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s Oklahoma State now, and Oklahoma will need to contain him if it wants to leave Stillwater with a win.
How the Cowboys’ offensive line is able to deal with Neville Gallimore, Kenneth Murray and the Oklahoma defense will be key. The Sooners’ front seven is going to be under a big spotlight.
TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL
It’s science if you ask Alex Grinch.
Oklahoma’s offense is a great example of how takeaways equal victory. The defense has been just good enough to overcome short fields and being put in bad situations after the Sooners’ offense has turned the football over eight times in the last three games.
Turnovers are the difference between two blowouts against Iowa State and TCU, and maybe a comfortable win in Waco, Texas, against Baylor.
This game is solely on Jalen Hurts turning a corner and taking care of the football.
FIELD POSITION
The Oklahoma offense has put the Oklahoma defense in bad spots the last four games.
Alex Grinch’s defense has been good in 2019, but dating back to his Washington State days, his defenses has given up points when given short fields to defend.
If Jalen Hurts and the Oklahoma offense can continue to get deep into opponent’s territory, that will at least force Oklahoma State to have to go the length of the field with a backup quarterback and a more one dimensional offense.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]