No. 7 Oklahoma vs. UCF Knights: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions for Week 8

The Oklahoma Sooners put their undefeated season on the line when they host the UCF Knights. Here are this week’s Sooners Wire Staff predictions.

The Sooners are rested and ready to go after a much-needed bye week.

The week off came after Oklahoma took down Texas in an instant classic. The emotional roller coaster from that game would’ve been enough for me to pick against them if they had to play the week after.

They didn’t, and with the opportunity to compartmentalize and put the Red River Rivalry behind them. Because of that and Brent Venables’ steadfast approach to take things one game at a time, Oklahoma handles their business on Saturday against UCF.

It’s the first time the schools are meeting. The underlying storyline centers around Dillon Gabriel taking on his former school. Gabriel uses that as fuel, and Oklahoma keeps the train rolling.

This game will come down to a few things, but mostly who stops the other on the ground. UCF is ranked 120th nationally in run defense while boasting the nation’s 3rd best rushing offense. If Oklahoma can stop the run with their top 30 run defense, they win the game simply because they have more weapons and depth than UCF can match up with.

Saturday could be a “get right” game for the Sooners on the ground, and wouldn’t it be awesome to see them eclipse 200 yards rushing?

Gabriel tosses two more scores, and we see a Sooners running back with a 100-yard game. Defensively, the Sooners hold the Knights under 165 rushing yards, and we see two interceptions.

Sooners 45, Knights 24

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