The biggest key for the Oklahoma Sooners in this one will be containing the rushing efforts of Richard Reese and the Baylor Bears. That’s something they couldn’t do last season.
If they can keep the Bears under 150 rushing yards in the game, it will put more pressure on Blake Shapen to make plays in the passing game. Shapen’s a capable passer and the Bears have some skill on the outside, but that takes Baylor away from what they want to do.
Baylor’s defense has faced just two offenses that rank in the top 50 in points per game. They lost to Oklahoma State and survived a late rally from Kansas with backup quarterback Jason Bean at the helm.
Oklahoma’s offense is a different animal with Dillon Gabriel at the helm and the Sooners will be efficient and explosive on Saturday. Even though Baylor will attempt to take the air out of the ball with their running game, the Sooners uptempo attack will put the pressure on the Bears to open up the offense to keep pace.
That’ll put Blake Shapen in some bad spots and the Sooners defense, which is trending in the right direction will take advantage.
Sooners 34, Baylor 30
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