OKLAHOMA/TEXAS TECH PREVIEW
By mark rogers
November 21, 2008
I picked Kansas to beat Tech.
I picked Texas to beat Tech.
I picked Oklahoma State to beat Tech.
And I will pick Oklahoma to beat Tech.
C'mon Tech fans...you should want me to pick Oklahoma...look at my record in those games. Me picking Tech would be bad for the Raiders.
Let's take a look at the matchup...
Tech is 10-0. Leading the nation in passing yards per game while averaging nearly 137 yards rushing per game.
Only three teams in the Big 12 have allowed fewer points than Tech - Texas, Oklahoma State and Missouri.
Tech ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing defense, second in pass defense and second in pass defense efficiency.
The last three games, Tech has defeated the #23, #1 and #9 ranked teams in succession. Impressive.
Here's the biggy, though:
Texas Tech is leading the conference in total defense and has given up the fewest first downs of any team in the Big 12. I think those stats speak for themselves.
Oklahoma started the year with five easy wins before its loss to Texas in Dallas. Since that loss OU has won four straight.
Let's take a closer look at those games:
After rushing for fewer than 50 yards against TCU and Texas, Oklahoma's 1-2 punch of Chris Brown and Demarco Murray have combined for 807 yards on 108 carries and 12 TDs the last four games.
That's an average of 7.47 yards per carry and three scores a game (and it's been exactly three TDs in each of the last four games). Murray and Brown have both gone over 100 yards in two of those games.
Needless to say...the running game has turned around and is no longer a weakness.
Oklahoma is also averaging 57.75 points per game and has a turnover ratio of +13 in those four contests (they've turned it over twice while forcing 15).
The only problem there is that OU has allowed 30.5 points per game in that stretch, and those points haven't all been in trash time. OU's defense gives up points.
One more bit of info: in the last three weeks, Tech is 3-0 against Top 25 teams and 2-0 against Top 10 teams the last two weeks. OU is 2-1 against Top 25 teams and 0-1 against Top 10 teams this year.
At some point you'd think the Tech run will come to an end. They've played three tough games in a row against solid, ranked teams.
OU hasn't played a ranked opponent since they played Kansas the week after the Texas loss.
They should be refreshed and ready to roll while Tech is beat up and emotionally drained from the last month of one of the toughest schedule stretches ever.
Throw all the stats out the window and I'll give OU the edge based on that fact and the fact that it's in Norman.
I guess I could have just written that instead of boring you with all those numbers.
OU - 52 Tech - 49
No defense and a scoring buffet...I can't wait for 7 PM tomorrow night!!!!!
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Comments
This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below.
you know who i am on November 21, 2008 4:01 PM
Big suprise. Rogers picks Tech to lose. Someone remind me why I'm still reading this blog???
David on November 22, 2008 6:56 PM
Pretty brave words, Mark- to pick OU over Tech on the Big Country Football website. I wouldn't tell the locals where you live, if I were you. But, I actually agree with you. Throw all the stats out the window---this game is in Norman, and that will be the difference. Don't get me wrong, I'm pulling for Tech (even though I'm not even a Texan!), but I think home cookin' will be the difference in a matchup of 2 great teams.
I guess we'll find out in a few hours---too bad I'll be at the Nutcracker for the second half---but don't worry, I have DVR.
PS- Cal (my team) crushed Stanford. Go Bears.