INTO THE LUBBOCK NIGHT
SOONERS LOOK TO AVOID UPSET IN WHAT WILL BE A CRAZY ATMOSPHERE
KEYS FOR OKLAHOMA
Weather the storm: Lubbock is never easy at night. The Sooners are the better team and, on paper, should breeze to another Big 12 win. Football is played on (fake) grass, however, and Texas Tech fans and players will be ready to rock from the opening kickoff. It’s up to Oklahoma to ride out the early emotions and take over the game as the second quarter and second half tick away. Avoid turnovers, stay within reach and then use superior talent to win over 60 minutes.
Force field goals: Look, no one expects defenses in the Big 12 to shutout teams or hold opponents to fewer than 20 points. The amount of plays and the styles of offenses lend to track meets. Oklahoma doesn’t need to be Alabama on defense. The Sooners simply need to play fundamental football, specifically in the red zone. KEYS FOR TEXAS TECH
No mistakes: Texas is the only team to slay the Sooners and the Longhorns did it by winning the turnover battle, taking advantage of mistakes and playing relatively mistake free on both sides of the ball. Texas also hit two clutch field goals. It’ll take a clean effort from Texas Tech to pull the upset. Freshman phenom Alan Bowman returned for the Red Raiders last week, but the quarterback threw costly interceptions in the loss at Iowa State.
Limit big plays: Oklahoma will score points. That’s a given with a millionaire quarterback and talent surrounding him at every position on offense. Texas Tech can’t hope to shutdown the Sooners. It can force Oklahoma into earning every point by preventing big plays. PREDICTION
Oklahoma 45, Texas
Tech 38: This is a dangerous Texas Tech team and the road loss to Iowa State last week shouldn’t stop the momentum built in Lubbock in a successful October.