NCAA Football
2020-11-21 - Oklahoma State Cowboys at Oklahoma Sooners
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
American Football : NCAA Week 12
Saturday 21st November 2020 - Scheduled 7:30pm
12:30am (British Time)
Preview
Bedlam is set for Week 12 and there is plenty on the line for the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys despite the fact that neither is expected to be invited into the College Football PlayOff. That won't be a major concern for the players in Week 12 and the focus is to win this game and make sure there is a Big 12 Championship Game to look forward to later in the season at the very least.
The Sooners are 4-2 in the Big 12 this season and the Cowboys are 4-1 which underlines the importance of the 2020 Bedlam rivalry game. It feels like only one, at most, of these teams will earn their spot in the Championship Game and both teams are going to be relying on relatively inexperienced Quarter Backs going up against underrated Defenses in this one.
Spencer Rattler is the Oklahoma Quarter Back and he looks to have a very bright future with his school, although he has only be thrown in earlier this season when guiding the Sooners to a win over the Texas Longhorns. That has sparked a four game winning run for the Sooners and I do think they are playing with confidence having suffered narrow losses to Kansas State and Iowa State earlier this season, two of the three teams who are head of Oklahoma in the Big 12 standings and which makes the importance of winning this game even more than the sole fact the Sooners want bragging rights over their rivals.
The Sooners have to be encouraged by the recent performances of the Oklahoma State Defensive Line which has not been able to stop their last three opponents from piling up the yards on the ground. Over the course of the season the Line has been stronger, but Oklahoma should be able to get things moving on the ground which should only ease the pressure on their young Quarter Back.
I expect Spencer Rattler to be well protected, but he is throwing against a Secondary which has made big plays for much of the season. Of course the Sooners will point out their passing attack is the best the Cowboys Secondary will have seen this season, but Spencer Rattler is inexperienced and has to make sure he does not lose the game.
His opening performances suggest that will be the case, but the same pressure will be on Spencer Sanders who will go in as Quarter Back for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Turnovers have been an issue for Sanders and he is going to be facing a Secondary that has thrived on making big plays and that could be a key to the outcome of Bedlam in 2020.
The focus may be on Spencer Sanders because the Cowboys have struggled to establish the run in recent games and the Oklahoma Defensive Line have been stout up front. Building big leads in recent games have also meant teams have had to take to the air to keep up with the Sooners and the fear for the underdog is that they are made a little predictable in their play-calling.
In saying that I do think Sanders will have some success throwing the ball, although a lack of running game could mean he is under siege. The Oklahoma Sooners have generated a huge pass rush in recent games and the Oklahoma State Offensive Line have not only struggled to open holes for the run, but they have not protected their Quarter Back as they would like.
It will mean Spender Sanders is having to force throws and that could lead to turnovers which helps the Sooners pull away.
I do like Oklahoma with their four wins in a row building the confidence of the entire team, and the Sooners have covered the mark in each of those wins. Mike Gundy as an underdog has a very good record with Oklahoma State and his team needs to be respected, but I am looking for the bigger Defensive plays to come from the Sooners which may lead to a double digit win.
Both teams should be well rested and well prepared, but I like the home team here.
Prediction
Lay the points with the home favourite.
The Pick :
Oklahoma Sooners 38-27 Oklahoma State Cowboys
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Oklahoma Sooners - 7 Points at -110 with Intertops
