The Oklahoma State Cowboys will head down to Norman for Bedlam this weekend and face the Oklahoma Sooners from Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on ABC. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have crossed paths for Bedlam in every season since 1906, with the Sooners holding a lopsided series lead, 90-19-1.
Oklahoma dropped to 5-5 after losing to West Virginia in Morgantown in Week 11. The Sooners couldn’t hold off a late rally from the Mountaineers, and now the possibility of a losing season is a scary reality. Oklahoma scores 31.9 points per game, while passing for 234.6 yards per game (122th), and rushing for 221.9 ypg (26th). The OU defense is allowing 29.1 points per game.
Dillon Gabriel didn’t handle the Morgantown crowd well last weekend, and he has to bring his A-game for this Bedlam matchup. The UCF transfer has struggled since returning from injury, and he failed to produce a touchdown in the loss to WVU. Gabriel has thrown for 2,217 passing yards, with 16 touchdowns to four interceptions, and he’s rushed for 249 yards and four scores through nine starts.
Eric Gray has been one of the few bright spots on this Oklahoma team. The senior running back ran for a season-high 211 yards and scored twice in the loss to WVU. Gray has surpassed the 115-yard mark seven times this season, and he’s among Big 12 leaders with 1,113 rushing yards and ten touchdowns on the season. Marvin Mims continues to improve here in year three and he’s on pace to lead the Sooners in receptions (42) and receiving yards (776).
Oklahoma State is 7-3 after defeating Iowa State at home in Week 12. The Cowboys used a big fourth quarter to avoid a third straight Big 12 loss. Oklahoma State is scoring 34.9 points per game, while passing for 284.6 yards per game (36th), and rushing for 129.8 ypg (185th). The Cowboy defense allows 29.8 points per game.
Spencer Sanders' returned to the lineup and got the Cowboys past the finish line last weekend against ISU. The senior quarterback came on and tossed a touchdown in second half, and he now looks ready for his third Bedlam matchup this weekend. Sanders has passed for 2,261 passing yards with 16 touchdowns to five interceptions, and he’s rushed for 349 yards and eight touchdowns through nine appearances.
Dominic Richardson has got all of the backfield work alongside Sanders this season. The junior running back dashed for a career-high 131 yards in the win over Arizona State, and he scored three times in the win over Texas. Richardson is up to a team-lead 543 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Brennan Presley leads the team with 47 receptions out of the slot. Bryson Green leads the Cowboys with 573 receiving yards on 35 catches.
If the locations were flipped for Bedlam this season, the Cowboys would really have a chance to end Oklahoma’s embarrassing season swiftly. I honestly still like Oklahoma State here. The Sooners can’t do anything right at the moment, and when it rains it pours.
Boomer Sooner has a chance to stop the bleeding, but after last weekend’s loss, it’s best not to trust them for the remainder of the season. Oklahoma with a losing record would be unheard of, and the Cowboys have a chance to put a real thorn in the Sooners side. Spot Oklahoma State the points for Bedlam this season.
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
