The best week of the year for predictions came on the worst week of the season for the Sooners.
No, no one was bold enough, not in this space anyway, to predict a Sooner loss, but no one was bold enough, not in this space to put Travone Boykin on their Heisman "Watch" list, either.
The TCU quarterback played award-winning football.
Now it's time to see if this week's predictions will be as good as last week and if Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes will be as good as Boykin.
1. No chance that happens. One quarterback a season careers on the Sooners, a few years ago it was Everett Gholston. This season it was Boykin. 2. Swoopes will be like eating that second corndog at the Texas State fair. Seems like a great idea at first, then suddenly you're questioning everything you've ever believed.
3. Swoopes will throw at least two interceptions. 4. You'll eat least two corndogs. 5. Both situations turn out disastrous. No details needed.
Now's the time to start wondering if Sooner quarterback Trevor Knight is the quarterback we saw against Alabama or the quarterback we cringed at against TCU. 6. Now's the time you realize he's neither and is really something in between. 7. But now's the time the Sooner coaches let Knight run. 8. Knight has more than 15 carries. 9. And 75 yards. OU needs Knight to be good with his legs, because expecting him to be great with his arm, like he was against the Crimson Tide, is asking a lot. 10. But that doesn't mean you won't ask for more. A lot more.
Speaking of running, the Sooners are expected to have a hard time against a stout Texas defense. However ...
11. OU will have more than 175 yards rushing.
12. The Sooners will have two or more rushes go for 45 or more yards.
13. Samaje Perine will rush for 99 or more yards.
14. You'll still miss Keith Ford.
Why will the running game be so good? Well, 15. The Texas defense will eventually get worn down. That's what happens when you are averaging just 18 points per game and have managed just 24 total in the last two games the Longhorns have played that matter. Sorry, Kansas doesn't count. The offense just can't hold on to the ball long enough.
The Texas defense will be worn down and the Sooners will 15. dedicate themselves to the run. Maybe it's because OU doesn't trust Knight and maybe it's because the Sooners don't trust any receiver past Sterling Shepard. Doesn't matter.
Meanwhile, the Texas running game, supposedly the strength of the team, is only 97th best in the country. 16. Neither Johnathan Gray or Malcom Brown get to 100 yards against the Sooners. 17. They'll combine for fewer than 1.5 touchdowns.
It's hard to really envision the Longhorns scoring more than about 20 points, but you'll then you'll figure out how it could happen when 18. Jaxon Shipley impresses, via the punt return. 19. You'll say: "Geez, how many Shipleys are there? It's like they've had one there since Earl Campbell was the running back." 20. You'll be thankful Texas doesn't have Earl Campbell at running back.
21. Texas returns either a punt or a kickoff back for a touchdown. 22. And also fumbles a kickoff or a punt leading to a Sooners' touchdown. 23. OU linebacker Eric Striker also forces a fumble.
OU is 31-0 since 2000 after losing a regular-season game. Hard to top that stat. It will give you all the faith in the world that the Sooners will win. After all, coach Bob Stoops has a 9-6 record against Texas and scored 55 or more against the Longhorns four times under Stoops.
24. OU won't get to 55 on Saturday, but 25. OU will have at least 21 at halftime. 26. And be ahead by more than a field goal. But then again, OU should be ahead. The Sooners are the better team. They are favored by more than two touchdowns. Just like last year. Umm, oh, yeah, that didn't work out that great. And it won't look great early on, either.
27. Texas will have at least one touchdown in the first half, 28. via a pass from Swoopes. 29. Texas will either have the lead or the game will be tied at the end of the first quarter. 30. The Longhorns will also run at least one trick play, although, 31. No one will do this:
It's going to take more than a trick play to beat OU on Saturday. 32. OU wins its 46th-consecutive game when leading at halftime 33. and stays alive in college football playoff race.
34. Sooners win by more than 14 points and 35. you'll celebrate with a postgame corndog.
Last week: 21-14
Overall: 87-76-8
