2012 Best-Worst Case: October, Part 2

Once the Sooners get past a rough start to October, and hopefully still undefeated, things get a bit easier. Oklahoma closes out the month with two home games against Charlie Weis and Kansas, and the following week get Weis’ former team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

These two should be easy wins for the Sooners, but I’ve been wrong before. I’ve projected Kansas to finish last in the conference, so I really don’t see much threat from the Jayhawks. However, Notre Dame is interesting, but I’ll get in to that further down the page.

Week Eight: Kansas

Best Case: Oklahoma throttles Kansas. Weis is a good coach, but he doesn’t have much to work with in Lawrence. OU will play its first home game in about a month, and as long as they don’t limp out of the Cotton Bow, the Sooners should be welcomed back to an electric crowd and destroy the Jayhawks. Oklahoma should be able to take care of this team easily, and I imagine Kansas knows to chalk this one up as a loss. Also, the scheduling committee didn’t do KU any favors. Kansas will be coming off a game against Oklahoma State, and the week before a home game against the Pokes, they’ll play K-State. So have fun with that, Jayhawks.

Worst Case: Much like the Florida A&M, worst case scenario, KU makes it close. However, even in the worst possible situation, Oklahoma should be able to pull this game out. No questions asked. Maybe they score three touchdowns on Oklahoma, but the Sooners on a bad day can match that. Whaley, Stills, Metoyer, Millard will be too much for the Jayhawks, but this is one upset I just don’t see happening. Even if the Sooners are looking ahead to Notre Dame, which there isn’t much reason to look ahead to the Irish.

Prediction: Oklahoma 49, Kansas 14

Week Nine: Notre Dame

Best Case: I’ll be honest. This is the game I am most excited to watch. I’m so stoked to attend this game, because of the history behind the two teams. However, I have a bad feeling OU is going to curb stomp the Fighting Irish. Maybe the Irish make it a game, but best case scenario, Oklahoma takes the Irish to the woodshed. Chip Kelley has the team in the right direction, but they still need a few more years to become relevant again. They may also need to join a conference. Their schedule is utterly brutal, and traveling to Norman only adds to that. I could see OU running away with this game.

Worst Case: Until Texas Tech beat Oklahoma last year, I had this game circled as the biggest trap game for OU’s home game win streak. However, the Red Raiders ended OU’s 39-game win streak in Norman, so no need to worry about Notre Dame ending another Oklahoma win streak. However, Chip Kelly’s squad could make this one close. I cannot count on the Irish just yet, because who knows? ND could be a challenge for the team, and I’m sure they understand the background of these two programs. Worst case scenario, Notre Dame squeaks it out in Norman. Though, I couldn’t see them blowing out OU on their own field.

Prediction: Oklahoma 42, Notre Dame 24