OU Gameday: #4 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

#4 Oklahoma (1-0) vs. Tulsa (1-0)

• Time — 11:00 AM
• Location — Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• TV — ABC or ESPN2
• Online Stream — WatchESPN
• Radio — 107.7 FM • 1520 AM (in Norman/Okla. City)
• Odds — Line: Oklahoma -24.5  • O/U: 57.5
• Weather — Hi: 78° F • Lo: 56° • Precip: 70%

An intrastate clash is set for an early start time in Tulsa, OK. The fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners loaded up the bus and hit the road for Tulsa, where they’ll face a Golden Hurricane team coming off an emotional double overtime victory.

As for the Sooners, OU’s first team offense and defense quickly demolished Louisiana Tech’s hopes for an upset last Saturday. Trevor Knight and Co. moved the ball with little trouble, despite what seemed like a watered-down game plan.

The defense lost Jordan Evans ten minutes in to the game after he was hit with a targeting penalty. However, the Sooners’ front seven would not give an inch to the Bulldogs offense, nor would the secondary allow Cody Sokol to show off his arm.

In week two, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane hosts the Sooners for the first time since 2007. Here’s a quick stats comparison after just one game.

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With such a small sample size, it’s hard to gauge what “team” Oklahoma will look like Saturday. However, if they’re anything like they were last week, backup quarterback Cody Thomas should be taking snaps by the fourth quarter.

Three Keys to Victory:

• Feed the Monster — Tulsa’s defense had trouble stopping Tulane’s run game last Thursday. And unfortunately for the Hurricane, the Oklahoma Sooners have a three-headed monster at running back likely to make a big impact. Especially if rain is a factor.
• Lock Down on Evans — Dane Evans had a nice season-opening performance. Oklahoma’s going to need the same pressure put on Evans they put on Sokol last week. As mentioned, weather could play a big part in this game. If tomorrow turns out nicer than expected, the secondary could be in for its first road challenge.
• Keep it Simple — A championship-contending team like Oklahoma shouldn’t have to pull out any tricks against Tulsa. OU doesn’t need to overcomplicate their offense. They need to continue making smart decisions and avoid forcing any plays.

Injury Report:

Tulsa Golden Hurricane:

• No significant injuries

Oklahoma Sooners:

• Frank Shannon (out • suspension)
• Joe Mixon (out • suspension)
• Dorial Green-Beckham (out • ineligible)
• Baker Mayfield (out • eligibility in question)
• Cortez Johnson (doubtful • personal reasons)
• Quincy Russell (doubtful • personal reasons)

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