Stormin’ Sooner Football Projections for 2015
By Chip Rouse
Biggest Game of the Season
Sep 13, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jalen Hurd (1) runs past the attempted tackle by Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Zack Sanchez (15) during the game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Arguably the most difficult portion of Oklahoma’s 2015 schedule falls at the very end of the season. In the month of November, the Sooners have games against TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma State on successive weekends.
Some fans would argue that OU-Texas weekend in Dallas is always the biggest game of the year. That might have been the case in past years but not this season – and not really for the past five or so.
Because the Sooners are picked to finish third this season in the Big 12 behind TCU and Baylor, both ranked in the top five nationally to begin the season, OU’s home game with TCU and the road game at Baylor the week before are unquestionably big games.
In my view, however, the biggest game – or perhaps a better way of putting it would be to call it the most important game of the season – comes in Week 2, when Oklahoma travels to Knoxville, Tenn., to play a Tennessee team that returns 18 starters and is believed to be much improved over last season.
In fact, the Volunteers are ranked just six places below the 19th-ranked Sooners to begin the season.
Oklahoma is 2-1 all-time against Tennessee after defeating the Volunteers 34-10 last season in Norman, but is making its first ever trip to Knoxville, where a crowd of over 100,000 is expected.
Early Las Vegas odds have the Sooners as three-point underdogs against Tennessee, which is a big reason why I believe this game not only is OU’s first true test of the 2015 season but a pivotal one that could make or break the entire season.
A loss to Tennessee, picked by many in the media to finish behind Georgia in the East Division of the SEC, certainly wouldn’t signal doomsday for the season, with 10 games remaining to be played. A victory over the Volunteers in a very hostile environment on the road, on the other hand, not only would put the Sooners in a very good position to be 9-0 when they go into the three-game, season-ending gauntlet against Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State, but also be a huge momentum boost that could change the course of Oklahoma’s season.
Next: Most Difficult Road Game