Five Things Oklahoma Football Must Do To Beat Auburn in Sugar Bowl
By Chip Rouse
Don’t Make It Easier for Auburn by Beating Yourself
As in most college football matchups involving top-20 teams from two Power Five conferences, Monday’s Sugar Bowl showdown between Oklahoma and Auburn is expected to be a closely contested game, with the high probability of being a one-touchdown-or-less difference between the winner and loser. In these kind of games. turnovers and special-team play generally have a huge impact on the outcome.
Auburn has the talent and physical makeup to beat Oklahoma straight up without any help from the Sooners. That’s why ball security is an absolute must if OU is going to make it 2-0 all-time over Auburn and win its sixth Sugar Bowl in eight tries, the most of any team not affiliated with the SEC.
The Sooners were minus one in turnover margin in the regular season, with one more giveaway (17) than takeaways (16). That placed them 72nd out of 128 FBS teams in 2016.
Not beating yourself is more than just turning the ball over on offense or special teams, though. It also includes avoiding costly penalties that take you off schedule on first or second down or enable the other team to sustain drives and scoring opportunities.
The Sooners have done an excellent job in the penalty department this season, leading the Big 12 and ranking 15th nationally committing just four to five penalties per game. They need to maintain their emotions and discipline and avoid being baited into costly penalties, that do nothing but help the other team.