Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma Football: Previewing the 2017 second-half schedule

By Sixto Ortiz

NORMAN, OK - AUGUST 30: The Oklahoma Sooners take the field before the game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs August 30, 2014 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bulldogs 48-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - AUGUST 30: The Oklahoma Sooners take the field before the game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs August 30, 2014 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bulldogs 48-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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MORGANTOWN, WV – DECEMBER 03: Skyler Howard
MORGANTOWN, WV – DECEMBER 03: Skyler Howard /

November 25 – The Mountaineers face a tall task

In 2016, the West Virginia Mountaineers put together a solid season. They finished the year 10-3, and went 10-2 during the regular season. Unfortunately, losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State eliminated any hopes for the Mountaineers to compete for a Big 12 title, which was a distinct possibility early on in the 2016 season.

In spite of an earlier loss to Oklahoma State, West Virginia had a shot at the Big 12 in 2016. All the Mountaineers needed to do was beat Oklahoma in Morgantown. Unfortunately for West Virginia that didn’t happen. The Sooners rolled in Morgantown, winning handily, 56-28. The key for the Sooner victory was 316 rushing yards and another efficient Baker Mayfield performance.

In 2017, the Mountaineers must travel to Norman to face the Sooners, a task that will be made a bit more difficult without the services of quarterback Skyler Howard, who has graduated. But running back Justin Crawford, who mauled the Sooner run defense to the tune of 331 rushing yards in last year’s game. For Oklahoma to succeed in this year’s game, they must prevent a similar performance from Crawford.

If the Sooners are having a successful 2017 season, they will have found the athletes to replace the production vacuum left by Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon long before they meet up with West Virginia in the regular-season finale.

If that, indeed, is the case, the Sooner offense should be fine against the West Virginia defense, especially with an efficient Baker Mayfield at the helm. And without veteran leadership at quarterback, the Mountaineer offense will have a tough time moving the ball through the air against what should be an improved Sooner defense that won’t get burned again on the ground.

Predicted Score – Sooners 35, Mountaineers 7 

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