OU-Georgia: Five things that must happen for an OU Round 1 win

By Chip Rouse | Dec 28, 2017

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 25: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of Oklahoma Sooners during warm ups before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated West Virginia 59-31. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

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Fuel the offense with an effective running game

Oklahoma’s Air Raid offense is fueled by its ability to establish the running game. The Sooners are averaging 215.9 yards per game on the ground (27th in the country) and 367.4 yards through the air (3rd best in the country). When OU is able to run the ball well, and it has three talented backs it can turn to in order to keep fresh legs on the field, it opens up the field for Mayfield to surgically slice up the opposing defense with precision play-action passing. And the Sooners have a bevy of playmakers Mayfield can choose from on the receiving end.

Of note, Oklahoma faced three teams this season that rank higher in run defense than Georgia’s No. 11 ranking: TCU (4), Texas (7) and Ohio State (8). Kansas State is 14th in the country against the run. The Sooners ran the ball well against all of these teams.

When the Sooners are balanced on offense and are able to both run and pass the football, and with all the versatile playmakers OU has on offense, I’m not sure there is a defense in college football that can stop this offensive juggernaut.

If Oklahoma is able to get its full offense going, it could be “Katy bar the door” on SEC champion Georgia, regardless of their defensive strength.

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