Oklahoma football: Grading our 5 bold predictions for Houston
We made five bold predictions for Oklahoma football ahead the Houston game. How did we do?
Houston will score at least 21 points
The Cougars covered us on this one thanks to some late production from their offense. Oklahoma football’s defense certainly looked like it might be capable of holding the Cougars under 21 through the first half, but the Sooners clearly pulled their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter, allowing 31 total points to make the final score a bit closer than play on the field indicated.
It’s a backside cover, but it’s also a correct prediction.
Hit or miss? Hit
The Sooners will force at least two turnovers
Alex Grinch, his players and his assistant coaches have put a heavy, heavy priority on forcing turnovers this season, but they’ll have to wait at least another week to get their first one. Houston played a clean game and escaped without giving the ball back to the OU offense. Patrick Fields came the closest, stepping in front of a Houston pass in the end zone, but it slipped through his hands.
Grinch seemed pretty disappointed in it after the game was over and took the blame as the coach. I guess we’ll have to do the same as forecasters.
Hit or miss? Miss
Jalen Hurts will throw for at least 300 yards
If you listened really closely, you could hear the distinct sound of Jalen Hurts’ critics eating their words during his debut for the Sooners on Sunday night. He was as sharp as a quarterback could be, connecting on 20-of-23 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns.
He showed he can still run it as well with a team-leading 179 yards and three scores on the ground. He broke Baker Mayfield’s record for total yards in a season opener somewhere along the way and that was without playing in the fourth quarter.
More from Stormin in Norman
- Oklahoma football: ESPN, USA Today bowl projections after Week 3
- Oklahoma football: Sooner ‘D’ grading well, but real test begins with Big 12 play
- Two Oklahoma football players receive Big 12 weekly honors
- Oklahoma football: Sooners’ stock rising fast in ESPN prospective rankings
- Oklahoma football: Sooners leaving opponents in the dust early and often
Seeing the way Lincoln Riley schemed to highlight Hurts’ high points is just more proof that he’s as good an offensive coach as there is in football at any level right now.
Hit or miss? Hit
At least one freshman receiver will catch a touchdown
Oh, how close we were to being right on this one. Jadon Haselwood flashed some of his high skill level on a long catch and run, getting all the way down to the 2-yard line, but came up just short of crossing the plane.
Perhaps the most surprising development was just how good Nick Basquine and Charleston Rambo were, making sure their names aren’t going to just get lost in the shuffle. Just like in seasons’ past guys are going to have to work extremely hard in practice to make sure they are getting reps in the game every single week. The level of competition is extremely high.
Hit or miss? Miss
The game will be within at least two scores at halftime
Oklahoma led 21-10 going into the break thanks to a few mistakes, including a Jalen Hurts fumble and a missed field goal in the first half.
The Sooners closed the door on the Cougars on the opening drive of the second half, marching down the field to take a 28-10 advantage. Furthermore, our final prediction score of 45-21was pretty close to the 49-31 tally we ended up with. That should probably count for bonus points.
We’ll do this all year, but a 3-2 record on predictions isn’t a bad way to start things off I would say, just like the Sooners we were a little rusty, but got the win in the end.