There are a number of marquee matchups on Week 10 of the college football season, and one of those is No. 9 Oklahoma football traveling to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to play No. 22 Oklahoma State.
Saturday’s game marks the 118th meeting of what has become known as the Bedlam series and football bragging rights in the Sooner State. It could also be the final game in the long-standing rivalry series with Oklahoma moving to the SEC next season.
Oklahoma is the higher-ranked of the two teams, a 5.5-point favorite in what could be the final game in the longtime rivalry and owns a 91-19-7 all-time record against its in-state “little brother,” as Sooner fans like to refer to the football team in Stillwater.
The Sooners have all the stat lines in their favor, but it is Oklahoma State that comes into the game playing the best football over the past several games and with all the momentum on the Cowboys’ side. OSU has won its last four games and is literally running over and by opponents behind one of the country’s best running backs in sophomore Ollie Gordon II. And let’s not forget, this game is being played in Stillwater.
How to watch
Oklahoma finally gets a break from playing at 11 a.m. (five of their eight previous game were 11 am. kickoffs). Saturday’s Bedlam game will kick at 2:30 p.m. and be televised nationally on ABC. The announcers will be Dave Pasch, former OU player Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill. The game will also be streamed on FuboTV.
Weather forecast
Sunny and 71 degrees at kickoff with little wind to speak of.
Betting lines
Oklahoma is a 5.5-point favorite, according to Betsided.com, a partner with FanSided, as well as a consensus of Las Vegas handicappers. The over/under is 62. Money line: Oklahoma -230, Oklahoma State +202.
Injury Report
Oklahoma
Gentry Williams, CB — Probable
Danny Stutsman, LB — Questionable
Tawee Walker, RB — Questionable
Marcus Major, RB — Questionable
Kaden Helms, TE — Questionable
D.J. Graham, WR — Out
Andrel Anthony, WR — Out for season
Justin Harrington, Cheetah — Out for season
Phil Picciotti, LB — Out for season
Jayden Rowe, CB — Out for season
Oklahoma State
Taylon Shettron, WR — Questionable
Blaine Green, WR — Questionable
Jaden Bray, WR — Questionable
Justin Wright, LB — Out for season
De’Zhaun Stribling, WR — Out for season
Key Players
Quarterback Dillion Gabriel of Oklahoma, who leads the Big 12 and ranks in the top-15 nationally in seven major statistical categories. Also, the availability to play by the Sooners’ team leader and best defensive player, LB Danny Stutsman, and the team’s rushing leader Tawee Walker, who ran for a career-high 146 yards. Both were injured a week ago in the Kansas game.
For Oklahoma State: RB Ollie Gordon II is the key man on offense with 1,087 yards rushing this season and averaging nearly 8.0 yards every time he carries the ball. QB Alan Bowman (a Texas Tech transfer): 1,580 passing yards, 57.3 completion percentage, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. WR Brennan Presley: 37 receptions, 309 yards, five touchdowns. On defense: Nick Martin, 71 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks. Kendall Daniels: 64 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception.
Prediction
The outcome of Saturday’s Bedlam rivalry game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will largely be determined by which Sooner team shows up. Will it be the OU team that played with the edge, discipline and physicality in the win over a highly talented Texas team or the one that has been largely missing those attributes since the Texas game. My gut is telling me that we are going to see more of the former. After all, if you can’t get up for a game against your hated in-state rival, you don’t deserve to call yourself an Oklahoma Sooner. OU leaves a stinging farewell message for its longtime in-state rival: Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 31.