ou defense
The thing that scares me about this ou team is whether their defense can suddenly be outstanding. They have consistently given up a lot of points this year, including a bunch at their own house and to teams that I don't believe to be nearly as good as Tech. The good news for them is they usually play VERY GOOD offense when they are at home as well. I like the Sooners here as well, but this Tech teams isn't like Tech teams of the past. I'm hopeful that Big Game Bob can start to rebuild that reputation, because he hasn't had the greatest success in recent big games.
Either way -- as a longhorn fan, I'm guessing that I need to be a big Missouri fan. As that is the best chance for my Horns!!
Good Luck to all!
The thing that scares me about this ou team is whether their defense can suddenly be outstanding. They have consistently given up a lot of points this year, including a bunch at their own house and to teams that I don't believe to be nearly as good as Tech. The good news for them is they usually play VERY GOOD offense when they are at home as well. I like the Sooners here as well, but this Tech teams isn't like Tech teams of the past. I'm hopeful that Big Game Bob can start to rebuild that reputation, because he hasn't had the greatest success in recent big games.
Either way -- as a longhorn fan, I'm guessing that I need to be a big Missouri fan. As that is the best chance for my Horns!!
Good Luck to all!
I've been a die hard Sooner fan since the days of Bud, but I have to tell you it will take a monumental effort to pull this rabbit out of the hat GS. We're gonna be without both starting DE's, not to mention Reynolds who's been out since Texas. Harrell will have all day to throw, and Crabtree isn't the only guy to throw to. Frankly, their running game is not that bad, when they want to run the ball, and I'd ask Bundy about their defense. GL, but anything over a field goal is a bridge too far.
~T~
~T~
I think you guys need to look at these teams a little closer...All I've been hearing is how bad OU's defense is. Did you know that just 18 total yards seperate these two defenses? But I don't hear anybody talking about Texas Tech's defense. Let's take a look at OU's and Texas Tech's two common opponents played under similar circumastances..OU & Tech both played A&M on the road. And they both played Nebraska at home..Here is what each team gave up on defense:
vs Nebraska
Texas Tech's defense gave up 471 total yards
OU's defense gave up 418
vs Texas A&M:
Texas Tech's defense gave up 306
OU's defense gave up 280
I think the important thing here is that these games were played by OU in the last month..When Reynolds went down for OU when they played Texas, this was the heart of our defense. And it took OU a couple weeks to move players around and adjust to his absence. Where Texas, Kansas & KSU were able to expose the middle of the OU defense earlier in the season, OU's defense is much more settled and less vulnerable now...Also keep in mind that the 28 points that Nebraska and Texas A&M each scored on OU, were points after the fact..The game had already been decided..OU had a 42-7 lead on Nebraska. And OU had a 52-14 lead over Texas A&M..So most of the points that were scored by these teams were in junk time. Not so with Texas Tech...Texas A&M was still alive in their game with Tech going into the 4th quarter when Tech led just 30-23...And the Nebraska game went right down to the wire in OT...And the big reason it did was because Nebraska was able to pass the ball on Tech and stay away from mistakes...The only real mistake the Huskers made that day is when Ganz hurried his throw in overtime and the Tech player was in the right place on the sideline for an int...Don't forget, this Tech team could just as easily have 2 losses. If it hadn't been for a dropped int. that was thrown right at a Texas DB, Texas would have won that game..The Horns definitely had the Tech defense on their heels in the second half of that game. And very nearly pulled off a great comeback..And this was a flat and tired Texas team on the 4th leg of a top 10 run through the Big 12..OU will be well rested and ready for this Tech offense. Tech backers better hope the Red Raiders jump out on a lead on OU. Otherwise I don't think their going to be able to keep up with the Sooners for a full 60 minutes.
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This line looks pretty rock solid at 7..Which is exactly where I thought it would be to get some play on both sides...It's hard for me to believe a big syndicate group would want to play this type of game big. My bet is they won't play it, and look for something better...As for Dr. Bob, since this is a marquee game, he may try to play it...But I really couldn't tell you what side that I think he'll be on. And to tell you the truth, I don't care. My play is already in the Book. This is a line that is very similar to the Texas/OU line...That line was stuck pretty much at 7 all week, with a few 6.5's and 7.5's thrown in...But it was bet down in the last hours to a final line of 6..We could see the same thing here. But I wish I could tell you which way I think this is going to move..I've always been terrible at predicting what the public will do.
Great thread GS. My 2c worth, This season Tech looked better on paper than they ever have before and at the start of the season this looked to be their toughest game. Nothing has changed except that Oklahoma is a little more beat up than Tech and Tech seems to have put it all together starting with the Kansas game. All in All I think the line is right where it should be and for me its a great game to watch but not a good one to bet.
jb....Ball State has alot of mojo going right now. But I lean towards Cental Michigan in this game..And the reason isn't so much about the numbers or the comparable scores. Ball State will win that argument..My feeling about these kinds of conference marquee games this late in the year is to take the team who is battle tested...If you look at Ball State's schedule, all of their games have been blowouts by 3 TD's or more..But Central Michigan has been in some real battles this year. Five of their games have been decided by a TD or less. As a rule when the general public sees this they think this team isn't going to be able to compete with a Ball State..But I think it's the other way around..CM is used to playing a full 60 minute game in the trenches..Ball State isn't..But if this Ball State team faces a little adversity on the road and this becomes a close game, then I think CM could win this outright, because Ball St. hasn't played that close game this year that they might have needed to win a game like this.. You also need to look at the overall schedule of these two teams..Ball State has only played one BCS team this year..CM has played 3 BCS teams. All on the road. Like I said, I think this CM team is battle tested..I wouldn't take this angle lightly.
I believe 10-0 teams have a terrible record of covering the spread, also. Especially against a conference opponent. I'm straddling the 7 in this game myself, so I'd absolutely love a Ball State win by either 6 or 7 points.
I think it should be a good game for a Wednesday night. I like watching both Nate Davis and Dan LeFevour. They're both excellent college quarterbacks for different reasons; Davis may end up being a good one in the NFL.
I think it should be a good game for a Wednesday night. I like watching both Nate Davis and Dan LeFevour. They're both excellent college quarterbacks for different reasons; Davis may end up being a good one in the NFL.
There's no doubt that TT is a better team this year. But the bottom line is they haven't played a big important game on the road this year. And a team's weaknesses tend to come out on the road when facing good teams...And I think TT's biggest weakness is their pass defense. They rank #98 while OU ranks #93. But I would much rather have the #93 rated defense playing at home than i would having ther #98 rated defense playing on the road. This is why I think OU wins and probably covers this number.
The bottom line is 7 points is a big number on the road in MAC play when playing one of the top 3 teams in conference. I just got home so I'm not seeing the better numbers that i saw this afternoon. I was hoping to take CM +7 without having to pay the Bodog juice. That's why i think I'll just make this a small half unit play and be done with it.
Tech has 2 backs that have been running hard and holding onto the ball, Batch is more of the power back and Woods is more of the scat back. This is something Tech hasn't had in a long time which makes defenses think twice before they just play the pass. OU was giving up 13.8 points per game before the UT game now they are giving up 30.5 points per game (those not including the UT game which was 45). It's been this way all year for Tech which is understandable because they are in uncharted territory here. OU's offense has been putting up points this year and Bradford is a great QB, Murray is a great back and Johnson is a great WR. I have been on the Tech bandwagon all year and they haven't let me down. It really adds up to 1 thing, can TTU get stops and they have been able to do that vs. UT and OSU and they won those games albeit in Lubbock. The only thing that stops Tech is halftime. Each coaching staff has had 2 weeks to prepare and it should be a great game and a great atmosphere. I am really f*cking excited about this game, but I really think TTU pulls this out. I know OU has all the great records @ home and everything and they have better athletes, but everything has been going right for TTU this year and I think it continues all the way to the BCS championship. With Leach, Harrell, and probably Crabtree leaving this year this is one of the only chances they have. OU and UT will always be in the hunt but this is Tech's first and maybe only shot.
BOL to all! WRECK EM TECH!
BOL to all! WRECK EM TECH!
Any yahoo can cap Texas Tech vs. OU, GS, show some skills and cap the Apple Cup! For me, this game is like a car wreck, these two teams are so bad, I want to see the game. I like UW -7.5, yeah they are 0-10 but they played a much tougher schedule, OU, BYU and Notre Dame, they didn't get to chalk one up against Portland St. I think the kids in purple play hard for Willingham in his last game. IMHO I thought UW would open at -13 or -14.
