Oklahoma State hosts Texas Christian tomorrow at the Boone in Stillwater in one of the best match-ups in week four of the college football season. The two undefeated team have one good win on their resume, with the Cowboys dismantling the Pittsburgh Panthers in the steel city by a 59-21 score and the Frogs scoring late to top the Arkansas Razorbacks 28-7 in Northwest Arkansas. This game opens the conference season for the 6th ranked team in Oklahoma State and the 16th best in the nation, TCU.
On first glance, one would expect a high scoring affair, as Oklahoma State has the best offensive team in college football. TCU has had enough success to take close games with Arkansas and SMU to win late with excellent 2nd half performances. OSU’s first line players have not had to go into the fourth quarter as of this season, being pulled just after half in all three blow-out wins.
As for TCU, their defense could be just another group to get smoked by the O-State offense. Using a three man front with three linebackers and five in the secondary, Coach Gary Patterson leaves his defenders in a precarious position with regard to the Cowboy running game. A set-up of the 3-3-5 defense alignment tells me that Poke runners, lead by their best back, Justice Hill (5’10 185), will chew up the Frog defense with a pounding of the defensive line, giving way to long and productive scoring drives. TCU can try to take away the Pokes passing game as best as they can, but when the formations on offense contain the “cowboy back”, which gives the Pokes that extra blocker, TCU is in for a big time beat down. As I look at it, TCU is in for a tough day and this one could be a another OSU blowout by half, especially if TCU’s Kenny Hill and company cannot keep pace. Add to the fact that OSU does not turn the ball over and TCU’s offense is susceptible to inconsistent play by Hill, OSU’s defense should do enough to let them cruise to an easy win. If the game is within a touchdown at half, we could have us a ball game. If OSU is up five touchdowns after thirty minutes, we will not. I suspect it is over by half.
Final: OSU 58 and TCU 31
As for the Oklahoma Sooners and their trip to Waco to play the hapless Baylor Bears, OU will name their score. Will OU run it up in this one? Probably, as OU’s 2nd team offense will add to the wipeout from the first half.
OU 63 and Baylor 14
