December 5, 2020 Issue, Page 7 of 10

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Sports December 5, 2020 College football predictions and a possible 6-way tie in the Big 12 Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman ‘The year is crazy. Let's get to bedrock national power, decade Carolina: Tar Heels 54-7. Too Flames 31-24, ESPN's GameDay Wyoming vs. New Mexico the predictions: after decade. Now, Nebraska is bad there's not a University of will be on hand, and rightfully at Las Vegas: Cowboys 30-14. In all my deep dives into the Baylor at Oklahoma: Soon- where Purdue is. A middling Big Southern Carolina located in so, for this mid-major show- Wyoming's second trip to Vegas Big 12 Championship Game sce- ers 34-24. The Bears are playing Ten program. the state of North Carolina. down. If Coastal wins, what's inaweek. The Cowboys beat Ne- narios, I never offered up this better, but no six-way tie is in Ohio State at Michigan State: Then Southern Carolina could the argument against keeping possibility. the cards. Buckeyes 55-14. Ohio State des- play South Carolina. the Chanticleers out of the top vada-Las Vegas a week ago, now ‘A six-way tie for second place. Oklahoma State at TCU: Cow- perately needs to play. The Buck- Washington State at South- 10? There isn't one. return, since the Lobos have re- Here's how it works. If OU boys 27-25. This will be a battle eyes have gotten in only four of em Cal: Trojans 38-30. This Louisiana-Lafayette at Ap- located to Vegas. loses out, to Baylor and West royale. Can OSU run the ball? their six games scheduled so far. game was moved from Friday palachian State: Ragin’ Cajuns Rice at Marshall: Thundering Virginia, and OSU loses out, to Will OSU have the patience to Towa at Illinois: Hawkeyes 31- to Sunday. The Trojans need to 27-24. Another good mid-major Herd 46-14. Marshall is having TCU and Baylor, the Bedlam ri- try to run the ball? 10. Iowa is playing better after play. Another cancellation could showdown, and props to the a heck of a season. There could vals would each be 5-4. Also at ‘West Virginia at Iowa State: opening with narrow losses to put them in danger of not be- committee for (belatedly) get- be some great mid-major bowl 5-4 would be TCU. Cyclones 26-21. If the Moun- Purdue and Northwestern. ing eligible for the Pac-12 title ting ULL into its rankings. If Iowa State beats West Vir- taineers pull the upset, all kinds Penn State at Rutgers: Scarlet Troy at South Alabama: Tro- games. ginia, the Mountaineers would of tiebreakers could come into Knights 31-24. Penn State is fa~ Colorado at Arizona: Buffa- jans 33-23. I've been to Troy. Louisiana Tech at North Tex- be 5-4, too, with that victory play for the Arlington partici- vored — and that's as it should Joes 31-21. CU remains unbeat- And trust me. It's in south Ala- as: Bulldogs 41-22. TCU adding over the Sooners, pants. be. Not because of the brand en and is getting no love. bama. Louisiana Tech to the schedule ‘That leaves Texas and Kansas ‘Texas at Kansas State: Long- name, but because the Nittanys Oregon at California: Ducks Louisiana-Monroe at Arkan- for December 19 is a cool thing, State. If the Wildcats beat UT, horns 28-26, Do the Texas play- have played all three common 38-20, Why is Oregon ranked sas State: Red Wolves 45-11. A That's a good game. and the Longhorns beat Kansas, ers want to play? We're going to opponents tougher than has by the playoff committee and matchup of two programs that Florida International at Char- suddenly Texas and K-State are find out. Rutgers. Indiana, Ohio State, Colorado is not? The Ducks have once shared a nickname. Indi- lotte: 49ers 26-7. Charlotte 5-4, also. Kansas at Texas Tech: Red Michigan. I'm still picking Rut- beaten Stanford, Washington ans. ‘This scenario does not require Raiders 38-24. Tech can finish gers. State and UCLA, then lost to Florida Atlantic at Georgia hasn't played since Halloween. something crazy, like Kansas 3-6 and perhaps ahead of Baylor Indiana at Wisconsin: Bad- Oregon State. CU beat Stanford, Southern: Owls 20-19. FAU is No games in December. Four winning. for eighth place. That would be a gers 33-18. IU's breakout sea- UCLA and San Diego State. 5-1 in Charlie Strong's first sea- games stopped by COVID, in- In fact, it requires few upsets consolation prize. son could be ruined by the knee Stanford at Washington: son as coach. Solid. cluding a Tuesday game against and maybe just one major upset ‘Texas A&M at Auburn: Aggies injury to quarterback Michael Huskies 35-14. UW pulled out Boise State at Nevada-Las Western Kentucky. — Baylor over OU. 24-17. ‘The last best chance for Penix Jr. a great comeback win over Utah Vegas: Broncos 42-6. The Boise Toledo at Northern Illinois: OSU-TCU, OSU-Baylor, OU- A&M to lose. Sure would open Boston College at Virginia: last week. State-San Jose State game last West Virginia all figure to be some passing lanes in the play- Cavaliers 26-16. If BC can win, UCLA at Arizona State: Sun weekend was canceled by CO- Rockets 41-27. Wasn't that long competitive and interesting off rankings if the Ags would it's a heck of a season. With a Devils 35-24. Old Dominion, VID, but since they are the only ago that the Huskies were in the games. fall. win, the Eagles finish 6-4 in the New Mexico State and Con- unbeaten teams in the Moun- Orange Bowl. Now Northern Il- So a six-way tie at 5-4 in the Arkansas at Missouri: Tigers ACC and no worse than sixth in necticut decided not to play this tain West, they can meet in the linois is 0-4. conference is possible, and 30-20. I wonder how Columbia, the 15-team league. That's like season. Of the rest of Division championship game. Bowling Green at Akron: Fal- here's how you determine the Missouri, is holding up? Used to fourth place in a 10-team con- LA, the fewest games have been Fresno State at Nevada: Bull- cons 27-26. A matchup of 0-4 tiebreaker. go all the time but haven't been ference. Not bad. played by Rice (three), Washing- dogs 31-30. Bummer for Jay teams. Bowling Green has been Head-to-head: Against each there in 10 years. Syracuse at Notre Dame: ton State (two), Utah (two) and Norvell's Wolf Pack that the outscored 194-54. Akron has other, OU, Kansas State and Florida at Tennessee: Gators Fighting Irish 38-10. The Or- Arizona State (one). San Jose State-Boise State game West Virginia would be 3-2, 42-19, The Peyton Manning ange is headed for last place in Oregon State at Utah: Utes was called off. Nevada is in third been outscored 189-65. while OSU, Texas and TCU days are long away and far ago. the 15-team league. That's like 31-28, The Beavers are get- place in the league, at 5-1. Eastern Michigan at West- would be 2-3. So the Cowboys, Alabama at LSU: Crimson 15th place in a 15-team league. ting better. I think OSU would Air Force at Utah State: Fal- ern Michigan: Broncos 31-30. Longhorns and Horned Frogs Tide 47-7. CBS is showing this Not good. have beaten Oregon State back cons 24-23. The Academy can Western and Buffalo are the are eliminated. And once we're in primetime. CBS is stuck in a Miami at Duke: Hurricanes in that now-canceled season make its season on December Mid-American's only unbeaten down to three teams, their re- time warp. 35-13, Miami has played twice opener, but it would have been 19, when it plays at Army. Air teams. cord against each other would South Carolina at Kentucky: since October 24, and the good game. Force has won the Command- Buffalo at Ohio: Bulls 42- be OU 0-2, K-State 1-1 and West Wildcats 23-20. These disap- ‘Canes’ last three wins have Tulsa at Navy: Golden Hurri- er-in-Chief's Trophy only four Virginia 2-0. pointing teams have combined been by a total of nine points. cane 24-13. Crazy times for TU. times in the last 18 years, after 30. Buffalo tailback Jaret Pat- ‘The Mountaineers would play for five wins. Clemson at Virginia Tech: Great season, with memorable winning it 16 of the previous 21 terson became a star with his Vanderbilt at Georgia: Bull- Towa State in Arlington for the Tigers 56-14. Notre Dame per- victories anda national ranking. seasons. eight-touchdown performance Big 12 title. dogs 55-7. Georgia's second manently in the ACC wouldn't But all punctuated with COVID San Jose State at Ha- against Kent State. Two weeks ago, Texas Tech straight game against an op- be a bad deal. At least Clemson cancellations and postpone- waii: Spartans 29-14. Hawaii Ball State at Central Michi- kicked a last-second field goal to ponent that has fired its coach. would have some competition. ments. gan: Cardinals 28-21. If Ball knocked Nevada from the un- beat Baylor. Under the six-way South Carolina (Will Mus- Georgia Tech at North Caro- Memphis at Tulane: Tigers beaten ranks last week. Maybe State wins, it plays Western tie scenario, Baylor finishes 4-5 champ) last week, Vandy (Derek lina State: Wolfpack 42-23. N.C. 44-32. River City showdown. the Rainbow Warriors can do Michigan for the division title in the league. If the Bears had Mason) this week. State has a decent team. Prob- In better days, you could take a the same to San Jose State. won that game against Tech, Nebraska at Purdue: Corn- ably going to finish fourth in steamboat down the Mississippi Colorado State at San Diego next week. they would be alive to finish 5-4 huskers 27-17. Nebraska once the ACC. to go to this game. State: Aztecs 25-16. San Diego Last week: 32-11. Season: and make it a seven-way tie. was where Ohio State is today. A Western Carolina at North Liberty at Coastal Carolina: State played tough at Colorado. 310-109. OU football: In addition to Bob Stoops, a look at some other potential substitute coaches for Sooners Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman helping out this week. "There are ‘That's what allowed Stoops, who Wuerffel Trophy as a senior. tant and then a special teams seasons as a defensive graduate some good options." serves as a special assistant to Both awards are given for a com- and offensive graduate assistant assistant at UCLA after a season NORMAN — While Bob While Riley wouldn't give athletic director Joe Castiglione, bination of academic, athletic for the Pirates before spending as an offensive analyst at Texas Stoops may be the biggest addi- specifics, outside of saying he to return. and community service success. the 2015-16 seasons as Lehigh's A&M in 2017. tion to OU's coaching staff this had not tested positive for COV- Here's a look someof the ana- Darlington spent the previous special teams coordinator and Chip Viney, recruiting analyst week as it hopes to get in Satur- ID-19 or been caught up in con- lysts and graduate assistants two seasons as an offensive ana- offensive assistant. He joined During his first tenure with day's home finale against Baylor, tact tracing that could keep him who could be pressed into great- lyst at OU before moving into Riley's staff in 2017. the Sooners, from 2013-16 as Lincoln Riley's staff might have away from the game, he said the er duty this weekend, with some the GA role. Parker Henry, defensive grad- a graduate assistant and then a even more different faces this coaching staff had been affected. familiar faces and some other Ryan Dougherty, special uate assistant week. "It's affected all parts of our more obscure ones: teams analyst Henry was a walk-on defen- special teams specialist, Viney developed a reputation as a "We have some good opportu- program," Riley said. ‘Ty Darlington, offensive grad- The former East Carolina sive back/linebacker who be- strong recruiter even though nities," Riley said Tuesday when ‘The pool of coaches who could uate assistant punter was a part of Ruffin Mc- came a starter for Alex Grinch's asked if he was able to bring in fill in for missing coaches is lim- Darlington was a Sooners’ Neill's staff at East Carolina for defenses at Washington State he wasn't able to go off campus additional help from elsewhere ited, as the fill-ins must already center from 2012-15, starting the entire time Lincoln Riley in the 2015-16 seasons. Henry to recruit. After a season as Jay on the staff, moments before he be affiliated with the athletic 26 games in his career and win- was there with McNeill. Dough- coached linebackers at running Norvell’s cornerbacks coach at Nevada in 2017, the former dropped the news Stoops was department in some capacity. ning the Campbell Trophy and erty was a special teams assis- backs at his alma mater, Skyview High in Vancouver, Washington, UCLA and New Mexico State in 2017 before spending a year defensive back returned as a re- as Portland State's inside line- cruiting analyst for the Sooners. OSU football: Old pals Mike Gundy, backers coach and then joining the Sooners as a graduate assis- tant after Grinch's hiring. Soon- Austin Woods, defensive ana- lyst Woods played for the Soon- Gary Patterson to meet for ninth time ers’ inside linebacker coach Bri- ers from 2010-13, mainly see- an Odom was a defensive quality ing action as a deep snapper. He control assistant for the Cougars battled Hodgkin's lymphoma in Henry's last two years there. during his time at OU as a play- Scott Wright, The Oklahoman quite well. Will Johnson, defensive grad- another player and plugs him in. tinuity during the week and uate er, including going through che- "Gary's one of the best coach- When injuries happen mid- throughout the game. assistant motherapy in-season in 2012. Johnson started 17 games STILLWATER — For as much es in college football," said Gun- game — like they did against “It lessens their missed as- at safety and nickelback for the Woods has been an analyst for as their coaching styles differ, dy, who is 5-3 against Patterson. Tulsa, Texas and OU — offen- signments," Gundy said. "I Sooners from 2015-17, earning the Sooners since 2014, spend- Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy “There's no question about his sive linemen has been forced to have faith in Charlie and I have All-Big 12 honorable mention ing the first five seasons on the and TCU's Gary Patterson seem durability from a standpoint of shuffle positions. faith in (offensive coordinator honors as a senior. Johnson was offensive side before moving to to have a lot in common. And years of service and the teams But when Dickey has been giv- that goes well beyond what the that he's had. They don't always ena week to work with a group, Kasey) Dunn and our staff and avolunteer analyst for the Soon- the defensive side in 2019. what we're trying to get accom- ers last season before becoming Erick Wren, offensive gradu- public can see. get what some people consider and then all five play those same ate assistant One of the longest active four- and five-star players. They positions for the entire game on plished. a graduate assistant in 2020. Conner McQueen, offensive ‘Another former center among coaching rivalries in college find a way to win. Saturday, the Cowboy front has "We at least kept the same analyst the group, Wren was a walk-on football will be extended to a "He and I, when we have con- held up well. five guys in the same positions McQueen was a walk-on for the Sooners who became a ninth straight year on Saturday, ference functions, we always Last Saturday against Texas in this last game. It allowed us quarterback at Texas A&M who starter in 2016, earning a schol- when Patterson and TCU host buddy up. I tease him and he Tech was a prime example. With to have less missed assignments eventually earned a scholarship, arship. The next year, Wren Gundy’'s Pokes at 11 a.m. Satur- teases me, but we get along. We the line's best player, Teven and we didn't have as many guys primarily serving as a holder earned first-team All-Big 12 day in Forth Worth, Texas. have a really good relationship. Jenkins, out for the year, and get turned loose in the back on placekicks from 2013-16 af- In his 20th season at TCU, I enjoy competing against him." two redshirt freshmen starting field." honors. Wren spent last season ter redshirting during Johnny as a graduate assistant for Texas Patterson is the second-longest Offensive line continuity a on the left side of the line, the Quotable Manziel's Heisman season of tenured coach in college foot- continuous search for Cowboys group helped OSU carve up Tech A&M-Commerce before joining OSU running back Dezmon 2012. McQueen's father, Mark, Riley's staff. ball, behind only Kirk Ferentz at Oklahoma State offensive line for 539 total yards. Jackson on the source of his mo- played for Texas A&M in the ear- Towa (22 years). Gundy, now in coach Charlie Dickey probably Ryan Aber covers OU athlet- his 16th season, is tied for third won't get any outside recogni- Dezmon Jackson rushed for 235 yards and Sanders was tivation: "I've never been a high- lyMcQueen, 1980s. His grandfather, Bob played for Tulsa and ics, especially football. You can on that list with Kyle Witting- tion or awards this season, but sacked just once. Pro Football star guy or highly recruited, so coached Temple (Texas) High, send your story ideas to him at ham of Utah and Frank Solich he deserves some. Focus graded the Cowboys as my motivation is that I want to his alma mater, to a pair of state [email protected] or on of Ohio, ‘The Cowboy offensive line has the best offensive line perfor- prove myself right rather than championships and was induct- ‘Twitter at @ryaber. Support his Even though Gundy is an of been decimated by injuries and mance of the week in all of col- prove everybody wrong. I know ed into the Texas High School work and that of other Oklaho- fensive guy and Patterson a de- attrition dating back to the sum- lege football. what I can do and I love the Football Hall of Fame. Conner man journalists by purchasing a fensive coach, the two get along mer, and Dickey simply prepares And it all comes back to con- game and that keeps me going.” McQueen spent the last two digital subscription today.