The Daily’s James Corley analyzes the Sooners’ upcoming football schedule and forecasts potential outcomes for Stoops’ troops.
Utah State, Sept. 4 – Norman
The Sooners open the season against a team that finished 4-8 and seventh in the Western Athletic Conference. Not a shameful powderpuff matchup, but nothing special either.
Prediction: W, 42-3
Florida State, Sept. 11 – Norman
The Seminoles can be formidable and are ranked preseason No. 20. FSU’s senior quarterback Christian Ponder will test OU’s secondary, but the Sooners are nearly unbeatable at home.
Prediction: W, 38-24
Air Force, Sept. 18 – Norman
After their 8-5 season was topped by the Falcons’ 47-20 Armed Forces Bowl win over Houston, the Air Force gained a lot of national respect. They’re not quite giant killers yet, though.
Prediction: W, 45-14
Cincinnati, Sept. 25 – Cincinnati, Ohio
The Sooners’ first road challenge in 2010 is a doozy. The beasts of the Big East are a little less scary without slinger Tony Pike to lead them to another undefeated regular season.
Prediction: W, 31-27
Texas, Oct. 2 – Dallas
This one’s always big. The Longhorns might be looking at a rebuilding year with sophomore Garrett Gilbert as quarterback, but both teams always play a little extra scrappy in Dallas.
Prediction: W, 24-17
Bye, Oct. 9
The Sooners would probably rather have this bye before the Texas game, but a little recharge before the rest of conference play never hurts.
Iowa State, Oct. 16 – Norman
The Cyclones have lived in the Big 12 North basement since Seneca Wallace left, and no one really expects anything different this year because of their gauntlet of a schedule.
Prediction: W, 62-3
Missouri, Oct. 23 – Columbia, Mo.
The Tigers could be contenders for the Big 12 North title and have the luxury of hosting the Sooners, but I’m not real high on Blaine Gabbert or Missouri without a star receiver.
Prediction: W, 38-14
Colorado, Oct. 30 – Norman
Coach Dan Hawkins has the right idea for Colorado’s offense but not the right personnel. The Buffaloes don’t have many chances to improve on last year’s 3-9 record, especially not this game.
Prediction: W, 35-7
Texas A&M, Nov. 6 – College Station, Texas
Nobody wants to go play the Aggies at Kyle Field. Jerrod Johnson and Von Miller will bring everything the Sooners don’t need to this game. The 12th Man has an eerie power to get inside opposing quarterbacks’ heads, and Jones proved last year he gets rattled on the road.
Prediction: L, 24-28
Texas Tech, Nov. 13 – Norman
Who knows what the Red Raiders are going to be like this year in Tommy Tuberville’s system? Definitely different than Mike Leech’s ADD. offense, but probably not different enough to off the Sooners at home.
Prediction: W, 49-10
Baylor, Nov. 20 – Waco, Texas
I’m a Robert Griffin fan. The kid’s brought hope to an otherwise hopeless fanbase. Now that he’s healthy again, I expect Baylor to win a lot of games this year. Just not this one.
Prediction: W, 36-14
Oklahoma State, Nov. 27 – Stillwater
The Cowboys are probably going to have a very down year, but even at their worst—OU was one of only four teams OSU beat in 2001—they’ve found a way against the Sooners.
Prediction: W, 28-10
Big 12 Championship, Dec. 4 – Arlington, Texas
The Sooners (11-1) will face their traditional Big Eight rival, Nebraska (12-0). OU didn’t fare well in their last trip to Jerryworld. In this last meeting before Nebraska jumps ship for the Big Ten, the Huskers’ defense pulls out a stunner in the end.
Prediction: L, 28-31