No. 4 Oklahoma (-8) @ West Virginia TV: FOX 7:30 pm Saturday
Daniel: After spending a couple weeks studying Oklahoma for Tennessee’s game, I can confirm that the Sooners are very good. Even without running back Keith Ford (leg), Oklahoma still has the firepower to put up a lot of points against a West Virginia team that gave up 37 points to Maryland last week. WVU will be without star CB Daryl Worley – making the task of stopping Oklahoma playmakers such as Sterling Shepard and Durron Neal all the more challenging. That being said, WVU has quite an offense itself and will put some points, even against OU’s athletic defense. The Mountaineers battled Alabama in their opener and there’s no reason to think they will be intimidated at home against OU, but I think the Sooners still pull this one out. Winner: Oklahoma 35-24
Houston: We should find out a lot more about Oklahoma this weekend after their trip to Morgantown. West Virginia has looked very strong on offense through their first three games and should provide Oklahoma’s defense with a few challenges that they haven’t yet faced this season. But we all saw what Oklahoma’s defensive front seven is capable of last weekend when Eric Striker practically lived in the Vol backfield and Justin Worley was sacked five times. As good as Clint Trickett is, Oklahoma will be able to provide pressure that even Alabama wasn’t able to apply when the two teams played in week one. The Sooner offense should be able to move the ball consistently against the Mountaineers and I would expect Trevor Knight to continue his strong play this weekend. Winner: Oklahoma 38-23
Reed: After seeing Oklahoma in person last week, I think they’re a very good football team, but not the fourth best team in the land. Their front-seven is for real, though, and will give the Mountaineers fits. West Virginia will put up some points thanks to Clint Trickett’s arm and Kevin White’s hands, but the Sooners have the better defense and should be able to put up enough points on a West Virginia D which is giving up 5.5 yards per play. Winner: Oklahoma 38-31
Patrick: West Virginia’s offense is operating at a high level so far this season with Clint Trickett mastering this Dana Holgersen offense and has proved his 365-yard performance against Alabama in the opener was anything but a fluke with 859 yards and six touchdowns in the two weeks since, including a career-high 511 in the last-second win against Maryland last week.
Trickett has a pair of dynamic receivers in Kevin White and Mario Alford who combined for 24 receptions for 347 yards and three touchdowns last week and will be the toughest test yet for the No. 42 ranked pass defense of the Sooners.
Oklahoma cornerback Zack Sanchez is tied for the most interceptions in the nation with three and has five in his last six games dating back to last season and Julian Wilson had a pick-six that clinched the win last week against Tennessee. If White and Alford can win this individual matchup, the Mountaineers can pull off the upset.
Trevor Knight will be asked to win this game after being a game manager for the first three games of the season and his recent chemistry with Sterling Shepard gives me more than enough confidence he will be able to do so, however I am concerned about the Oklahoma ground game without Keith Ford who is out with a broken leg. I like West Virginia to cover the spread, but ultimately come up a little short. Winner: Oklahoma 44-37
