Former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops gave his pick for the upcoming Top 15 clash between Tennessee and Oklahoma this week and the answer may not surprise you.
During the Thursday episode of his “Coach Bob Stoops” YouTube show, Stoops went through the big storylines surrounding the SEC game in Norman.
“Huge game just to start our SEC career,” Stoops said in the video. “That’s really exciting. Playing a really good football team that’s great in Tennessee, coached by Josh Heupel and Joey Halzle, a guy that played for us here, too, at quarterback, is their offensive coordinator. So it’s a big game. I know our fans will be amped up for it and looking forward to it.”
Stoops spoke to the camera for about 10 minutes about Saturday’s game and all the surrounding storylines. Stoops was also extremely complimentary of Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, his former national championship-winning quarterback at Oklahoma and a former assistant on his staff. Stoops made the decision to part ways with Heupel after 10 years of coaching together but still holds the Vols’ coach in very high regard.
Stoops is no stranger to big-time conference games and gave his keys to the game from an OU perspective:
“Big keys for me, we’ve got to be great against their run game,” Stoops said. “Any of the games they lost a year ago, people held them down to, you know, less than 135/140 yards (rushing). That’s a big deal. To get them some three-and-outs, to get them off rhythm a little bit if you can come up with a lost yardage play. Limit the run game. Put them in predictable situations and then come up with plays. And another part that I think people don’t talk about enough about is that I think the offense really needs to stay on the field and cool them (OU defense) off.”
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Before closing down the preview segment, Stoops made his official pick.
“Well, of course,” Stoops said when asked if the Sooners will win on Saturday night.”That’s where I’m at with it in a tight game. We’ll be ready for that. I know these guys, these players, have heard this all week, all summer leading up to this game. Coaching staff has heard it. This is a prideful program so I believe they’ll respond to that.”
No. 15 Oklahoma will host No. 6 Tennessee at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Check out Bob Stoops’ full Tennessee-Oklahoma preview below.
