Game day greetings, Sooner friends and fam! Coming off the too-close-for-comfort win at home last week against Iowa State, the Oklahoma Sooners face off against the unbeaten Baylor Bears this evening in Waco. The Bears, ranked No. 13 in the nation, won a close one in overtime at TCU last week and look to continue their perfect season against the conference’s flagship program in the biggest game of head coach Matt Rhule’s career.

It should be a thriller under the lights this evening in Waco.

Head on down to the comments section for the game thread, where we’ll be asking questions, making predictions and discussing the day’s action with y’all.

Coverage Info

TV: ABC 6:30 P.M. CT

Live Stream: WatchESPN

TV Commentary: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor

Radio: OU Radio / TuneIn / SXM 200 / Español

Oklahoma at Baylor: Game preview, storylines & predictions

College Football TV Schedule & Jack’s Gambling Picks - Week 12

Allen Kenney on Baylor’s improved defense

Sooners drop to No. 10 in Week 12 CFB rankings

ICYMI here are the latest episodes of OKLAHOMA BREAKDOWN PODCAST: Reacting to the narrow win and looking ahead to Baylor and BLATANT HOMERISM PODCAST: Picks Trying Not To Suck (Week 12).

Prediction

It actually pisses me off that OU vs. Baylor is a thing again in college football. Baylor football should never be a thing again. But nonetheless we live in strange times, and nothing feels stranger than actually giving a damn about that little football team down in Waco. Having said that, Rhule has done an awful lot to change the culture of that program and deserves a ton of credit for it.

It’s time to see this Oklahoma squad play a complete game, 60 minutes of the kind of football we saw in the first half last week in Norman. A repeat of the second half, however, will almost certainly result in a loss this time around.

No more funkin’ around, Sooners. Charlie Brewer is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the nation, and we all know Rhule will have his guys ready to play. Everyone does so against OU. The backfield skill combo of JaMycal Hasty and John Lovett will have their share of touches under the lights of McLane Stadium this evening, as will lumbering wideout Denzel Mims, and put Alex Grinch’s defense under pressure all game long if Brewer is able to find a rhythm early. Losing Kenneth Mann is a big blow to the defensive front, who will need to dial up the pressure on Brewer tonight.

It’s up to Jalen Hurts and company to play mistake-free football and take advantage of every opportunity in the red zone. Matt Ruhle’s defense has been the best unit in the conference so far this season. They’re big, fast and relentless. Holding TCU wideout Jalen Reagor well below his averages last week, Hurts will likely need to distribute the ball to the numerous weapons at his disposal rather than try to force it to CeeDee Lamb or take off running the minute his first read is covered.

Hurts has the ability to control this game with his dynamic skill set. With some comfort and patience in the pocket (if possible), he could light it up through the air this evening. The emphasis on the run tonight is also key in establishing the play-action pass game and offsetting the aggressive Baylor pass rush led by defensive tackle James Lynch.

The news on Trey Sermon’s season-ending injury is tough, and we wish him the best in his recovery. But Kennedy Brooks and Rhamondre Stevenson are more than capable of gashing any defense in the country. This could be a win that sees an unlikely hero emerge in a potential Sooner Magic moment. Who will that be?

I’m anxious going into this one, but I’m picking the Sooners to hang on for a close win in Waco.

Oklahoma 38, Baylor 35

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