No. 22 Oklahoma State At No. 14 Oklahoma: Breaking down the matchups
BY Staff Reports
Saturday, November 24, 2012
11/24/12 at 7:18 AM
Find more Bedlam coverage: Read all of this week’s preview stories and analysis on the Bedlam football game.
OSU run game vs. OU run defense
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OSU’s Joseph Randle leads a run game that could trouble the Sooners. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World |
Joseph Randle is the Big 12's leading rusher, but he hasn't had a 100-yard game since his 32-carry workhorse effort against TCU Oct. 27. Jeremy Smith has been used sporadically, with just 28 carries in conference play. The duo hammered the Sooners a year ago with a combined 270 yards and four touchdowns. Given that OU has allowed 710 rushing yards the past two weeks, Randle and Smith figure to get plenty of chances again this afternoon.
— GUERIN EMIG
John Klein's take
Oklahoma has struggled to slow the run game in its past two games against Baylor and West Virginia. The OSU run game has been less effective lately.
Advantage: 
John Hoover's take
The Sooners have struggled all year, especially the last two weeks. Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith are ready to continue that trend.
Advantage:
OSU pass game vs. OU pass defense
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| OU’s Javon Harris intercepts
a pass against West
Virginia.
MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
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The Sooners excelled against the run and struggled against the pass when Brent Venables was defensive coordinator. Now that Mike Stoops is back, the opposite has happened. Stoops floods the field with defensive backs, helping explain OU's NCAA sixth-ranked pass efficiency defense. This is Clint Chelf's challenge in his first Bedlam appearance. He handled West Virginia and Texas Tech just fine the past two weeks, but today brings stiffer competition.
— GUERIN EMIG
John Klein's take
Oklahoma's new alignment on defense was designed to stop the pass and the Sooners have done a decent job of that, while OSU continues to find holes in defenses.
Advantage: 
John Hoover's take
Clint Chelf to Josh Stewart is a strong combination. But Chelf hasn't faced a secondary this good. OU mustn't be fooled by play-action fakes.
Advantage:
OU run game vs. OSU run defense
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| Alex Elkins and OSU have
succeeded in slowing opposing
running backs.
MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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OSU's run defense has been upgraded since the teams last met. In 2011, the Cowboys entered Bedlam with a national ranking of 93rd in run defense. In 2012, the Cowboys are 24th in run defense, surrendering 126.0 yards per game. Only two runners have cracked the 100-yard barrier against Bill Young's unit. OU's Damien Williams is the Big 12's second-leading rusher. The Sooners were limited to 15 rushing yards by Notre Dame and have averaged 159.7 yards in three games since.
- Jimmie Tramel
John Klein's take
Oklahoma State's run defense has improved throughout the season as the defensive line has become much better. OU runners have been inconsistent all season.
Advantage:
John Hoover's take
The strength of the Cowboys' interior shows in their success versus the run. OU's injury and depth problems on the O-line could really show up here.
Advantage:
OU pass game vs. OSU pass defense
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| OU’s Landry Jones will
face a porous OSU pass
defense.
MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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An enhanced defensive line (thanks to the emergence of James Castleman and Calvin Barnett) allowed OSU to get quarterback pressure against Texas Tech last week with only a four-man rush. If the OU offensive line can protect Landry Jones, the nation's eighth-best passing offense could live up to its ranking. But if Jones hears footsteps, OSU defensive backs Justin Gilbert, Brodrick Brown, Shamiel Gary and Daytawion Lowe could see some balls that are up for grabs. The Cowboys rank 95th nationally in passing yards allowed.
- Jimmie Tramel
John Klein's take
Landry Jones has played at a career-high level over the last six games. OSU's pass rush is much better, but the secondary has struggled.
Advantage:
John Hoover's take
Landry Jones and his steadily improving posse of receivers are eager to meet a Cowboy secondary that has underachieved all season.
Advantage:
Special teams
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| OU’s Justin Brown has
scored a punt return touchdown
this season.
STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
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The rivals are well-stocked with feet. Quinn Sharp is 21-of-27 on field goals and averages 45 yards per punt. Michael Hunnicutt is 11-of-13 on 3-pointers, while Tress Way averages 42 yards. OU has slightly superior return numbers, but both teams feature gamebreakers. Justin Brown and Roy Finch have both scored on Sooner returns, while Brennan Clay has been clutch on kickoff runbacks. Justin Gilbert, with a 30-yard average, has scored on a kickoff return. So has fellow Cowboy Desmond Roland.
— GUERIN EMIG
John Klein's take
Both teams have had their moments, but Quinn Sharp may be the best special teams player in the country for his deep kickoffs, great punts and accurate placekicks.
Advantage:
John Hoover's take
OSU has had problems covering kicks, and the Sooners have excelled at runbacks.
Advantage:
Coaching
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| OU coach Bob Stoops
is 6-1 versus OSU’s Mike
Gundy.
MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
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This should be an easy call since Bob Stoops is 6-1 vs. Mike Gundy. But coaching is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately profession and Gundy played the last ace. OSU rampaged to a 44-10 Bedlam victory last season. It was the Cowboys' most lopsided win over the Sooners since 1945. Stoops' resume includes a national championship and seven Big 12 titles. Gundy guided OSU to its only Big 12 championship last season. Stoops has the best body of work. Gundy is a reigning national coach of the year.
- Jimmie Tramel
John Klein's take
No one should discount Mike Gundy, but Bob Stoops has kept OU among the national elite for most of the past 13 years.
Advantage:
John Hoover's take
Mike Stoops turned around the Sooners until his schemes were badly exposed in Morgantown. Can he rebound against brainy Todd Monken?
Advantage:
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FINAL SCORE PREDICTIONS | KLEIN’S PICK: OU 31, OSU 30 | HOOVER’S PICK: OU 42, OSU 35 |
Associated Images:
Fans rush the field and take down the goal posts after OSU defeated OU last season in Stillwater. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World file
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