Tulsa World: It isn't over: Pokes can still be burn survivors

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It isn't over: Pokes can still be burn survivors

By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Published: 11/10/2008 2:11 AM
Last Modified: 11/10/2008 3:05 AM

REMEMBER NOLAN Richardson's "40 minutes of hell"?

Oklahoma State got a full dose of Texas Tech's version on Saturday night.

It was "60 minutes of hell" for the Cowboys and pure heaven for Texas Tech as a lopsided victory put the Raiders in line to break up the dominance of traditional powers at the top of the BCS standings.

OSU simply couldn't stop Tech, nothing new for a lot of Big 12 Conference teams, as the Raiders burned the Cowboys, 56-20.

"They got hot and got on a roll, and I think they are pretty good," OSU coach Mike Gundy said Sunday.

At the top of the ratings are historic powers like Alabama, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and USC. And, there's this school way out in the Texas panhandle called Texas Tech.

Tech continued its impressive run toward breaking up the monopoly of traditional powers by winning for the 10 straight time this season.

"We went out and played a good football team and got beat," Gundy said.

It ended OSU's Big 12 South Division hopes and the Cowboys surprising run to eight victories in their first nine games and a spot in the nation's top 10. Now, like Tulsa a week earlier, OSU will need to adjust its goals. The season is not over. There are bowl options and Bedlam ahead.

Many projections have OSU either in the Cotton or Holiday Bowl. The dream matchup in the Cotton might be OSUs against LSU, coached by Les Miles, ex-OSU coach and Gundy boss.

But there is work left to be done. O-State was unable to keep pace with Tech's high-octane offense and now the Pokes will play for the bowl reps at Colorado this week and at Bedlam.

Oklahoma gets an off week to start readying for Tech after crushing Texas A&M. Tulsa, after a week to mull the loss to Arkansas (the Hogs were back to losing this weekend), have a Conference USA showdown at Houston.

Texas Tech was nearly flawless in the victory over Oklahoma State and now has one hurdle, a big one coming up in two weeks. Tech has to go to Norman and win to keep alive those long odds of reaching the title game.

Just like Texas, the Red Raiders have passed three of the four big tests it needs to put itself on top of the BCS chase. But, just like Texas, the Red Raiders have a big mountain to climb on the road on that fourth straight test against a ranked team.

For the Longhorns, it was a trip to Lubbock. For the Raiders, it is traveling to Norman.

Texas would still appear to be in good shape. The Longhorns have a 10-point victory over OU on a neutral field and a last-second loss on the road at Tech. And Texas has poll position working for it.

Yet OU has the most potential to gain spots at the end with Texas Tech followed by a road trip to OSU.

The only important factor is to win. Tech won because the Red Raiders were near perfect against OSU's defense. The Cowboys were overwhelmed by Tech's ability to make first downs. The Raiders made 38 first downs, controlling the clock and frustrating the Cowboys.

The Raiders, when they are on, make it look so easy. Against OSU, Graham Harrell made every right decision and was near flawless in throwing to open receivers.

Oklahoma State's defense had been decent for most of this season, getting much of the credit for a victory at Missouri at a near-miss at Texas.

Yet, Tech proved to be OSU's worst night of the season.

"We can only concern ourselves with the next game," Gundy said.

There is no reason to give up. OSU is 8-2 against a brutal schedule that has included road trips at No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Texas Tech and No. 3 Missouri. Winning one of those, as OSU did, is more than most teams could have hoped.

"We've played pretty good," Gundy said. "We played at No. 3, at No. 1 and at No. 2. That might have something to do with our defense." By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist

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Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (11/10/2008 6:05:27 AM)

After watching that game Saturday I'm not sure anyone can keep up with Tech this year. I wish the Sooners luck on that one. Thankfully they don't have to play in Lubbock.

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