Tune it out

After enjoying an unprecedented party atmosphere at home last week, the Sooners finish the regular season in the unfriendly confines of Boone Pickens Stadium, where coach Bob Stoops says OSU fans are “sitting on the bench with you.” The walls are close, the din is deafening and the Cowboys can use that emotion. But OU is 4-0 in road games this season, with an average score of 53-28.

Stand your ground

Oklahoma State has a punishing running game, and that’s where the Sooner defense will start. The Cowboys average 261 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry, tops in the Big 12. OU has the league’s second-best run defense, allowing 102 yards per game and just 3.1 per carry. OSU’s Zac Robinson is a capable passer — he’s third nationally in e`ciency and completes 67 percent of his throws — but he went 8-for-20 in this game last season, so the Sooners will take their chances there.

Kick coverage

OSU has the Big 12’s best special teams. OU has the Big 12’s worst. Dez Bryant (17.9 on punts) and Perrish Cox (29.2 on kickoWs) are two of the nation’s best return men, with three TDs between them. The Sooners rank last in the nation in net punting and 108th in covering kicks. A solid Sooner strategy here: deep squibs, kicking out of bounds, directional punting and maybe going for it once in a while on fourth-and-short. OU has been close to getting a punt blocked; here it could be a disaster.