I walked away from this one thinking “It was bound to happen”.
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It will be just the third time that both teams have entered the game ranked in the AP Top 10.
The fact is this…every single significant break/play vs Texas/KState/WV/Tech/Iowa St went OSU’s way. So I’ve been taught for a long time to hate OSU.
The defense is gassed.
With Boykin likely returning and Baylor being without their first- and second-string quarterbacks and possibly as their starting running back as well, my inclination would be to say TCU has the advantage.
Andrew Billings is the motor that makes Baylor’s defense run. That’s a pounding of epic proportions for a group of guys that have faced 919 plays this season. The Sooners were also at home, and with their momentum coupled with the Horned Frogs issues, they were expected to roll.
And there’s one thing that hasn’t changed since 1984: The energy that surrounds the game. We should’ve known the Bears would drop 7-8 into coverage with our inability to run the ball, but we didn’t roll anything out in an attempt to consistently combat that. Add to that terrible execution by the safeties (who’ve had a tremendous season so far), and I guess I understand Gundy’s decision to onside kick down 10 with 5 minutes remaining and all your timeouts…he didn’t think we could stop them. In the end, the Tar Heels would move to 10-1 and clinch the ACC Coastal Division for the first time in school history.
This season has already surpassed the vast majority of fans’ expectations.
Once again, a balanced collection of Big 12 title contenders has prevented any football team from posting an undefeated record in conference play this season. “They can keep whining because we’re just going to go out there and show them that we are the better team, ” Boxton said this week.
“It’s not easy. You definitely don’t want to lose a game, especially after the season we’ve been having”, junior linebacker Seth Jacobs said. That still leaves room for nine more bowl teams. Problem was he didn’t get any help.
The seventh-ranked Bears now travel to play 15-ranked TCU Friday in Fort Worth at 6:30 p.m. CT. That game will be televised by ESPN. He’s going to get back a stable full of accomplished receivers in 2016, a backfield full of experienced ball carriers, and who knows, maybe an improved offensive line. Beating West Virginia is good, and getting by Texas Tech is strong, but the passing game was solid, not unstoppable, against Tennessee, Baylor, and last week against TCU.
In TCU’s case, that’s 19 games. Shall we also not forget the value of the revenge factor (61-58, anyone?). “We’ve got to make the plays, and last year, we didn’t make enough of them to put ourselves in situations to win, and this year, we are”. The Cowboys recently lost to Baylor. They were co-champions last season.
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On one hand, you can see Patterson’s argument, since including all the Power Five conference winners would eliminate the need for a lot of debate regarding the playoff. And in spite of only playing four true road games this season, those games have all been challenging, and the home slate was too.
