College Football Predictions – Oklahoma Sooners 2020 College Football Preview
August 12, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 12-2
ATS – 5-9
The train keeps rolling along.
Oklahoma rattled off their 3rd (!) consecutive twelve-win season AND third straight appearance in the College Football Playoff. They had one misstep during the regular season when they stubbed their toe in Manhattan and had front row seats to Kansas St SHOCKING the WORLD and handing them a 48-41 defeat. They scraped by Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game (W 30-23 in OT) and then got POLEAXED by LSU in the Peach Bowl (L 63-28).
Can the Sooners continue their dominance of the Big 12 in 2020?
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Big 12 – #1
Oklahoma Sooners 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The excellence displayed by Oklahoma quarterbacks over the past number of years has truly been remarkable. The latest person to but up massive numbers at the QB position was Jalen Hurts (3,851, 32 TD, 20 rushing TD LY) and now it’s up to someone new to carry the torch. The starting gig will go to one of a pair of promising youngsters (Spencer Rattler, Tanner Mordecai) and it’s unclear as we head to press time who will emerge victorious in this battle. The SHARP ACTION appears to be betting on Rattler. The Sooners lose their star 1,300-yard WR CeeDee Lamb who averaged an impossible 21.4 YPC LY but still feature #2 WR Charleston Rambo (743, 17.3, 5 TD) and some intriguing young prospects. The rushing attack should once again be devastating as they return 1,000-yard rusher Kennedy Brooks and #2 RB Rhamondre Stevenson who shredded defenses to the tune of 8.0 YPC in 2019. The transfer of Trey Sermon shouldn’t have an impact given the talent they have in the backfield. The offensive line looks like the best in the Big 12 on paper and they return four starters including star center Creed Humphrey.
Oklahoma has averaged 40+ PPG for five (!) consecutive seasons (42.1 LY) and should be able to get across that benchmark once again in 2020.\
<August 16. K Brooks has opted out due to plandemic concerns. #ForTheChildren>
DEFENSE
The Sooners defense has been good enough to help them win most FIREFIGHTS but has allowed their fair share of points over the past few years (27.3 PPG LY, 33.3, 27.1, 28.8). When you take things into context of playing in the potent Big 12, that’s not unreasonable. They were #1 in the Big 12 in run defense LY (#32 FBS) and #2 in total defense under new DC Alex Grinch and should be able to put up similar numbers this season with nine returning starters. The Sooners will definitely miss their leading tackler and leader LB Kenneth Murray but should still be fine at DL and LB. They return pair of starters up front and note that DE Ronnie Perkins and DT Jalen Redmond were #1 and #2 in sacks LY (12.5 combined). Junior LB DaShaun White was #4 on the team in tackles and is a good bet to be #1 this year. They return four starters to the secondary bu we’ll need to see some improvement on the back end as Oklahoma had a mediocre 27-7 TD to INT mark last year.
<Note – Status of Redmond is unknown – DUI>
The defense appears to be good enough on paper to support another run at the Big 12 Championship. There’s upside if some of the young talent develops quicker than expected.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Yes, guy.
PK Gabe Brkic was a ROBOT last season nailing 17/17 FG attempts (4/4 from 40+) and 52/52 XP attempts. That’s pretty amazing. Punter Reeves Mundschau finished mid-pack in the FBS in punting average a season ago and Oklahoma was #31 in net punting. The return game was a disappointment LY (#73 PR, #112 KR) and that was a bit of a surprise given the athletes they have on hand.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The schedule has been reworked and their only non-conference game is a home date with something called Missouri St. The front half of the Big 12 docket is where most of the heavy lifting will need to be done. Two of their first two conference tilts are tough (at Iowa St, Texas).
They get the Cowboys at home in November.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Iowa St (October 3rd)
You know Iowa St has the potential to SHOCK the WORLD at any moment and this tough road test pops up early in the schedule. It might be necessary to get the Sooners early if you’re gonna get them at all, yo.
Season Win Total
Over 8.5 -115
Under 8.5 -115
MEGALOCKS says:
Quote from the summer – “Our Big 12 SEASON WIN TOTAL INSIDERS would book it at Over 8.5 -150, Under 8.5 +130.”
Update – That opener looks about right. Taking a pass, yo.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
This nugget comes courtesy of our friends at Athlon Sports!……..”Oklahoma gained 10 yards or more on 116 of its 565 rushing attempts in 2019, a rate of 20.53%, which was the best in the nation.”
WHOA, NELLIE.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Yup. They’re the team to beat in the Big 12. The superstar quarterback carousel continues this season with a highly-recruited specimen and there’s no reason to think they won’t be potent on offense. The defense could surprise in year two with Alex Grinch as DC. We’ll call for another trip to the Big 12 Championship Game (Hot Take Alert) and a one-loss regular season campaign.
Want more Oklahoma football ?
WEBSITE
https://soonersports.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma/Board/FootballRecruiting-103683/
http://www.soonertimesbb.com/forums/view_forum.php?id=2
http://www.soonerfans.com/forum/index.php?forums/sooner-football.2/
https://oklahoma.forums.rivals.com/forums/the-crimson-corner.12/
NEWS
http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/
http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/oklahoma-sooners
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/201/oklahoma-sooners
Hashtags – #BoomerSooner
Accounts to follow