Bedlam, Meeting #104

Norman, OK--The build-up for the potential of an epic Bedlam game in 2009 was expected and deserved. Oklahoma had the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback and three other potential NFL first rounders who decided to come back to Norman to play college ball (TE Jermaine Gresham, DT Gerald McCoy, LT Trent Williams) rather than enter the NFL draft and potentially make millions of dollars with one simple swipe of their pens.

Oklahoma State had a newly finished stadium, a new set of Triplets (QB Zach Robinson, WR Dez Bryant and RB Kendall Hunter) not to mention their own potential NFL first round pick (OT Russell Okung) who came back to school for one more year of the college game rather than the millions he could be spending right now. They had what most considered a very Cowboy friendly schedule that included eight home games (Georgia & Texas being two of them).

Sports talk radio throughout the state buzzed all Summer long, forecasting both teams being undefeated and possibly being #1 and #2 in the nation, fighting it out not only for Big XII Conference superiority but national championship dreams.

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Oklahoma lost early on in a national championship rematch with Florida (6-30). They lost Gresham to a season-ending injury and Bradford to what will most likely be a season-ending injury. Oklahoma State lost to Georgia in Game 1 (21-36), Houston in Game 2 (32-42), Texas in Game 8 (16-37) and finally, to Colorado in Weel 11 (45-48). All four losses at home in Stillwater.

This season Oklahoma State finds themselves in a familiar role during Bedlam. The role of spoiler. A win in Norman on Saturday will spoil any chances they have of a national championship birth. Oklahoma can and will still play in the Big XII Championship Game during Week 14 since they beat the current second place team, Texas. A loss to OSU would leave OU at 7-1, same as the Longhorns with the Sooners winning the tie-breaker (head to head result).

Either way, the Sooners will face Nebraska, a rematch of the Week 10 thriller OU won, 31-28.

Expect a big win for the Sooners this week. History shows us that the Cowboys do not play well in Norman. It's a different story when the game is held in Stillwater. Expect OSU to be in payback mode in 2010. OU has won by the following scores the last few times they've played in Norman (49-17, 42-14, 52-9). OSU last won in Norman in 2001 (13-16). Oklahoma leads the all-time series 80-16-7.