West Virginiavs
Oklahoma
8 p.m. Phoenix, Ariz. FOX
Hopefully this game won't be a 4 touchdown blowout going into the fourth quarter like the other two BCS games have been so far. USC crushed Illinois in the Rose followed by UGA running Colt Brennan and Hawaii out of the Superdome in the Sugar. Now the BCS has two more chances before LSU meets Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game on January 7. If any game is going to be a good one, this is the one. The Orange Bowl could be like the other BCS games and get ugly fast if Virginia Tech comes out firing, but that's for tomorrow.
Both Oklahoma and West Virginia have something to prove with this game. Oklahoma is going to its 6th BCS game under Stoops, but they've lost their last three (BCS title games to LSU and USC in 2003 and 2004 respectively, and last year's Fiesta Bowl to Boise State). Now Oklahoma wants to avenge the embarrassment of their loss to Boise State, especially after the way Georgia dominated Hawaii in New Orleans. Oklahoma had dreams of the National Championship game again this year after dominating Missouri in the Big 12 title game, but the voters instead pegged Oklahoma 4th, sending the Sooners to the Fiesta Bowl again. Now they'll try and get a huge boost to head into 2008 as a sure thing top 5 team with definite national title hopes again. Led by sophomore QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma can sling it around the field or run with backup RB Allen Patrick who ripped through Missouri. Stud freshman DeMarco Murray will miss the Fiesta Bowl.
West Virginia was one win away from playing in the national title game before having a shocking collapse to a bad Pittsburgh team. Sure it was a rivalry game, but there was no reason for the Mountaineer offense to be that inept. Now head coach Rich Rodriguez is off to Michigan to lead the Wolverines. With him goes offensive coordinator Calvin Magee. Now what are the Mountaineers to do? Like their entire season, the WVU offense will go the way QB Pat White goes. When he injured his thumb against Pitt he became less effective, as did the entire offense. West Virgina will need him and RB Steve Slaton to get the ball moving against the incredibly talented and ferocious Sooner defense. The Mountaineers will also have to get the ball to freshman speedster Noel Devine and find ways to get him into space. The Sooner defense is fast, but no one on the field is as fast as Devine.
For Oklahoma to win they will have to bottle up Devine, Slaton, and WR Darius Reynaud. White will get his yards, but if the Sooners don't let the other Mountaineer weapons run wild they will have a great chance to dominate this game. West Virginia, on the other hand, needs to come out on fire just like they did against Georgia in the 2005 Sugar Bowl. An early explosion might be enough to get Oklahoma doubting themselves. Colorado was able to beat the Sooners by playing smart and keeping the game close into the final quarter. West Virginia won't be able to do that, they'll have to win using the same blueprint Texas Tech used back in November. That of get up early and hang on for dear life. West Virginia can put up points in bunches, but they aren't built to catch up quick with the passing game. Pat White and company are at their best when they can bust the home run with the running game. Look for WVU to get scores early and this one to be close going into the fourth with Oklahoma and Bradford being efficient enough to win this one by less than a touchdown.
Line: Oklahoma -7.0, Total 63.0
Both Oklahoma and West Virginia have something to prove with this game. Oklahoma is going to its 6th BCS game under Stoops, but they've lost their last three (BCS title games to LSU and USC in 2003 and 2004 respectively, and last year's Fiesta Bowl to Boise State). Now Oklahoma wants to avenge the embarrassment of their loss to Boise State, especially after the way Georgia dominated Hawaii in New Orleans. Oklahoma had dreams of the National Championship game again this year after dominating Missouri in the Big 12 title game, but the voters instead pegged Oklahoma 4th, sending the Sooners to the Fiesta Bowl again. Now they'll try and get a huge boost to head into 2008 as a sure thing top 5 team with definite national title hopes again. Led by sophomore QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma can sling it around the field or run with backup RB Allen Patrick who ripped through Missouri. Stud freshman DeMarco Murray will miss the Fiesta Bowl.
West Virginia was one win away from playing in the national title game before having a shocking collapse to a bad Pittsburgh team. Sure it was a rivalry game, but there was no reason for the Mountaineer offense to be that inept. Now head coach Rich Rodriguez is off to Michigan to lead the Wolverines. With him goes offensive coordinator Calvin Magee. Now what are the Mountaineers to do? Like their entire season, the WVU offense will go the way QB Pat White goes. When he injured his thumb against Pitt he became less effective, as did the entire offense. West Virgina will need him and RB Steve Slaton to get the ball moving against the incredibly talented and ferocious Sooner defense. The Mountaineers will also have to get the ball to freshman speedster Noel Devine and find ways to get him into space. The Sooner defense is fast, but no one on the field is as fast as Devine.
For Oklahoma to win they will have to bottle up Devine, Slaton, and WR Darius Reynaud. White will get his yards, but if the Sooners don't let the other Mountaineer weapons run wild they will have a great chance to dominate this game. West Virginia, on the other hand, needs to come out on fire just like they did against Georgia in the 2005 Sugar Bowl. An early explosion might be enough to get Oklahoma doubting themselves. Colorado was able to beat the Sooners by playing smart and keeping the game close into the final quarter. West Virginia won't be able to do that, they'll have to win using the same blueprint Texas Tech used back in November. That of get up early and hang on for dear life. West Virginia can put up points in bunches, but they aren't built to catch up quick with the passing game. Pat White and company are at their best when they can bust the home run with the running game. Look for WVU to get scores early and this one to be close going into the fourth with Oklahoma and Bradford being efficient enough to win this one by less than a touchdown.
Line: Oklahoma -7.0, Total 63.0
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