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No. four Oklahoma is 1-Zero on the younger season and stays on the quick listing of groups contending for a School Soccer Playoff berth. Nonetheless, you’d by no means know that was the case following its 40-35 win over Tulane. in Week 1 Oklahoma was about as sluggish as any crew could possibly be scoring 40 factors and the Inexperienced Wave had a professional probability to spring the upset within the remaining minutes.
Was this the standard Week 1 fog or did the Sooners drink the offseason Kool-Assist? It was in all probability a mix of each — plus, credit score is completely attributable to Tulane and coach Willie Fritz. Given the disruptions and hardships attributable to Hurricane Ida, the Inexperienced Wave had a exceptional sport plan and executed nicely. However, faculty soccer is typically a survive-and-advance sport. The Sooners can hit reset and attempt to play sharper in opposition to Western Carolina from the FCS.
Do not count on this to be a very shut sport. Whether it is, that’ll say extra concerning the Sooners and no matter considerations that program has transferring ahead. As an alternative, this might be extra about displaying up and taking part in sharper in opposition to an overmatched opponent. What do it’s worthwhile to find out about Saturday’s matchup. Listed here are storylines to observe, together with picks from our crew of consultants.
Oklahoma vs. Western Carolina: Must know
Spencer Rattler returns to type: The quarterback virtually all the time will get a lot of the reward and blame. That actually applies to Rattler. The Sooners starter was the preseason odds-on favourite to win the Heisman Trophy … however critics will have a look at his two interceptions in opposition to Tulane as an indication that he was overrated all alongside. It is true that Rattler did not have his finest sport. He stared down his receivers and tried to do an excessive amount of at occasions. There isn’t any denying Rattler’s a playmaker. He simply has to belief his reads, cool down and let the sport come to him. I count on he’ll.
The OU O-line have to be sharper: For all of the criticism Rattler receiver, the safety up entrance deserves the blame as nicely. They did not do an amazing job of defending Rattler and the working sport was hit-or-miss. The Sooners have been unable to transform early turnovers into critical factors largely as a result of it could not transfer the ball constantly. O-line coach Invoice Bedenbaugh routinely does an amazing job getting his huge uglies able to play. This group must be a lot sharper in opposition to an overmatched opponent earlier than transferring on to Nebraska.
WCU has a weapon: Vast receiver Raphael Williams is only a redshirt freshman, however he was arguably the most effective participant on the sector in Western Carolina’s 31-28 loss to Jap Kentucky with eight catches for 122 yards. The speedster out of Florida is the kind of weapon that Oklahoma’s protection might want to monitor. Tulane handed for almost 300 yards in Week 1, so there’s nonetheless some vulnerability the Catamounts may be capable to exploit.
The best way to watch Oklahoma vs. Western Carolina stay
Date: Saturday, Sept. 11 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Memorial Stadium — Norman, Oklahoma
TV PPV: DirecTV (787), AT&T U-verse (1636), regionally in Oklahoma on Vyve (658) or Cox (505), regionally in Arkansas and Kansas on Cox (505)
Reside stream PPV: SoonerSports.television
Notes: The sport isn’t obtainable through Amazon Prime, ESPN+, Hulu, YouTube TV or different streaming suppliers.
Oklahoma vs. Western Carolina prediction, picks
These early-season tune-up video games are virtually all the time horrible bets in relation to level spreads. Oklahoma goes to win this sport by a considerable margin. The query is whether or not it takes its foot off the fuel sufficient for the Catamounts to cowl virtually seven touchdowns. My learn? Coach Lincoln Riley might be simply indignant sufficient together with his crew (and possibly with himself) after Week 1 to maintain his starters in longer than he usually would. Prediction: Oklahoma (-46.5)
Which faculty soccer picks are you able to make with confidence in Week 2, and which favorites will go down arduous? Go to SportsLine to see which groups will win and canopy the unfold — all from a confirmed pc mannequin that has returned over $three,500 in revenue over the previous five-plus seasons — and discover out.
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