2018 Football Preview – Big 12 – Sooners
Looking for 2018 Oklahoma Sooners predictions? The Sooners critical question heading into this season is simply this: What will life be like without Baker Mayfield? The story – which has long become stuff of legend in Norman – Mayfield making it as a walk-on and turning into one of the most accurate and prolific passers in college football history, is the main reason why the Sooners averaged more than 45 points per game in 2017. If Coach Riley’s replacements under center are half-decent, Oklahoma should still be fine, but there are at least some question marks with this team after three consecutive conference titles.
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2018-19 College Football Preview – Oklahoma Sooners
Head Coach: Lincoln Riley
2017 Record: 12-2
Oklahoma Sooners Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: +1800
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Can Oklahoma make it an unprecedented fourth straight Big 12 Championship? Texas, TCU and West Virginia might have something to say about that, but you’d have to say the ‘Oakies’ still appear to be in the driver’s seat.
2018 Oklahoma Sooners Predictions: Team Strengths
“The Big Uglies”: Even with the departure of All-American Orlando Brown, the Sooners still have a phenomenal offensive line. The star is left tackle Bobby Evans, who should vie for All-American honors this time around. Guards Ben Powers and Dru Samia are also top-tier options.
The strength up front should help Rodney Anderson and backup RB Trey Sermon rip off big gainers in the ground game. Having a mobile offensive line of athletes is also key to the effectiveness of Murray, if he starts. His mobility means that the front line needs good lateral quickness and an explosive first step
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Perky Pass-Catchers: Mayfield had plenty of targets to rack up the stats with in 2017, and they are back to ring up the passing numbers once again. CeeDee Lamb had a monstrous freshman campaign, with 807 receiving yards and seven TDs on just 46 receptions. Lamb had a breakout game last year against Texas Tech (nine grabs for 147 yards and two TDs) and looks to have similar outings this fall.
Additionally, OU has junior Marquise Brown, who eclipsed 1,000 yards on 57 receptions. Junior Mykel Jones is also fungible option.
Although Kendall is a stronger passer than Murray, both should have their jobs made easier by the dynamic WR corps.
2018 Oklahoma Sooners Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Replacing Offensive Linchpins: It isn’t just Mayfield who has moved on to the NFL. Offensive tackle Orlando Brown and tight end Mark Andrews have also left college; vital contributors to a historically-potent offense.
How Oklahoma fills those gaps will be vital to exactly how good OU will be in 2018. We know they’ll be quite good, but are they still potent enough to compete for a National Championship?
Texas A&M transfer Kyler Murray is in pole position to fill Mayfield’s shoes. Freshman Austin Kendall is also excellent and he provides competition for Murray, but Murray’s experience starting at A&M and his superior athleticism tips the scales in his favor.
This year, the Sooners probably lean more on RB Rodney Anderson, a gifted runner and part of a ground game that put up over 200 yards per game last year. Even without Brown, OU still feature an elite offensive line, so they will be blasting open holes for Anderson and those of his ilk.
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Oklahoma also must make some strides defensively. The Sooners can’t just rely on astronomical scoring anymore, sans Mayfield.
They likely still will be potent on offense, but OU can’t haemorrage 27 points a game and 157 rush yards per and count on the same success. Linebackers Caleb Kelly and Kenneth Murray must lead a unit that’s in need of some sprucing up.
Oklahoma Sooners Prediction: 11-2
Despite Mayfield moving on in a quest to rescue the Cleveland Browns NFL franchise, the Sooners are in great shape. If the duo of Murray and Kendall are effective under center, the Sooners can once again be national title contenders.
Last year, OU lost to Iowa State, of all teams, and then narrowly got edged in the Rose Bowl against Georgia. This time around, the Sooners travel to Ames to try and settle the score with Iowa State, and also have road games at TCU and West Virginia.
The Sooners also have a tricky game against UCLA, but apart from that the non-conference schedule is a piece of cake.
The Red River Rivalry in Dallas, against Texas will also definitely be one to tune into. That being said, it would be a surprise for the Sooners to not emerge atop the Big 12 heap once again.
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Some of the conference’s teams are catching up, but the gulf between them and the Sooners has been so wide the past few years, Riley and his young men are probably good once again to grab Big 12 hardware.
2018 Oklahoma Sooners Football Schedule
- 9/1/18 12:00 PM ET FAU
- 9/8/18 1:00 PM ET UCLA
- 9/15/18 12:00 PM ET @ISU
- 9/22/18 TBD ARMY
- 9/29/18 TBD BAY
- 10/6/18 TBD TEX
- 10/20/18 TBD @TCU
- 10/27/18 TBD KSU
- 11/3/18 TBD @TTU
- 11/10/18 TBD OKST
- 11/17/18 TBD KU
- 11/23/18 8:00 PM ET @WVU
What do you think about our 2018 Oklahoma Sooners predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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