Big 12 Championship Preview: #20 Missouri vs. #2 Oklahoma

Computers place Sooners in Big 12 Championship for rematch of 2007 game

The controversy over who should have actually represented the Big 12 South will probably never subside.

Oklahoma fans will point to an explosive offensive football team that scored 60 or more points in its last four games. Texas fans will simply point out that they beat Oklahoma, 45-35, Oct. 11 in Dallas.

Fair or unfair, the results of the Dec. 2 BCS poll moved the Sooners past the Longhorns. And the Big 12 rules stipulate in case of a three-way tie (Texas Tech was involved as well as all three teams finished 7-1), the higher rated team goes to the Big 12 championship. Oklahoma meets Missouri in the Big 12 championship game at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium in a re-match of last year’s title game. This is also the third consecutive year the Sooners are playing in this game.

A win sends them to the Jan. 8 National Championship in Miami.

“I guess it’s just good players and responding and playing well in the environment and situation,’’ Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said.

The Sooners are 5-1 in these title games and are prohibitive favorites in this one. It’s simply because their offense has been so proficient. Oklahoma has the nation’s No. 3 offense at nearly 557 yards per game.

Should he play like he has all season, quarterback Sam Bradford will have the inside track to win the Heisman Trophy. Bradford has thrown for 4,080 yards and 46 touchdowns. Stoops called him the best quarterback has ever coached.

“That’s a hug compliment to hear that,’’ Bradford said. “…there are a lot of things that I need to do before I can be considered [with former OU quarterbacks Jason White and Josh Heupel].’’

Oklahoma’s running game should find a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. DeMarco Murray crossed the barrier last week against Oklahoma St. and is at 1,002. Chris Brown is at 988. But even more impressive is that each averages 5.6 and 5.9 yards per game respectively.

Against Missouri’s suspect defense, the Sooners should be able to move the ball at will. The fewest points the Sooners have scored this year is 35. They did that twice, the loss to Texas and a win against TCU.

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Missouri’s defense has surrendered 40, 28, 56 and 42 points against teams that aren’t as offensively gifted as the Sooners. The Tigers are going to have to hope that the Sooners have an out-of-body experience.

Oklahoma’s shoddy defense has also been shielded by its offense. The Sooners are 66 th in the nation allowing 359.5 yards per game. They are 98th against the pass at 249.7 yards per game.

Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel will get his opportunities. He just won’t get enough of them to keep pace.

“I still think that we have to go out there and prove something to everyone and prove to them that we do that we do deserve to be at this game,’’ Bradford said. “It’ll give us some extra motivation this week.’’

Prediction: Oklahoma 59, Missouri 34

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OU vs Mizzou Notable:

• Oklahoma’s only loss was a 35-7 setback to Kansas St. in 2003 Kansas City.

• The oddity of this game is that Texas beat both of these teams. The Longhorns defeated Missouri, 56-31, Oct. 18 in Austin.

• The Sooners have won 18 of the last 19 meetings against the Tigers.

Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship

#20 Missouri Tigers (9-3) vs. #2 Oklahoma Sooners (11-1)

Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
TV: ABC
Series: 94th meeting. Oklahoma leads, 65-23-5

By Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Fans Staff Writer

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