Oklahoma bracing for tough matchup with Horned Frogs

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(Jim Ross is a Hall of Fame wrestling announcer, a legendary voice. He also has a great love for Oklahoma football. JR will break down the Sooners' games in his own unique style.)

1. Slobber Knocker Saturday: The Horned Frogs have been problematic for the Sooners since defeating OU in Norman in 2005, before they joined the Big 12, which was only OU's second, home, non-conference loss since Bob Stoops became HBC in 1999. TCU almost beat OU again last year in Norman losing, 20-17.

2. Froggy Defense: TCU leads the Big 12 in every defensive category. Try this on for size, TCU is allowing 2.1 yards per carry while OU is averaging 5.9 yards per rush. Something has to give come Saturday. OU's offensive line will not have a bigger challenge in conference play this season. Bill Bedenbaugh's Buffet Busters need to play as if they have been on a salad diet for the entire off week ... hungry and angry.    

3. A Running QB: Mobile QBs have seemingly given OU fits for years which may be why the Sooners have started recruiting signal callers who can run when needed. TCU's Trevone Boykin is a gifted athlete who can run and throw, completing 64 percent of his throws, and will challenge OU's speedy defenders more than any QB thus far this season. Crisp tackling and wrapping up Horned Frogs is crucial. If Boykin isn't contained, he will 'house' it.  Beware of frog legs.  

4. Load the Box: Gary Patterson's Frogs will likely load the box to stop the OU running game, use man coverage on OU's receivers and make Sooner QB Trevor Knight throw the ball to beat the 25th ranked team in the nation. Knight is completing 58 percent of his passes, which needs to improve significantly to unload the reptiles from the box in Ft Worth. Receiver Sterling Shepherd getting one on one coverage is intriguing but the second and third 'go to' receivers for OU is still a mystery. BTW ... OU's No. 10 is an eligible receiver.

5. Home-Field Advantage: TCU has a great game day enviromnment and its students actually make noise. The Vegas line started at OU -6 and has been hovering around OU -4.5 most of the week. Vegas likes TCU to play OU off the Sooners feet in the Frogs' first Big 12 game of the season. Patterson is a helluva coach and many say he's "due" to beat OU, seven days before the Sooners return south on I-35 to play Texas in the annual Red River Rivalry.

6. Run, Trevor Run: Knight hasn't been running much this season because No. 9 hasn't had to thanks to great production from Coach Cale Gundy's running backs. This might be the game to reveal more of the lead option and allow Knight to move the chains with his legs. Long sustained drives by both teams will likely be at a premium.

7. Special Team: Last year, OU kicker Michael Hunnicutt's leg was the difference in Norman in a Sooner win. In this game featuring two superior defenses, Honey may have to be money, again. Nonetheless, Coach Jay Boulware's special teams units cannot give up big plays and allow the TCU crowd to emotionally invest and help their Horned Frogs to a massive, Big 12 win. Field position may play a bigger role in this game than most perceive.

This game will be one of OU's most physical tests this season against one of the best coached teams that the Sooners will play. TCU is undefeated and are playing at home in their first Big 12 conference game of the season....advantage TCU. Sooner fans may learn more about their team Saturday than, arguably, from all four of their 2014 victories combined. It's a can't miss TV game on FOX Sports (3:30 p.m ET).

Prediction: Oklahoma 21 TCU 17

BOOMER SOONER!

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Clay Travis is the founder of the fastest growing national multimedia platform, OutKick, that produces and distributes engaging content across sports and pop culture to millions of fans across the country. OutKick was created by Travis in 2011 and sold to the Fox Corporation in 2021. One of the most electrifying and outspoken personalities in the industry, Travis hosts OutKick The Show where he provides his unfiltered opinion on the most compelling headlines throughout sports, culture, and politics. He also makes regular appearances on FOX News Media as a contributor providing analysis on a variety of subjects ranging from sports news to the cultural landscape. Throughout the college football season, Travis is on Big Noon Kickoff for Fox Sports breaking down the game and the latest storylines. Additionally, Travis serves as a co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, a three-hour conservative radio talk program syndicated across Premiere Networks radio stations nationwide. Previously, he launched OutKick The Coverage on Fox Sports Radio that included interviews and listener interactions and was on Fox Sports Bet for four years. Additionally, Travis started an iHeartRadio Original Podcast called Wins & Losses that featured in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports. Travis is a graduate of George Washington University as well as Vanderbilt Law School. Based in Nashville, he is the author of Dixieland Delight, On Rocky Top, and Republicans Buy Sneakers Too.