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texas sportswire comp- Oklahoma
BOWLING GREEN at OKLAHOMA
Bowling Green had one of their best years ever in 2003, as they finished the season with an 11-3 record and ranked 23rd in the land. They also landed in their first bowl game in 11 years, which resulted in a 28-24 win over Northwestern as -7 point chalks in the Motor City Bowl. The Falcons opened the 2003 season with three straight victories, including a narrow defeat of 16th-ranked Purdue (27-26). However, the Falcons offense, which ranked third in the nation last year with almost 500 ypg (496), lose their best player in QB Josh Harris, who finished last season with more than 3,800 passing yards and 800 rushing yards, while accounting for a total of 40 touchdowns. Sophomore Omar Jacobs will take his spot and will have some big shoes to fill. RB P.J. Pope also returns after becoming only the 10th Bowling Green running back to gain 1,000 yards in a season. He also had 48 receptions for 466 yards, and poses as a double-threat out of the backfield. The return of the entire receiving corps will aid the Falcons as well. Cole Magner and Charles Sharon combined for 2,025 yards and 20 touchdowns. Three starters return to the offensive line for Bowling Green, including star center Scott Mruczkowski. On defense, eight players return from last year's unit that held opponents to just 20.6 ppg (second best in the MAC) and 354.3 total ypg (third best in the MAC). Matt Crossley, who had nine sacks last year, will anchor the defensive line that returns all four starters. The defensive backfield loses CB Janssen Patton, who grabbed a team-high seven interceptions last season, but with Keon Newson and T.J. Carswell, the secondary should be in solid shape.
The Sooners were ranked number-one in the nation the entire season in 2003, except when it counted most, at the end of the year. They ended the season on a sour note, losing their final two games, to Kansas State in the Big-12 Title game (35-7) and then to LSU in the National Championship game (21-14). However, optimism is abound in Sooner land as the team remains virtually intact from last years squad that beat up on opponents weekly. Head coach Bob Stoops lost just one starter on offense and 4 on defense, an amazingly, just 11 players total from 2003 have departed. Leading the charge this year will be Heisman Trophy winner Jason White at QB, who passed for 3,846 yards, 40 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, while completing 61.6 percent of his passes. The Sooners landed tailback Adrian Peterson in the off-season, who was widely regarded as the top RB in the nation last year in high school. He will likely see some playing time, but junior Kejuan Jones will get most of the carries. The wide receiving corps is perhaps the best in the nation, with Mark Clayton leading the way. He had a great year in 2003 with 83 receptions for 1,425 yards and 15 touchdowns. Brandon Jones, Jejuan Rankins and Will Peoples would likely all be the number-one receivers on just about any other team, giving White several game-breaking options. Oklahoma's defense was again one of the best in the nation last year, ranking 20th against the run (113.2 ypg) and 2nd versus the pass (146.4 ypg). They return all but one starter from the secondary and the defensive line will again be one of the best in the land, with defensive ends Dan Cody and Jonathan Jackson leading the way.
Bowling Green is 10-4 ATS in season road openers and 3-0 SU and ATS the last three meetings versus Big-12 teams. In addition, the Falcons are 7-1 ATS in September games and 7-1 ATS when facing non-conference opponents. Oklahoma is 9-0 SU but only 2-7 ATS when playing at home in September and 32-24 ATS the last five years, however, under HC Bob Stoops they come in 19-0 SU in August and September. Bowling Green will not be the same team without their departed QB Josh Harris and will struggle versus the Sooners' vaunted defense. Expect Stoops to have his team prepared to make a run at another National Championship and it all begins with this game. Don't overlook the fact that Oklahoma has been stewing the past eight months after they dropped their final two games of the season. Veteran Sooners should romp!! Lay it!!
SELECTION: OKLAHOMA
BOWLING GREEN at OKLAHOMA
Bowling Green had one of their best years ever in 2003, as they finished the season with an 11-3 record and ranked 23rd in the land. They also landed in their first bowl game in 11 years, which resulted in a 28-24 win over Northwestern as -7 point chalks in the Motor City Bowl. The Falcons opened the 2003 season with three straight victories, including a narrow defeat of 16th-ranked Purdue (27-26). However, the Falcons offense, which ranked third in the nation last year with almost 500 ypg (496), lose their best player in QB Josh Harris, who finished last season with more than 3,800 passing yards and 800 rushing yards, while accounting for a total of 40 touchdowns. Sophomore Omar Jacobs will take his spot and will have some big shoes to fill. RB P.J. Pope also returns after becoming only the 10th Bowling Green running back to gain 1,000 yards in a season. He also had 48 receptions for 466 yards, and poses as a double-threat out of the backfield. The return of the entire receiving corps will aid the Falcons as well. Cole Magner and Charles Sharon combined for 2,025 yards and 20 touchdowns. Three starters return to the offensive line for Bowling Green, including star center Scott Mruczkowski. On defense, eight players return from last year's unit that held opponents to just 20.6 ppg (second best in the MAC) and 354.3 total ypg (third best in the MAC). Matt Crossley, who had nine sacks last year, will anchor the defensive line that returns all four starters. The defensive backfield loses CB Janssen Patton, who grabbed a team-high seven interceptions last season, but with Keon Newson and T.J. Carswell, the secondary should be in solid shape.
The Sooners were ranked number-one in the nation the entire season in 2003, except when it counted most, at the end of the year. They ended the season on a sour note, losing their final two games, to Kansas State in the Big-12 Title game (35-7) and then to LSU in the National Championship game (21-14). However, optimism is abound in Sooner land as the team remains virtually intact from last years squad that beat up on opponents weekly. Head coach Bob Stoops lost just one starter on offense and 4 on defense, an amazingly, just 11 players total from 2003 have departed. Leading the charge this year will be Heisman Trophy winner Jason White at QB, who passed for 3,846 yards, 40 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, while completing 61.6 percent of his passes. The Sooners landed tailback Adrian Peterson in the off-season, who was widely regarded as the top RB in the nation last year in high school. He will likely see some playing time, but junior Kejuan Jones will get most of the carries. The wide receiving corps is perhaps the best in the nation, with Mark Clayton leading the way. He had a great year in 2003 with 83 receptions for 1,425 yards and 15 touchdowns. Brandon Jones, Jejuan Rankins and Will Peoples would likely all be the number-one receivers on just about any other team, giving White several game-breaking options. Oklahoma's defense was again one of the best in the nation last year, ranking 20th against the run (113.2 ypg) and 2nd versus the pass (146.4 ypg). They return all but one starter from the secondary and the defensive line will again be one of the best in the land, with defensive ends Dan Cody and Jonathan Jackson leading the way.
Bowling Green is 10-4 ATS in season road openers and 3-0 SU and ATS the last three meetings versus Big-12 teams. In addition, the Falcons are 7-1 ATS in September games and 7-1 ATS when facing non-conference opponents. Oklahoma is 9-0 SU but only 2-7 ATS when playing at home in September and 32-24 ATS the last five years, however, under HC Bob Stoops they come in 19-0 SU in August and September. Bowling Green will not be the same team without their departed QB Josh Harris and will struggle versus the Sooners' vaunted defense. Expect Stoops to have his team prepared to make a run at another National Championship and it all begins with this game. Don't overlook the fact that Oklahoma has been stewing the past eight months after they dropped their final two games of the season. Veteran Sooners should romp!! Lay it!!
SELECTION: OKLAHOMA
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