Oklahoma Football | Five Predictions For The Tulsa Game

Oklahoma’s third game day of the 2023 college football season is nearly here! The Sooners are on the road for the first of two back-to-back weeks away from Norman. Awaiting OU on Saturday afternoon are the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-1) who are coming off a 43-10 loss at Washington last weekend. For them this is an opportunity to take a shot at the top team in the state. For Oklahoma, it’s an opportunity do a final tune-up on the road, before Big 12 play starts in Cincinnati next weekend. Here are five predictions for the game.

1. Oklahoma Won’t Turn The Ball Over

So far, the Sooners have played eight quarters of football turnover free. I think that’s a trend that will stretches out to twelve quarters on Saturday. Against Arkansas State and SMU the Oklahoma offense has been a model of efficiency. Dillon Gabriel has completed 77.6% of his passes and ten different OU players have carried the ball, including two true freshmen. To this point the Sooners have run 156 offensive plays without turning the ball over. That speaks to focus and intent on protecting the football.

2. Oklahoma’s Defense Will Record Multiple Quarterback Sacks

It hasn’t happened yet, but I believe it’s coming. Through two games the Sooners have registered just two quarterback sacks. Ethan Downs had one in the opener and Danny Stutsman recorded one last weekend against SMU. That’s not because the Sooners aren’t getting pressure, though. SMU quarterback Preston Stone was sent running for his life multiple times last week. Oklahoma has seven quarterback hurries through two games, so they’re getting in the offensive backfield. On the flip-side, Tulsa has had allowed two quarterback sacks in each of it’s first two games.

3. Tawee Walker Will Have Another 100-yard Game On The Ground

It’s time to fully buy in on Tawee Walker! He emerged as the go-to back last weekend and I think he’ll continue to be that guy again in Tulsa on Saturday. On the season he’s averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and last week Tulsa’s defense allowed Washington to run at a clip of 5.0 yards per carry. That’s a sign of good things to come for the Sooner run game, and it looks like Walker is going to be the guy with the most to benefit from it.

4. Oklahoma’s Defense Will Nab Two Interceptions Or More

It’s logical to expect Tulsa’s quarterbacks to be a bit skittish. Braylon Braxton and Cardell Williams are the top two on the depth chart and they’ve both been banged up already on the season. They’ve also both throw interceptions. In the season opener, against Arkansas Pine Bluff, Braxton only attempted four passes before leaving the game with an injury. Two of those four pass attempts were picked off. Williams threw a pick last weekend at Washington, and he’s been the victim in three of Tulsa’s four sacks allowed on the season. If Oklahoma gets pressure, the ball is going to be up for grabs.

5. Dillon Gabriel Will Pass For Over Three Hundred Yards

Jeff Lebby decided to reign his offense in a little bit last week, choosing efficiency over mass yardage. Despite completing 70% of his pass attempts, Dillon Gabriel only ended up with 176 yards behind his four-touchdown performance. Defending the pass has been an issue for the Golden Hurricane so far this season. Tulsa is surrendering more than three hundred yards per game through the air in 2023 and that’s exactly where Gabriel is going to end up on Saturday.

What Did I Miss?

Okay, what did I miss? Leave us your predictions for the game in the comment section below.

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