I guess we can't win then. Either A) Marshall wins outright, or B) OU wins but it's only because Marshall "doesn't show up."
Man that sucks for us...
That was NOT my point. I don't know how closely you've followed MU the last 7 years, if at all. But if you had, you would remember that the very few decent wins were
always followed by humiliating losses, because the team was mentally unprepared. I was expressing concern about the loser attitude that has stunk up the MU football program the last 7 years. I think the loser attitude is gone. I hope like hell that I am right. But it just just hope at this point.
Even if both teams show up, I still think OU can win. I just do not think they will. After all, MU has 61 freshman & sophmores on it's roster. That's right, 61. If OU can stay very cool in the face of
by far the fastest, most talented and deepest D line they will see all year, and if they can play error free football, they may beat MU. It won't matter which MU team shows up. I think the good money is against that. Watch what happened with USM last week. That was one of the 10-15 best QB's in the country, with a great supporting case and, over time, the pressure ate him alive. On the other hand, look at how Geno Smith handled that pressure. Our D line lived in his backfield, but ultimately, he beat them. Tettleton is very good, but he's younger, smaller and not surrounded by nearly the talent as Geno Smith.
Of course, neither WVU nor USM was able to present our freshman QB with any real pressure. But OU has a much more effective coaching staff than either of those schools, in my humble opinion. I didn't include this in my keys to the game (largely because I don't want to consider the fearful prospect), but if OU can do to Cato what I expect MU to do to Telleton, this could be a very close, physical, defensive game that hinges on turnovers. But, with WVU and USM both failing to bring any real pressure, I just do not see OU doing it.
OU owned this series for many, many years. But it's been complete domination by Marshall since the mid-1980's. Sadly for OU, there was a chance the last few years to turn that around, but OU did not capitalize on its improvement or our decline. This young MU team is very, very talented and, mark my words, will own CUSA over the next 3-4 years (though our heinous road schedule, and youth, may prevent that this year). OU's chances of turning this series around are fading rapidly in the face of the onslaught of talent being brought to MU by Holliday. This may be a close game. OU might even win. But you can take this to the bank: over the next 5 years, OU wins, at most, one of these games. Most of them will not be close.
For the record, I will return on Sunday, win or lose. I will not crow if MU wins. But I will gladly accept a plate full of it if we lose.