Best, Worst Case Scenario: Big 12 Championship Edition

For the fourth time in six years, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are squaring off for the Big 12 championship; can you ask for anything more?

Actually, yes, you can ask for more. You can ask for a win.

Bedlam for the Big 12 would be awesome every year, but if Oklahoma State wants to be taken seriously in the eyes of the country, winning Big 12 championships will soon need to be the norm instead of just playing in them.

But this year there’s a silent buzz of confidence surrounding Oklahoma State fans. And there’s good cause for a little optimism.

Oklahoma State is a much improved team from last year, and it’s safe to say Oklahoma is not as dominant as they were a season ago — specifically on defense.

A little rain isn’t going to stop Mason Rudolph from tearing up this Oklahoma secondary, and although our 1-2 running back punch isn’t quite what Oklahoma’s may be, it’s still good enough to have success against the Sooner D.

But the Cowboys don’t win a lot of games against Oklahoma and teams usually don’t win a lot of games in Norman.

The best case scenario — the Cowboys are celebrating a Big 12 championship in Norman. Worst case scenario? I think you can imagine what a Bedlam loss looks and feels like.

Best Case

Oklahoma has a defense that ranks 91st in the country. Oklahoma State isn’t that much better at 89th, so all indications is this will be a Bedlam shootout.

Each team may only get a few stops on defense, and a turnover down the stretch may be the dagger. Give me the team that is 11th in turnover margin (Oklahoma State, of course) over the team that is tied for 68th.

Baker Mayfield has thrown twice as many interceptions as Mason Rudolph, and hasn’t been used as a runner that often. His best rushing game this season was at TCU, where he rushed for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

If you are like me, you were initially upset that Dede Westbrook was a Biletnikoff finalists over James Washington. And then you look at the numbers are realize why.

Westbrook is not a better receiver than Washington simply by this year’s numbers. Dede Westbrook is the only major threat in the Oklahoma passing offense. He has 70 catches for 1,354 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The next leading receiver is Joe Mixon with 30 catches, 430 yards and five touchdowns. Isn’t funny how OU’s second leading receiver is a running back, and yet their fans still claim to have the better receiving corps. The average OU fan is a fascinating creature really.

The reason Washington is not getting the headlines Westbrook is — James Washington plays at Wide Receiver U.

There are 128 FBS Division I schools. Oklahoma has the 122nd pass defense.

WRU vs. the 122nd pass defense. That could be fun.

Washington leads the team in yards (1,159) and touchdowns (9). Jalen McCleskey leads the team with 67 catches, and there’s also Chris Lacy and Jhajuan Seales to deal with. And the thought of Blake Jarwin streaking down the middle of the field wide open into the end zone has crossed my mind a few times this week.

You get the picture. If Oklahoma State can get solid production from Hill and Chris Carson to keep the Sooners off balance, Oklahoma State will put up some points, and possibly win.

I’m not going to picture you a worst case scenario. If you’re an Oklahoma State fan, you know what could happen. With the Big 12 championship on the line, the stakes are raised for both teams.

Not going to lie, I might shed a victory tear if we win. Go Pokes! Beat OU!