Daily Bullets (November 3)

Big Time Ball

As if the Big 12’s most significant (come at me, Texas) rivalry of the decade looms, it’s higher stakes than previously seen for Mike Gundy.

Having also been a Cowboy quarterback and assistant coach, Gundy is preparing for his 27th Bedlam game. He’s had more Bedlam appearances than any other participating figure on either side of the rivalry, but he’s never seen circumstances like these: As of kickoff on Saturday, the highest goals remain attainable for both squads. The winner will have taken another step toward involvement in the Big 12 Championship game and the College Football Playoff.

The winning team’s QB — OSU’s Rudolph or OU’s Baker Mayfield — probably sustains a place in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Each team has dynamic skill-position personnel.

On paper, Bedlam 2017 is a phenom. [TulsaWorld]

Potential Heisman, Big 12 title, CFP-birth, you name it.

Bedlam Snippets

Berry Tramel dropped some Bedlam-related gems in his latest chat.

First – on Gundy being conservative:

If OU plays a four-man line, it sort of takes the conservatism out of Gundy’s hands. He’ll have to throw.

On what the result of going for it in the air would be.

OU the last two years has played good defense vs. OSU. Now, Cowboy fans will tell you that Gundy helped the OU defense. But if Rudolph airs it out, hard to see the Sooners stopping OSU.

On who the guest picker will be:

Great question. Garth Brooks is on tour. Marcus Smart and Rickie Fowler already have done it. Big Country wouldn’t do it. Has Barry Sanders ever done it? OK, here you go. From our sports editor Ryan Sharp. Les Miles.

On whose defensive line will play better:

D-line? I’ll say OU’s. The Sooners are chasing Rudolph. The Cowboys are chasing Mayfield. Big difference.

Les being the guest picker would be perfect if to make amends for (allegedly) bailing on the 2004 Alamo Bowl team, he gave an epic speech inspiring the Pokes to a bedlam victory.

OSU and NCAA Notes

Must read on getting Mason Rudolph to Stillwater….Last Chance High – where major D1 prospects go to find discipline pre-university….On OSU’s special teams and how the unit has impacted Bedlams….USA Today says Bedlam is one of November’s top-ten games (too low in the top ten)….Cowboy defenders on the challenge of Baker Mayfield

Let these facts sink in.

In fact, four of the five projected starters Sat. (Cochran, Keyes, Lundblade, Wilson) haven't been penalized, period https://t.co/G4SpgrmZsK

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) November 2, 2017

He’s an all-timer, folks.

After his performance in the rain against WVU – where does Mason Rudolph stand among the top draft-eligible QBs: https://t.co/hXsMk2pOG0 pic.twitter.com/ywm0oKkbn5

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) November 2, 2017

Props to Jeff Carroll for making this top 100 – see if you can find him.

Look who made the list of @CBSSports top-100 players in college basketball. #letswork #okstate

➡️https://t.co/7dMyDClgsW pic.twitter.com/xgGCCCOBtd

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) November 2, 2017

Pickens/Gundy/Pickens/Holder have built a monster. When was the last time Gameday was in Manhattan, Fayetteville or Tempe?

It’s beginning to look a lot like GameDay at #OKState. pic.twitter.com/5eetn9vRBC

— O'Colly (@OColly) November 2, 2017

Vegas is on the Oklahoma State side and that’s interesting.

76% of money is on Sooners pic.twitter.com/VKMbp5TGNj

— Adam Lunt (@AdamLunt817) November 2, 2017

What You Missed on PFB

• Rudolph can join an elite group to beat OU twice
• Winning Bedlam with two ranked teams has been tough
• Enjoy this Bedlam hype video
• Uniform combinations we want for Bedlam
• Porter and Carson take your Bedlam questions in the latest mailbag pod

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• If the writer of Proverbs had been a Millennial
• Is automation the cure to labor shortages in construction?
• Effective ways to find time sounds helpful and a bit neurotic

This will be a fun one to see.