PFB Predictions: Bedlam

The Pistols Firing team has been previewing the Bedlam game all week, and now it’s time for parting predictions with the game now under 24 hours away.

Kyle Porter

Pick: OU 38, OSU 33
Spread: OU covers
Player of the Game: Dimitri Flowers

Mrs. Pistols tried to talk me out of it — everyone will hate you and nobody will come to your site — but I can’t shake the feeling that this game will be like all the other ones big ones in recent years. What evidence do I have that it will be any different? I told Carson on Thursday it’s kind of like Tiger Woods’ comeback to me. Oh, Tiger is back from injury again? Yeah, I know how this is going to end.

Oklahoma State comes in with a bit of a sputtering offense (62 points on 34 drives over the last two weeks ain’t great!), and although its defense has been lights-out for two straight games, Baker has done unspeakable things to better squads.

The game will come down to whether Oklahoma State can run the football. Because its secondary is a weakness, I think OU will play like Texas and WVU did and force OSU to beat them on the ground. OSU will certainly try — I bet they run it another 50 times. But is the Cowboys’ offensive line up to challenge? I hope so, but I’m afraid not.

If they’re able to run it to the tune of 5.5 yards a pop or better, they’ll win barring turnovers and special teams gaffes (might be presuming too much there!) If not, No. 6 will get his third in a row.

Kyle Boone

Pick: OSU 48, OU 45
Spread: OSU covers
Player of the Game: Mason Rudolph

The conditions for Saturday look to be dry, warm and ripe for tossing the pigskin. I think that favors OSU. Assuming OU doesn’t run the dreaded Tampa-2 coverage with two safeties 40 yards down field, I think the Rudolph-to-any receiver connection will win the day and OSU gets just enough stops on defense to escape with the W.

Kyle Cox

Pick: OSU 49-39
Spread: like a giant orange blanket
Player of the Game: Mason Rudolph

If the above is correct and OSU sniffs the half century mark, Rudolph will have to be great. Yes, I realize that 49 points would be a Bedlam high for OSU, but I’ll stick with my pick. Pitt was an appetizer and OSU feasts on an average (at best!) OU secondary.

Hayden Barber

Pick: OU 41-35
Spread: Sorry
Player of the Game: Marcell Ateman

Losing Bedlam has been beaten into me like the 10 Commandments into stone. Call it pessimism or realism, Oklahoma State will have to keep scoring because the Sooners have the most efficient offense in the nation(!), and with Mike Gundy’s conservative record against OU, it’s just so hard to pick a team that has been outscored 728-531 since I was born.

Phillip Slavin

Pick: OSU 38-35
Spread: OSU Covers
Player of the Game: Justice Hill

This goes against everything my gut tells me, because until I see the Cowboys’ gameplan I can’t expect Gundy to call anything but run plays. I think the first half is low scoring as both defenses step up big. In the second half, the offenses get going. With a healthy offensive line, the Cowboy run game does get going and Justice Hill accounts for 150+ yards and multiple touchdowns. But it comes down to a blocked OU game-tying field goal for OSU to seal the victory.

Justin Southwell

Pick: Oklahoma State 44-10
Spread: Mullet covers
Player of the Game: James Washington

2011 comparisons for days? Maybe the score, but the method of victory will be different.
Gundy, shirtless and wearing orange face paint, will lead the team out of the tunnel riding Bullet. Rudolph will drop bombs; The President will go for 300 yards. The defense won’t get as many turnovers as 2011, but they’re going to give Baker Mayfield the RG3 treatment. Baker’s embroidered three-peat shirt will be used as a flag of surrender.

Nick Welch

Pick: OSU 45-38
Spread: OSU Covers
Player of the Game: James Washington

The perfect weather conditions are more than welcomed by Yurcich and company. OSU finally lets Rudolph sling it around against a mediocre OU secondary and shocks the nation with a touchdown victory over No. OU. Glenn Spencer’s bend but don’t break D holds its own and causes Lincoln Riley’s aggressive play calling to backfire. No flag planting on Saturday.

Matt Harris

Pick: OSU 41, OU 38
Spread: OSU covers
Player of the game: Mason Rudolph

Kirk Herbstreit said that this game will come down to quarterback play and he’s not wrong. Mason has a big night and gets the most defining win of his career. The OSU defense plays an outstanding game once again and this game will come down to the final drive.

Steven Mandeville

Pick: 49-35 Pokes
Spread: OSU covers
Player of the Game: James Washington

Gundy’s two week long game of playing possum with the passing game ends and Mason comes out dropping dimes and throwing on a rope. The President has his signature Biletnikoff-sealing game torching the Sooners on four 40+ Yard catches and the annual “holy crap they put it all together” game comes together.