Oklahoma vs. Kansas Prediction, Game Preview

Kansas (0-7) came up with a 20-17 win over Oklahoma (6-1) in 1997. Ten losses later, the two programs are in far different places with one deep in the playoff hunt and the other looking for anything to make this season anything other than an utter disaster. Check out the Oklahoma vs. Kansas prediction and game preview.

Oklahoma vs. Kansas Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
Game Time 3:30 pm
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS
Network: FOX Sports 1

Follow, Contact @PeteFiutak

Why You Need To Care

The Texas loss only matters so much. Oklahoma bounced back with a jaw-dropping 55-0 win over Kansas State and a 63-27 blasting of Texas Tech to get right back in the hunt for the Big 12 title and playoff spot. With the Kansas scrimmage this week and Iowa State at home to follow, everything is set up perfectly to be humming at 8-1 before going to Baylor to kick off the brutal finishing kick with TCU and Oklahoma State to follow. No one in the Big 12 is playing with more of a swagger.

Just when it seems like Kansas is about to take a nice step forward, playing well in a 30-20 loss to Texas Tech, pffffffft – the air goes out of the balloon with a horrendous performance on a tragic day at Oklahoma State. 0-7, on a ten-game losing streak and losers of 15 of their last six games overall, nothing is working. If the Jayhawks can keep this interesting for a half, it’ll be a positive.

Why Oklahoma Will Win

Last week was all about the running game, with Oklahoma cranking out yards at will in the win over Texas Tech, but this week should be back to Baker Mayfield and the Air Raid passing game humming from the start. The Jayhawks have allowed opposing passers to connect on 72% of their throws or more in five of the last six games, with Mason Rudolph going off last week for Oklahoma State in the blowout win. KU can’t blame the pass rush – it’s not bad – but the defense isn’t coming up with any sort of third down stops. Don’t take any chances, make the open throws, get out with an easy win.

Why Kansas Will Win

It’s not like Oklahoma is going to be looking ahead, but it’s Oklahoma – there’s always an inexplicable puzzler lurking somewhere around the corner. The pass rush has been one of the bright spots for the Jayhawks over the last few weeks, doing the near impossible and getting into the Texas Tech backfield with five sacks to screw up the high-powered Red Raider passing game. Last week, even though the D was getting lit up, the pass rush was doing its job with decent pressure. The Oklahoma O line hasn’t been a rock – KU will get to Mayfield.

Player Who Matters

Samaje Perine should be a marked man, and it won’t matter. After a bit of a disappointing year, he got the rock against Texas Tech and he dominated, rumbling for 201 yards and four touchdowns, showing off the explosiveness and quickness again that seemed to be missing at times early on. Last year he ran for 213 yards and three touchdowns against the Red Raiders, following it up with the date with Kansas – setting the all-time single-game rushing record tearing off 427 yards and five scores on 34 carries – about 20 too many – in the blowout win. With Joe Mixon proving to be more than just a running mate – tearing off 154 yards and two scores last week – don’t expect a Perine repeat.

What’s Going To Happen?

Nothing is stopping Oklahoma now. All the parts of the offensive machine are humming at just the right time – Kansas won’t be able to do anything about it.