Dmn - Preview: North Texas At No. 8 Oklahoma

[JayDub]

Preview: North Texas at No. 8 Oklahoma

02:43 AM CDT on Saturday, September 1, 2007

6 p.m., Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (FSNSW, KWRD-FM 100.7, KNTU-FM 88.1, KKGM-AM 1630)

Line: Oklahoma by 40

Dodge in big leagues

First-year North Texas coach Todd Dodge could be in for a rude welcome to college football.

More than 80,000 hostile fans are expected to greet Dodge, the former Southlake Carroll coach.

And then there are the Sooners, the defending Big 12 champions. Oklahoma has proven depth at wide receiver, tight end and running back, but not quarterback. Redshirt freshman Sam Bradford will make his first collegiate start. Bradford will have to control his nerves and put the ball in the hands of one of OU’s many playmakers.

North Texas will start Richardson Pearce-ex Daniel Meager at QB. He’s had to learn Dodge’s spread offense after a sophomore season in which he was in and out of the starting lineup.

One of the few questions OU faces is who will start at running back. Senior Allen Patrick, No. 1 on the depth chart, has been slowed by a sprained right ankle. If Patrick can’t start or is limited, redshirt freshman DeMarco Murray should get the bulk of the carries.

Oklahoma wins if ...

QB Sam Bradford avoids mistakes and spreads the ball around, and the defense forces turnovers.

North Texas wins if ...

Coach Todd Dodge pulls off the motivational speech of the century. The Mean Green must rattle Bradford enough to force turnovers.

Prediction

Oklahoma 41, North Texas 10

I think Dodge really could have that speech in him.

[MeanGreenBuzz]

I think Dodge really could have that speech in him.

Dodge does have that speech in him. This will be a lot closer game than anyone will be predicting. I bet it will be along the lines of the '02 Texas game where they don't even cover the spread.