INSIDE SLANT

It’s almost always a good game when Oklahoma visits Texas Tech, and it figures to be again when two Big 12 South powers going through some rebuilding pains meet Saturday.

The Sooners are coming off a win in which they looked like a million bucks, smashing Texas A&M 65-10. But OU got a lot of help via turnovers, and after the Sooners scored 28 second-quarter points, Texas A&M seemed to lose interest.

Texas Tech is coming off a tough loss, 24-17, at No. 13 Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma (6-4, 4-2) and Tech are bowl eligible and might be playing for a better postseason appointment.

A Sooner team coached by Bob Stoops has never lost more than four regular-season games and likely won’t this season if he can get two more performances out of his team like the last one. However, that’s easier said than done.

The offensive line remains a huge question mark, even more so against an improving Texas Tech defense. False start penalties plagued the Sooners against Texas A&M, yet they overcame the flags against one of the Big 12’s worst defenses. It will be far more difficult Saturday.

“Second quarter, we still had too many penalties (against Texas A&M), so we’re still trying to work through that,” Stoops said. “I felt that way the week before. But as far as blocking, protecting and those type of things, they are improving.”

But is the improvement coming fast enough to go out a winner against the Red Raiders and highly ranked Oklahoma State a week from Saturday?

If OU can close out the regular season 8-4, it would be quite a feat considering where it was after a 10-3 loss at Nebraska. If the Sooners can’t do that, plain and simple, it would be Stoops’ worst season in Norman.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Coach Bob Stoops addressed a story that appeared in the Chicago Sun Times that said a source said Stoops had told confidants he would be interested in the Notre Dame job if Charlie Weis were to be forced out. “I don’t have any thoughts about it; there is nothing to talk about,” he said. “Notre Dame has a coach and I have a great job. People just make stuff up; I don’t need to comment on that. If there was some basis to anything, I would gladly comment on it. But just some guy making stuff up, I don’t need to comment on that.”

• PK Patrick O’Hara, a third-teamer heading into the Texas A&M game, ended up closing that game handling field goals and PATs. But it’s unclear which kicker Bob Stoops will go with Saturday at Texas Tech. It could be O’Hara, Jimmie Stevens or Tress Way. Stoops said Tuesday that practice hasn’t been a great indicator of kicking success in the games this season.

• The Sooners have scored 64, 45, 33, 42 and 65 points at home, and they have scored 13, 20, 13, 35 and 3 points away from home. Only at Kansas, a 35-13 victory, have the Sooners been able to get rolling away from Owen Field.

Series History:   Oklahoma leads Texas Tech 12-4 (last meeting, 65-21, Oklahoma).

Scouting The Offense:   The Sooners rolled last week against Texas A&M, but the task will be more difficult this week. WR Ryan Broyles is a big-play threat, and the Sooners have been inventive in finding ways to get the ball to TB DeMarco Murray. That combination should be able to click at home and on the road. In a season of huge injuries to playmakers, the Sooner offense is figuring out more ways to succeed.

Scouting The Defense:   The defense has looked bad only once all season, against Kansas State, a game in which it allowed 30 points. It allowed just seven first downs two games ago at Nebraska and last week held a potent Texas A&M offense to 230 yards of offense. The unit is playing at a very high level systematically, and is coming up with big plays, too, like Brian Jackson’s fumble return for a touchdown last week. Defense is not the Sooners’ problem.

Quote To Note:   “Offensively, hopefully we can just have some continuity of being able to keep some balance, rush the football, protect the quarterback and protect the football. Those are things that you need to do to play good football.”—Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops on his inconsistent offense.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Oklahoma at Texas Tech, Nov. 21—Texas Tech coach Mike Leach was Bob Stoops’ original offensive coordinator at OU. Both teams are pretty much playing for pride and a better bowl game. Neither wants to lose five regular-season games.

Keys To The Game:   OU has had 10 turnovers in its last two losses, and just one last week against Texas A&M. It’s an even bigger issue against Texas Tech, an offense that thrives an opportunities. The Red Raiders can’t get fee ones. On defense, OU has defended Texas Tech better than any other program through the years. The Sooners simply seem to know how to do it.

Players To Watch:  

WR Ryan Broyles—He is still the Sooners’ No. 1 playmaker, returning punts, catching the ball, running reverses. Broyles’ big plays can keep the Sooners in the game if OU’s offense struggles, as it often does, away from home.

DE Jeremy Beal—Texas Tech may not have settled on a single quarterback, but it’s still a Mike Leach offense, and that means lots of passes and getting the ball away fast. If Beal can disrupted that passing game with a quick rush from the end, it could pay great dividends for the Sooners.

Roster Report:  

• OL Brian Simmons, out with a bum knee since the conference opener against Baylor, may be available Saturday. OU needs all the help it can get on the line. Simmons practiced in pads Monday.

• WR Brandon Caleb sprained an ankle in the Kansas State game, did not play against Nebraska and played very little, and did not catch a pass, against Texas A&M. He should play Saturday at nearly full speed.