Alamo Bowl Prediction Time

Gametime is just around the corner, find out Chad McKee's prediction for the game and all you need to know for tonight's Alamo Bowl.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:07 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Dec 29, 2010 5:35 PM CDT

Vitals: Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
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Chad McKee
Oklahoma Sports Anchor/Reporter

Time foran Alamo Bowl prediction.

We’ve listened to the talk. We’ve heard about the Cowboys being distracted by Holgorsen leaving for West Virginia, Quinn Sharp’s academic issues and Blackmon pondering his NFL options.

Often times in these games you worry about a team that is disappointed by dropping to a lower bowl than they had hoped for or anticipated. The Cowboys certainly fit that category. OSU was aiming for Fiesta or Cotton before Bedlam. Instead, they’ll rumble by the Riverwalk for the third time since 1997.

There are several intangibles such as these pointing in the Wildcats’ favor. But I’m still not buying it. I just don’t think Arizona can slow down OSU. This is not your Mike Stoops OU defense of 2000.

Arizona gave up 48 points to Oregon and the Cowboys are comparable offensively to the Ducks. In fact, the Wildcats are more prolific in some categories. If the Pokes can score 35, I don’t see the ‘Cats being able to match that. Arizona has scored over 35 points in only 3 of 12 games this season. And it’s not like the Pac-10 is loaded with the nation’s great defenses.

OSU has been a close nit group all season long. They’ve been bonded by proving wrong all of the naysayers who picked the Cowboys 4th or 5th in the Big 12 South.

I think Orie Lemon will have about 15 tackles and Justin Blackmon catches 10+ passes for 150 yards. I’m a bit worried that Mike Stoops has installed the same defensive principles that OU used to slow Kendall Hunter in the Bedlam game. But Mike doesn’t have the defensive personnel his brother Bob does.