There are significant Big 12 title implications are on the line on Saturday night in Morgantown when No. 9 Oklahoma meets No. 14 West Virginia. The Sooners may still have an eye on sneaking into the Playoff, but that won’t happen without them winning the Big 12 first. The Mountaineers are only one loss behind Oklahoma, and a win here would give a lot of clarity to the race.
Oklahoma vs. West Virginia 2016: Start time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
The outcome of this game will weigh heavily in the Big 12 title race.
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Oklahoma's slow start to the season is a thing of the past now, as they've gotten it together to win seven straight games and have put together one of the nation's best offenses. The backfield combo if Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine has proven to be a strong complement to quarterback Baker Mayfield, but the major breakout star of this team is Dede Westbrook. The senior receiver has spent the year burning defenses to the ground to the tune of 1,254 yards and 14 touchdowns in only 10 games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC
Radio: Oklahoma | West Virginia
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Oklahoma is favored by three points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Crimson and Cream Machine for Oklahoma fans and The Smoking Musket for West Virginia fans.
Three big things to know
1. The Sooners have the No. 2 offense in the country according to S&P+, and it remains to be seen whether the West Virginia defense can slow them down. The Sooners are averaging over 44 points per game this year,
2. The West Virginia offense can help their defense out by running the ball effectively. If they can move the chains by running the ball, they'll shorten the game and keep the ball out of Oklahoma's hands. Expect Justin Crawford, Rushel Shell, and Kennedy McKoy to get a heavy load, unless the Mountaineers fall behind early.
3. West Virginia needs to win this game to keep their Big 12 title hopes alive. If they lose, the Mountaineers will have two losses in conference play, with both coming to the Oklahoma schools that are also chasing the conference title. A win for West Virginia here would plunge the conference race into a three-way tie between these two teams and Oklahoma State, which would eventually become a two-way tie after Bedlam.
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