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Oklahoma-Cincinnati: AllSooners Staff Picks

The AllSooners staff offers their predictions for Saturday's Big 12 Conference opener between the Sooners and Bearcats in Cincinnati.
John E. Hoover|
Oklahoma-Cincinnati: AllSooners Staff Picks
Oklahoma-Cincinnati: AllSooners Staff Picks

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Oklahoma Sooners

John Hoover

Cincinnati is a two-touchdown underdog but has some star power. And the Bearcats have a passionate fan base. Nippert Stadium will be absolutely rocking, fueled by their Big 12 debut and the Big 12 Homecoming festivities. And Cincy is tested, having thoroughly outplayed Miami-Ohio last week only to lose in overtime. All that, combined with Oklahoma making its first real road trip this year makes for a tense one on the Ohio River. In the end, Oklahoma’s playmakers deliver some big moments to avoid the upset.

Final: Oklahoma 35, Cincinnati 31

Ryan Chapman

The first true road test doubles as an opportunity for Oklahoma to show things are different in 2023. While this Cincinnati team isn’t as good as last year’s Kansas State squad, the Sooners still need to show they can translate non-conference success to Big 12 play. OU will need to find answers at left guard to battle the Bearcats’ talented defensive line, but Miami (OH) had plenty of offensive success a week ago, throwing for 237 yards. The Sooners’ defensive line will have to stay disciplined to corral Cincinnati’s rushing attack, but if Oklahoma can keep Emory Jones in the pocket, he’s shown time and time again that he struggles to dissect defenses both at Florida and Arizona State. Brent Venables’ squad passed the eye test in the first three contests of the year, and the passing game led by Dillon Gabriel should be enough to keep the Sooners from having to sweat out a tight finish in the program’s first visit to Nippert Stadium.

Final: Oklahoma 38, Cincinnati 16

Ross Lovelace

The Sooners have historically struggled with mobile quarterbacks, but with a new look defense and a full week to game plan for the Bearcats attack, they should be in a good spot. Miami-Ohio and Pittsburgh both tossed three touchdowns each through the air, and Dillon Gabriel can have the same success this weekend. The Sooners aren’t quite looking ahead to Texas just yet, and this should be a big momentum game to show the conference and the country that this team is for real. It might take a few drives to feel Cincinnati out, but Oklahoma should take care of business on the road and silence the doubters.

Final: Oklahoma 41, Cincinnati 24

Randall Sweet

While the Sooners’ offense may struggle early due to the prowess of Cincinnati’s defensive line, Jeff Lebby and Dillon Gabriel should be able to take advantage of a few weak spots in the Bearcats defense. OU may have trouble running the ball in this contest, but with the emergence of Nic Anderson and Andrel Anthony in addition to Jalil Farooq’s production, Oklahoma will likely be able to score through the air. On defense, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Sooners allow a few big runs, but OU should be able to contain Emory Jones and the Cincinnati offense enough to keep the game at a two-score margin.

Final: Oklahoma 27, Cincinnati 13

Tim Willert

Oklahoma will struggle to run the ball against Cincinnati's stout defensive front, led by preseason All-American nosetackle Dontay Corleone. But the Sooners and senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel will find a way to get it done through the air, and the opportunistic OU defense will limit explosive plays by dual-threat quarterback Emory Jones in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

Final: OU 31, Cincinnati 10

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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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