For the first time ever, the Oklahoma Sooners will travel to an SEC opponent’s stadium as a member of the SEC. For the first time ever, Auburn will host Oklahoma. For the first time ever, Oklahoma’s quarterback will be starting a college football game. For the first time in what has to be ever, Oklahoma will be going into a game with their top five wide receivers all unable to play due to injury.
There are a lot of firsts in this one, and they all seem to go in Auburn’s favor.
One thing that isn’t a first for Auburn is that it was announced on Friday that Payton Thorne would be starting at the quarterback position after a half off last week. For the 100th time, I don’t care who plays as long as they have a blue jersey on. However, it did appear to me last week that Thorne just looks more poised and grown back there.
This is not an invitation to tell me all of the things that you and the ghost of Vince Lombardi find wrong with Thorne’s play. He just looks more prepared, comfortable, and older than Auburn’s other options at this point. You can call out the “interceptions” all you want, but truth be told, we’ve also seen more pretty deep balls than we’ve seen in a few years. Anyway, he’s playing.
Oklahoma’s quarterback is a freshman, who will be making his first start. He came in last week against Tennessee and was 11-for-18 with a 2-yard touchdown pass. He sort of looks like Arkansas’s quarterback: tall, lanky, and can run. Is he better? No clue. I would assume not.
Either way, he’s a freshman starting his first game ever, on the road at Jordan-Hare Stadium, leading his team in their first ever SEC road game. Well, most of the team.
Did I mention that the Sooners’ top five receivers are out? Yes, it’s true. The literal top five receivers by catches, yards, and touchdowns are hurt. Imagine being a freshman going into the greatest stadium ever, and not having a single person to throw the ball to. That’s what this dude is going into. Tough scene.
Despite the despair by those that were never told no, Auburn is actually favored to beat Oklahoma. Look around, outside of your Bammer neighbor, most people are saying Auburn should beat Oklahoma. Sure, there’s a lot going against the Sooners, but every single realistic person knows that Auburn’s losses have solely come down to a rash of interceptions. As I said in the Arkansas review, the law of averages is about to show up.
Every single realistic person knows that Auburn is better than every team they’ve played this season. And they are showing that by picking the Tigers to beat the Sooners.
Five turnovers won’t happen again. They can’t. The universe won’t let it. So, you’ll see Auburn’s offense continue to excel at moving the ball and you’ll see them continue to excel into the endzone rather than coughing the ball up on the way in.
Payton Thorne throws two touchdown passes. Jarquez Hunter and Jeremiah Cobb score a touchdown a piece. The Auburn defense feasts on the young quarterback and Oklahoma’s 7th string wide receivers. You’ll feel better next week.
Auburn 31, Oklahoma 17
