Cavalier Corner Digital

The ability of the Oklahoma linebackers — two of three starters returned — to bottle up the Irish intermediate passing game might determine Notre Dame's success with moving the ball. Junior tight end Troy Niklas has already burned a pair of teams when they allow him to slip past the linebackers and into the secondary. He managed a 66-yard touchdown reception against Temple and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass at Michigan, but has been bottled up against Purdue and Michigan State the past two weeks. Advantage: Notre Dame Special Teams As has often been the case under the direction of head coach Bob Stoops, Oklahoma's special teams are expected to be elite again this season. Junior kicker Michael Hunnicutt has already converted 8 of 9 field goal attempts in 2013, while punter Jed Barnett enters the Notre Dame game with a 44.1-yard average and a long of 54 yards. The Oklahoma kickoff return unit is above average (19.0 yards allowed per return), but Notre Dame has been abysmal on kickoff coverage. The Irish have permitted opponents to average 25.8 yards per runback, which ranks 113th nationally. Advantage: Oklahoma Senior cornerback Aaron Colvin was named an All-Big 12 first-team selection in 2012, after leading Oklahoma in passes broken up (11), finishing second in interceptions (four) and ranking third in tackles (61). photo courtesy oklahoma with 300-plus passing yards in three games, eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. Although Golson's speed sparked the offense at times in last year's road victory, the Sooners do not have to game plan for that possibility with Rees behind center. In the early going, opposing defenses have opted to give Rees plenty of room in the intermediate passing game. He has largely taken advantage and has even succeeded in the deep passing game the few times he has attempted to find a target, typically junior wide receiver DaVaris Daniels. Like the defensive line, the Oklahoma secondary is young, with only senior cornerback Aaron Colvin a returning starter. Colvin was tabbed as a first-team All-Big 12 performer in 2012. Coaching Last year, Kelly claimed the 30-13 chess match in a game much closer than its final score. Stoops has been criticized in recent years for the program's struggles in big games after the coach earned the "Big Game Bob" moniker early in his career. Against one of the nation's most dangerous aerial attacks, Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco opted for a bend-but-don't-break defense that kept the play in front of the Irish secondary. The approach, which Kelly said the Irish will implement again this weekend, worked in the victory: Jones' 35 completions and 356 yards translated into only 13 OU points. Advantage: Even Intangibles Kelly will try to become the third coach to beat Stoops in consecutive years (former Oklahoma State coach Les Miles and current Texas coach Mack Brown). The Irish ✦ Page 5 improved to 9-1 all time against the Sooners with last year's victory. Notre Dame is in the middle of a critical three-game stretch that will determine just how strong of a follow-up performance to last season the Irish can achieve. The Sooners begin a similar three-game stretch at Notre Dame Stadium. They will host TCU and Texas the next two weeks. Advantage: Even Predictions Tom Loy: Oklahoma 34, Notre Dame 31 Blake Bell is a true dual-threat quarterback, and he will be difficult to stop if he plays as well as he already has this season. He will get double-digit carries and attempt to catch the Irish secondary cheating toward the line of scrimmage. The Notre Dame safeties will need to stay patient and stick to their assignments in order to not get beat deep on play-action passes. If Bell plays well, it will be difficult for Notre Dame to beat the Sooners. Dan Murphy: Oklahoma 33, Notre Dame 24 Notre Dame stuck another thorn in the Sooner faithful's side last year in Norman. A talented group of Oklahoma wide receivers racked up more than 300 yards receiving, but couldn't get into the end zone. This year's Irish haven't had the ability to slam the door shut on opposing offenses in the red zone like they did last fall. The Sooners have too many play-making athletes on offense for the Irish to keep pace even on their home turf. Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 28, Oklahoma 27 Given the track records of college football heavyweights Notre Dame and Oklahoma, it is amazing that the series history is so imbalanced, with the Irish claiming nine of 10 previous meetings. A year ago, Oklahoma entered the red zone four times, but mustered just one touchdown and two field goals. Notre Dame must overcome its 2013 red-zone struggles on both sides of the ball if it is to avoid another early-season loss. Lou Somogyi: Oklahoma 27, Notre Dame 23 If both teams are at their best, then I believe Notre Dame wins. This is strictly a "law of averages" pick with the Irish holding a 9-1 series lead. I picked 10-2 in the preseason with the losses to Michigan and Oklahoma, and a late-season upset of Stanford. I couldn't pull the trigger on Michigan earlier this month, so it would be hypocritical for me not to do it versus Oklahoma. Hope I'm wrong again.

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