Is Oklahoma the monster we're making it out to be?

Hear me, Sooners fans. Oklahoma's a great, great team. Right now, they're much, much better than Tennessee. That said, I wonder: Is Oklahoma the monster we're making it out to be?

Look, we're Tennessee. We eat frightening for breakfast. Take our 2012 Alabama game preview, in which we discovered that the Monster was #1 nationally in 5 of 7 defensive categories. Or take our preview of the 2013 game at Eugene against Oregon, when we learned that the Monster was in the top three in 4 of 8 offensive categories. There are several other examples, including most of our recent annual previews of Alabama games.

We know scary when we see it, so we don't startle easily. And although there are aspects of this Oklahoma Sooners team that are downright intimidating, I'm not yet convinced that the team on the whole is on the same level of scary to which we've become accustomed. That doesn't mean they won't beat us. It doesn't even mean that they won't beat us badly. After all, Stoops may attempt to pummel us just because he's jealous of our older, more experienced brothers, and if he has his way and gets us pinned to the mat unable to move and just continues to wail on a victim he's already rendered helpless, well we may put him in the Monster Hall of Fame next week. But I just don't think that's going to happen.

So what are the keys to Tennessee making this a game and avoiding the Great Pummeling?

Prepare for the worst. The only downright frightening aspect to this game is Tennessee's run game against Oklahoma's run defense. The Sooners' run defense is unlike anything we've seen so far this year, and making matters worse, UT's offensive line and rushing offense has not exactly been setting the field on fire. We'll be lucky to get 100 yards on the ground, and we just need to get our minds around that, figure out a workable Plan B, and then milk that thing 'til it's dry.

Plan B -- Pass the ball. Oklahoma's pass defense so far this season really doesn't look like anything special despite the fact that its first two games came against Louisiana Tech and Tulsa. Combine that with the fact that Tennessee's effectiveness on offense is almost certain to come through the air, and you have what is probably the most important matchup for the Vols. If Justin Worley can stay on target and perhaps even stretch the field, then the big and talented receivers can do the rest. Help us, Marquez Pig Smith Kenobi. You're our only hope.

Mitigate on defense. There's no real advantage here; it's more a feeling that the perceived disadvantage is not as troublesome as we're making it out to be. The Sooners are averaging 222 yards on the ground against the early slate, and while that may sound like a lot, consider that 39 other teams are averaging more rushing yards per game, including teams like Indiana (1st, with 455 per game) and Texas St. (This is a team? Yes, and they rank 3rd with 378 per game.) And the Sooners are putting up only 286 passing yards per game. Compare and contrast that with kidB's favorite quarterback Justin Worley, who's putting up 260. Chest bump for the three-touchdown underdog. If Tennessee can minimize the damage here and just keep from getting pinned and pummeled, then it's just up to Worley and the receivers.

Predictions. Tennessee: 90 yards rushing, 250 yards passing, 17 points. Oklahoma: 170 yards rushing, 240 yards passing, 35 points. Forecast? Most likely a sound beating, but a fair chance of avoiding the Pin and Pummel and a slight chance of Something Really Interesting.

Here's a closer look at Oklahoma's schedule, stats, and players.

National Unit Rankings

Players to Watch

Schedules

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs	8/30/14	win 48-16	coverage
@ Tulsa Golden Hurricane	9/6/14	win 52-7	coverage
Utah State Aggies	8/31/14	win 38-7	coverage
Arkansas State Red Wolves	9/6/14	win 34-19	coverage