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Oklahoma looks to avoid letdown at Oklahoma State

Nov 29, 2008 - 12:10 PM (2) Oklahoma (10-1) at (12) Oklahoma St (9-2),7:00pm, EST

STILLWATER, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- The muddled Big 12 South race could come down to Bedlam.

Fresh off its conquest of Texas Tech, No. 2 Oklahoma looks to stay in the national championship picture Saturday when it visits 12th-ranked Oklahoma State in the annual Bedlam Series game.

The Sooners (10-1, 6-1) created the possibility of a three-way tie in the Big 12 South with its 65-21 destruction of the Red Raiders.

If Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas finish tied, the winner of the division will be determined by the team with the highest BCS ranking.

While Oklahoma jumped ahead of Texas in the coaches and Harris Interactive polls, the Longhorns still lead the Sooners in the BCS standings. However, Texas' edge is razor thin - just .008 percentage points.

Since the BCS factors in strength of schedule, Oklahoma could climb over Texas in the BCS with a win over Oklahoma State.

Texas likely wouldn't get much of a boost by beating 4-7 Texas A&M in its regular-season finale.

Still, beating Oklahoma State (9-2, 5-2) in Stillwater is no slam dunk for the Sooners, as hot as they have been.

Oklahoma is averaging 59 points during its current five-game winning streak and has scored more than 60 in each of its last three contests.

"Any time you go into someone else's place to play when they're doing pretty well, it's tough to play," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said during the Big 12's weekly teleconference. "We recognize that. (Oklahoma State coach) Mike (Gundy) has done a really good job continuing to build that program."

While Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, who has thrown 42 touchdowns, remains in the Heisman Trophy picture, the Sooners also have gotten a boost recently from running back DeMarco Murray.

With back-to-back 100-yard games against Texas A&M and Texas Tech, Murray (929 yards) has a chance to go over 1,000 yards for the season.

Murray is the Big 12's second-leading rusher behind Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter, who has run for 1,434 yards.

"It's obvious the last four weeks (Murray) is finally getting over the hump from that surgery a year ago, back to his old self," Stoops said. "It's really quite noticeable just the cuts and the acceleration, making people miss him. It's given us a huge boost."

Oklahoma State (9-2, 5-2) suffered a close loss at Texas (28-24) but was routed at Texas Tech, 56-20.

While the Big 12 is known for its quarterbacks, Oklahoma State boasts the eighth-leading rushing attack in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

The Cowboys would like to establish an effective ground game against Oklahoma to keep Bradford and Co. off the field.

Hunter may not be at full strength, however, as he bruised his quadriceps three weeks ago at Texas Tech.

Oklahoma escaped with a 27-21 victory in its last visit to Stillwater in 2006.