Sun Bowl, Oklahoma vs Standford

[ATENEARS]

Sun Bowl:

Oklahoma (7-5) vs. Stanford (8-4)

2 p.m. ET (CBS)

 

Three things to know

1. Stanford's power running game, with bruising RB Toby Gerhart (1,736 yards, 26 TDs), will be trouble for Oklahoma. "As talented as Oklahoma is up front, they're used to finesse and running around blocks because of Big 12 offenses," said Miami LT Jason Fox, whose Hurricanes beat the Sooners in October. "When they have to take on double-teams and you run straight downhill on them, they can get knocked back. We knocked them back most of the game."

2. Can Gerhart be effective without Cardinal QB Andrew Luck, who won't start because he's recovering from a broken finger? Luck's ability to make all the throws opens up the running attack; backup Tavita Pritchard is more of a game manager. The Sooners will try to make him beat them.

3. Expect Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray to have a big day. He is motivated after missing the Sooners' last two bowls because of injuries. "It feels like the national championship game to me," Murray says.

4.

— Jim Gilstrap

 

Guest pick

CBS analyst Steve Beuerlein: Oklahoma.

"Oklahoma is bowl-tested and bowl-tough. They've been there many times. The strength of Oklahoma's defense is against the run."

 

ATENEARS pick: Stanford.

" Jim Harbaugh, fresh off signing a new three year deal to remain at Standford will have his team ready to kick some ass and ride RB, Toby Gerhart who finished second to Alabama running back Mark Ingram in the closest vote in the 75-year history of the Heisman Trophy. Oklahoma on the other hand has lost three straight bowl games and are pouting more than ever after losing star QB Sam Bradford and finishing out of the BCS race with a mediocre record 0f 7-5. "

[ATENEARS]

Players to watch:

 

Oklahoma has two players that will play today to key on, each on opposite sides of the ball

OT, #71, Trent Williams (6'-5", 318-lbs, Sr.)

Williams has switched from RT to LT and has had some growing pains, but he also still has plenty of interest from the NFL.

 

DT, #93, Gerald McCoy (6'-4", 297-lbs, Jr.)

Not a big name, but headed to play somewhere on Sundays and fill a need in the later rounds.

 

For Stanford

 

RB/FB, #7 Toby Gerhart (6'-1", 235-lbs, Sr.)

This kid is a load and is current projected as a 2nd-4th round pick in Aprils NFL draft. Someone is gonna get a brawler in Gerhart. Not known to catch many passes out of the back field, this kid though has cleared many of paths on his own reaching 1.736 yards rushing this season on 311 carries (5.6 avg.) with 26-TD's. He finished second in the Heisman. This season wasn't just a fluke though as he put up 1,136 last year on 210 carriers (5.4 avg.) and 15 TD's. In 2009 he put 223-yrds on Oregon, 205-yrds on Notre dame and 200-yrds on Washington. Gerart had FIVE 3+TD games, including 3 in a 178-yrd rushing day @ USC and 4-TD's against Cal.

 

Gerhart is a meat and potatos kid ... he reminds me of longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Mike Alstott who also averaged 5.6-yrds per carry during his time at Purdue.

 

 

[ATENEARS]

Gerhart is a beast. That kid don't get past the second round. If he grades out well at the combines and Pro days (speed) he will be a first rounder.