Hopefully, we have all by now got over the fact that Oklahoma will be playing the Connecticut Huskies, the Big East champions. I don't think I'm wrong in assuming that most OU fans were hoping for a rematch with Stanford (from last year's Sun Bowl), or maybe a showdown with Ohio State or Arkansas. What we got instead, was a team with an 8-4 record and is ranked #26 in the BCS standings (I didn't know that they went that far).
Before I get on the "Oklahoma's going to blow out UConn" bandwagon, you'd be surprised at how much these two teams have in common on their road to Glendale, AZ. Both teams were written off after losing 2 conference games. They both put in strong defensive performances down the stretch, to go along with a combined 9 game win streak (4 for Oklahoma, 5 for UConn). They both won their last conference games by a field goal (UConn beat South Florida 19-16 on last minute field goal, while Oklahoma beat Nebraska 23-20).
That being said, if there was anytime that Oklahoma needed to end its 5 game losing streak in BCS games, this would be it. Oklahoma however is in a "no-win" situation. If they win, well, they were supposed to. If they lose, then it's another BCS bust. Oklahoma's last BCS win was against a Washington State team that has gone 35-61 since that Rose Bowl. Since then, Oklahoma has been the punchline to many a joke in Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Boise and Morgantown.
Last time Oklahoma was in a "no-win" situation like this one, it was against a Boise State team that was making it's first appearance in a BCS bowl game. In defense of the Broncos, they had posted a record of 85-16 (4-2 in bowl games) going into that match-up. They were a well coached team and knew how to execute; and I really don't have to tell you how the game ended.
Then came West Virginia. A team that had lost their coach 3 weeks before playing OU. Prior to that, they had fallen a game short of playing in the National Championship game. So you'd be forgiven for thinking that they would be lacking any inspiration or motivation going into the Fiesta Bowl against a red-hot Oklahoma team. What many people overlook is the fact that the Mountaineers were riding a 32-5 record (2-0 in bowl games), and were very much a championship calibre team. So they had EVERY reason to show that they still had some fire left. And did they show up ever!!! Playing the way they did, they could have beaten ANY team that night.
So in this third trip, I'm sure that Oklahoma will look at where they've failed in their past trips to the Fiesta Bowl. Whether it may be conservative play calling, execution on both sides of the ball, over confidence; I really don't know. Even though they'll be highly favored against Connecticut, Oklahoma will be playing with a chip on its shoulder. And that is when they play best.
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