OU has big advantage in defensive matchup with Cardinal

Originally Published: Dec 9, 2009 8:35 PM CDT

We continue our Crystal Ball breakdown of OU and Stanford in the upcoming Sun Bowl extravaganza. Stanford is good but not great on defense and loses in all three categories. But lest you forget, OU doesn't light people up on the road, and this game is not played in the friendly confines in Norman.

LINEBACKERS EDGE: OU
Deep position returning 5 of their top 6. Veteran SLB Snyder leads with 61 tackles, WLB Amajoyi  is reliable as is Skov while Powers has emerged. OU has more playmakers and is potent in pass coverage where SLB Clayton excels and backup MLB Box is making noise. It's important MLB Reyonolds returns from injury and teams with stud WLB Lewis against a rugged run game. 

SECONDARY EDGE OU
OU's secondary has been anywhere from reliable to outstanding. C Franks says he's returning to school and will watch his counterpart Jackson get ready for NFL as a remarkable cover corner. Look for hit-man Q Carter to be a force in the run defense game. Stanford's two safeties Howell and McNally are the two leading tacklers for the Cardinal, which allows 252 pass yards per to OU's 184

DL Edge: OU

OU's DL  is playing splendidly. It has helped that they've been able to put most teams in a one-dimensional mode. Their  but their raw talent, intensity and schemes are rock solid. Even with star DE A English out, Alexander and Beal are playmakers. McCoy's an AA and Taylor is making his 28th consecutive start. .Soph DE T Keiser led the Cardinal with 14.5 tackles for a loss, which ranked third in the Pac-10, and nine sacks.