Oklahoma State Football: What the Cowboys Must Do to Win Bedlam

This week two top 10 teams will face off in the Bedlam game. Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will play in the most anticipated and highest profile rivalry game of the season this year. The game will also be a de facto Big 12 Championship Game, with the winner headed to the Fiesta Bowl.

Much rides on this game for both teams, but especially for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have never been to a BCS bowl and never won a Big 12 Championship. This will likely be the best chance they'll have.

They must do certain things to accomplish those lofty goals. Here are those things.

Pressure Landry Jones

Landry Jones is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but like any quarterback, he can get flustered when he is pressured in the pocket.

The Cowboy pass rush has not been great this season, but it has shown in flashes that it can be very good.

The Cowboys must pressure Jones and force him to make quick and (hopefully) wrong decisions. If they cannot, he'll pick them apart.

Use Justin Blackmon

This may seem obvious, but maybe not for the reason you think.

Justin Blackmon is the best wide receiver in the nation, and a lot comes with that. He can catch the ball in traffic and outrun coverage to snag the long ball. His strength and body control combine with his amazing hands to make him a red-zone terror.

However, that isn't the only way the Cowboys should use him. They must use Blackmon as a decoy almost as much as they use him as a direct weapon. The coverage he demands from defenses leaves the other talented Cowboy receivers open. If it doesn't, then he'll be open. It will almost always be one or the other.

How they capitalize on having the best player on the field will have a direct impact on whether they win or lose.

Run the Ball

Oklahoma State running backs Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith haven't had a good last couple of weeks.

Randle coughed up two key fumbles that helped keep Oklahoma State from staying undefeated against Iowa State. Smith has been sidelined by a hand injury for a month and has yet to return to his old form.

Oklahoma State will need both of these guys to play their absolute best in order to win this game.

Oklahoma's defensive front might be the most talented group on their team and will be difficult to run against. If the Cowboys can manage a decent ground attack, it will keep the pressure off Brandon Weeden and force the Sooners to respect the play-action pass.

Win the Special Teams Battle

This is the area where the Cowboys have the clearest advantage. Punter/kicker Quinn Sharp leads the nation in average punt yards and has hit 17-of-20 field goals on the year.

The injury to Ryan Broyles, who was the best punt returner in the Big 12, adds to the OSU advantage.

The Cowboys must cleanly field punts and kickoffs, and cover each of their own very well. Field position matters and will help Oklahoma State's defense.

Believe

Oklahoma State has not won the Bedlam game since 2002. That's eight years of frustration and heartbreak on the backs of the players, fans and coaches.

Still, they need to believe they can win this game.

There is no doubt that the players do (which is really all that matters), but it appears that the fans still have to be convinced that this Cowboy team won't let them down as those before have.

This is their best chance to dethrone the Sooners as Big 12 champs; it may be now or never.

Truly believing in themselves is the best thing they will do to help their chances.