GAME NOTES: One of the more intriguing games on the docket this week takes place in the Norman, as the fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners play host to the up-and-coming Cincinnati Bearcats.

Bob Stoops' Sooners made light work of FCS foe Chattanooga in the season- opener last week, routing the Mocs 57-2. The game was put out of reach early on, as OU rolled up 50 points in the first half, marking only the second time in the modern era that the Sooners accomplished that feat (52 points against Rice in 1978).

That kind of production may not be realistic this week, as the Bearcats have probably circled this game on their schedule as one in which they need to make a statement. Cincinnati also opened its 2008 campaign against an FCS opponent, knocking off Eastern Kentucky, 40-7. The Bearcats won a school-record 10 games in 2007 (10-3) and are poised for another big year in the Big East.

This marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams on the gridiron, but Oklahoma is an impressive 18-3-1 against Big East foes all-time.

Senior quarterback Dustin Grutza was outstanding in his return to the starting lineup, as he opened up the 2008 season by earning Big East Offensive Player of the Week, following a four-TD performance. Grutza, who lost the starting job last year to Ben Mauk, got it back this season, and paid immediate dividends in the opener, completing 21-of-28 passes, for 296 yards and three TDs, while rushing for a fourth score. His work under center did not go unnoticed by head coach Brian Kelly.

"I thought he did some pretty good things. Clearly, his ability to make some plays outside the pocket; we knew was a strength of his. He threw okay in the pocket; he has to get better there. Anytime you have a career best; that is the kind of clean work, high percentage work that we have talked about from day one. If he can stay in that type of rhythm offensively, we will be in good shape."

Dominick Goodman was Grutza's go-to-guy downfield, catching 10 balls, for 144 yards and two TDs.

It was a stunning offensive performance for the Bearcats, who churned out an impressive 557 total yards. While Grutza was shredding the Colonels' secondary, tailbacks Scott Johnson (79 yards, 8.8 ypc) and John Goebel (62 yards, 6.9 ypc) abused EKU on the ground.

The Colonels were overmatched on both sides of the football, as Cincinnati's defense was equally impressive, holding EKU to just 195 total yards of offense, including a mere 48 yards rushing (1.7 ypc).

Senior defensive end Connor Barwin was outstanding in the victory. Of his five total tackles, three came behind the line of scrimmage, including his first two career sacks. Barwin played tight end in his first three seasons at UC. Senior defensive back Cedric Tolbert came up with the other sack for Cincinnati, which also forced two turnovers (one INT and one fumble).

The Sooners rolled up 27 points and 211 total yards in the first quarter alone against Chattanooga last week. Coach Stoops called off the troops after leading 50-0 at the half, and that is the only reason outside of poor weather (a lightning storm extended halftime by more than an hour), that kept Oklahoma from chewing up more than the 487 yards of offense that it did. The amazing thing about the production is that Oklahoma is still getting used to the no- huddle offense.

Sophomore signal-caller Sam Bradford thinks the offense is picking up the new gameplan just fine.

"It's given us the opportunity to put more points on the board. The tempo seemed really steady and Coach (Kevin) Wilson seemed pretty happy with the way we handled ourselves."

Tailbacks DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown led a rushing attack that amassed 182 yards against the Mocs. Murray averaged 8.3 yards on 15 carries (124) with a pair of TDs. Brown netted a more reasonable 4.5 yards per touch, but was able to scored three times.

Bradford picked up right where he left off in his amazing freshman campaign, completing an efficient 17-of-22 passes, for 183 yards and two scores.

Senior wideout Manuel Johnson was the go-to-guy downfield all game long, hauling in nine balls, for 120 yards and one score. His stellar performance was nothing out of the ordinary according to Bradford.

"Manny had some great plays tonight, but he's been a good receiver for a long time and I have a lot of confidence in his abilities. He showed up tonight and did exactly what I already knew he could do, it was nothing I didn't already expect from him."

Defensively, the Sooners were too much for the Mocs to handle. Oklahoma's stop unit allowed Chattanooga just two first downs the entire game and pitched a shutout with the only points scored coming on a safety. It was a dominating performance, with OU allowing a ridiculous 36 total yards of offense (16 rushing and 20 passing).

The Sooners were in the Mocs' backfield all game long, recording 12 TFLs and five sacks altogether. Leading the charge in that department was junior All- American end Auston English, who finished with six tackles, four TFLs and 2.5 sacks.

Bob Stoops is inching closer and closer to the century mark in terms of wins at Oklahoma. He should be able to get win number 99 here, although it wouldn't be surprising to see Cincinnati keeping things close throughout.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Oklahoma 31, Cincinnati 21