Arizona-Oklahoma State: No Juron Criner for the Wildcats

Tonight’s game was supposed to feature two of the best receivers in the nation – Justin Blackmon of OK State and Juron Criner of Arizona – but the latter didn’t make the trip with the Wildcats and it’s a mystery as to why. Nobody’s talking about what happened (“undisclosed illness?”), but remember, there was some chatter in the preseason about Criner playing at all in 2011 (he caught six passes for 151 yards and a score in the opener).

The Cowboys are favored by 14 and it is tough not to like them. Arizona has an entirely rebuilt offensive line and a litany an injuries on both sides of the ball. The Wildcats struggled in the first half of their opener against Northern Arizona, leading just 14-10 at the half, and not pulling away until late in the third quarter. The Lumberjacks helped by throwing an interception deep in their own end on the second play of the second half; the Wildcats scored one play later. Arizona committed a Notre Dame-like 10 penalties and could only muster 75 yards on the ground. The 41-10 final was misleading.

I see nothing that gives the impression the Wildcats will cover 14 points … which should probably be a sign that Arizona will do just that. I’ll go with the Cowboys winning, 38-13.