Before each season SoonerScoop.com editor Josh McCuistion makes 20 predictions for the upcoming year, and 2019 was no different. With this year's Fearless 20 there was a definite buy-in for another big year for the Sooners but also that a Big 12 foe would surprise many. Take a look as we take stock of Oklahoma's season and what was right and wrong from this year's Fearless 20.

Breakdown: After his big moment in the Orange Bowl (pictured above) it's not hard to see Rambo becoming the guy who steps into Marquise Brown's vacated role. When you throw in the Sooners vaunted backfield and the running ability of Jalen Hurts and it's not hard to envision a world where Rambo is working down the field and stretching defenses against man-to-man coverage. With his length and speed it's a role that could fit him perfectly.

VERDICT: This is the rare win to start the show for me. On the year Rambo averaged 17.3 yards per catch but frankly seemed destined for even bigger things as Big 12 play started. That just never came to be, still though there is plenty of reason for optimism for Rambo going forward.

Breakdown: The early buzz on Spencer Rattler is enormous, perhaps as big as any Sooner skill player since the days of Adrian Peterson - yeah, it's that kind of buzz. However, one would have to expect the talented, and highly experienced, Hurts to get the nod and Rattler to start to be groomed as the program's potential future.

VERDICT: This was a miss but following the Peach Bowl, could the last part really be argued against? Rattler will be the 2020 starter of that there seems little doubt.

Breakdown: This will surprise some people with the way Oklahoma boat raced Chip Kelly's bunch last year in Norman. However, Kelly's second year will see improvement and the Bruins have a quarterback with some real potential in their scheme with sophomore Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Something just tells me this is a game where the Bruins surprise Oklahoma for a few quarters. I think by the end it's a fairly comfortable win for the Sooners but don't sleep on UCLA having an improved team this year.

VERDICT: Well, Kelly's bunch did improve but let's not kid ourselves that they were anything more than a speed bump for that early Sooner team that, at the time, showed defensive promise and playmaking ability on offense.

Breakdown: This won't seem as bold as some would like but it's a good start for a defense that, obviously, had a long way to go from 2018's debacle. Total defense is always going to be an uphill climb in a conference with so many proficient offenses and offensive minds. However, I'd also expect Oklahoma to make a jump in the S&P+ after a fall from 31 in 2016 to 43 in 2017 and finally 84 last season. Basically I'd expect Oklahoma be more efficient defensively and it should lead to lump statistics improving as well.

VERDICT: That's a big old bingo. Honestly this felt bold at the time but after seeing the growth of players like Neville Gallimore, Parnell Motley, and Kenneth Murray it seems so modest. I expect a group that may lack similar star power but is a better all around unit.

Breakdown: I'm not entirely sure how the numbers will work out but I expect Rhamondre Stevenson to become Oklahoma's third back behind the two experienced class of 2017 members, Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon. And while this number may not seem that high, I'm not simply saying the top three rushers - last year Oklahoma's top three went for over 3,000 yards - but Jalen Hurts isn't part of the equation as Kyler Murray was last year. The last time Oklahoma's top three backs had 2700 yards in a season? In 2014 when true freshman Samaje Perine covered over 1,700 yards of the total by himself.

VERDICT: Wow, who could have seen the nuclear winter for running backs (and receivers) caused by Jalen Hurts as Oklahoma's starter? The trio that once looked like one of the best in college football limping into the playoffs with injuries and suspensions didn't help matters either.

Breakdown: Maybe it's my vindictive buzz cut to come that is forcing me to make this pick but what little I saw of Michael Thompson this spring and what I knew of him as a high school senior makes me think he may be hard to hold off. He is a guy with big potential and with time under Bill Bedenbaugh should reach it. When you add in that depth at offensive tackle is an apparent question mark it seems like Thompson could be one of the early season changes that Bedenbaugh has often employed.

VERDICT: This may go down alongside Adron Tennell as my biggest of misses. I really thought Thompson would emerge at tackle but with his eventual transfer mixed with what we all saw at tackle in 2019 one has to assume he just never really bought in.

Breakdown: Turner-Yell has drawn strong reviews from early on in the spring and has seemed to keep it rolling right through fall camp where he is already being discussed by Alex Grinch as a starter at safety. Turner-Yell is a player that has lots of explosion in his game and can use his speed to cover in the passing game but also has the violence in his play that could create plenty of fumbles.

VERDICT: This one missed badly but I still think that the basic idea is correct. Turner-Yell is a big-time playmaker and at various points in the year showed it. Perhaps nowhere was his difference-making more obvious than in his absence from the Peach Bowl.

Breakdown: This prediction is one that has become more complicated with the rules changing about what qualifies as a 'redshirt' year. However, this prediction is about players that we expect to have some real role - even if they technically do still redshirt. The names I'm betting on are Spencer Rattler, Jadon Haselwood, Theo Wease, Jaden Davis, Woodi Washington, Jeremiah Criddell, and Austin Stogner. And to top it all off, as the season goes on keep an eye on Bridges to cement himself as a starter.

VERDICT: The Bridges starting thing nukes this from a possible win but when you look at the list of players expected to play key roles, it's not that far from reality. The thing that still gives pause is that, aside from Criddell's non-existent role, most of the guys shined too brightly to be as little used as they often were.

Breakdown: Ceedee Lamb is the most sure bet in Norman to be spending his last year on campus. And nearly since his arrival there has been talk that he could end his career as the best receiver in school history. If you add in a year that breaks Ryan Broyles yardage record of 1,622-yards and is second in school history in receptions for a season he could end up second, to Broyles, in career receiving yardage and in the top five of career receptions.

VERDICT: I'll give you all some credit, you told me I was crazy for this but I really thought Jalen Hurts would get centered on Lamb and struggle to go anywhere else. What's amazing? With fewer than half the catches Broyles had in his massive 2010 season Lamb was less than 300-yards shy of the former Sooner All-American. In short? Lamb had the best season in school history, straight numbers be damned.

Breakdown: Murray has, on a national level, been well thought of for quite some time but for those who have seen him play in and play out there has always been some reluctance to buy into his ascension into prominence. However Grinch's scheme seems a near perfect fit for Murray with its attacking style that and his overwhelming athleticism. Murray should be getting into the backfield with frequency and could finally become the All-American player that some have projected for a few years.

VERDICT: I'm taking this one without question. I still am surprised that Murray wasn't a Butkus finalist with some of his big performances on big stages. But regardless, he was in the All-American conversation all year and is now a potential first round pick.

Breakdown: This prediction had started off as one with sacks between Perkins and Jalen Redmond but with Redmond slow to return I chose to tweak it a bit. This may not seem that bold a prediction but Charles Tapper and Charles Walker combined for 20 in 2015 and no two linemen have eclipsed the total since 2011 when Frank Alexander had 19 tackles for loss and David King had four. Perkins and Gallimore should be coming up field more than ever and the two have the athleticism to be something special.

VERDICT: You may not hear me hit a more perfect prediction all season. Gallimore had 7.5 tackles for loss and Perkins had 13.5. For those not so good with the math? That is a total of 21. When you add in that Perkins missed the final game and might have gathered another one or two...again this is one of my better numeric picks.

Breakdown: Oklahoma's last first team All-Big 12 corner? Jordan Thomas. Life comes at you fast but Tre Brown has a chance to start moving Oklahoma's defense into a different level. Brown has the playmaking ability that the Sooners will need in the secondary and with the front seven applying more pressure there could be more chances than ever.

VERDICT: This is a swing and a miss though Brown was more solid than some realize. Still thought I could have never predicted that Parnell Motley should have been my choice.

Breakdown: Oklahoma's secondary is still clearly a battle in the making - at several positions. By the midseason the Sooners could see some young stars emerging, could see some old veterans rounding into shape. I'll take a stab that your starting corners will be Jordan Parker, Tre Brown who'll be joined by Brendan Radley-Hiles, Delarrin Turner-Yell, and Patrick Fields. Yeah, when this was written, those last two were more surprising.

VERDICT: My love affair with Parker and dislike of Motley bit me here, hard. Was dead wrong on both this season as Parker never seemed to even sniff the field while Motley turned himself into a potential draft pick.

Breakdown: I've been hinting at this for a few weeks but there are two parts to this equation. 1) I like what Baylor is doing and where they are heading under Matt Rhule. 2) This game comes in the middle of a tough stretch for the Sooners. The trip to Waco is the second in a run of four weeks that start with Iowa State and ends with TCU and Oklahoma State. That's a recipe that could be tough to overcome if the Sooners aren't hitting the right marks in Central Texas.

VERDICT: I don't get to claim it but you all mocked me and let's be real...I was about as close to right as humanly possible for a team that not many were talking about back in the summer.

Breakdown: Much like defensive back there are a lot of ways you can see the offensive line playing out. But with R.J. Proctor starting to get some run at tackle it makes this seem as plausible as ever. Proctor is getting some run at left tackle and seems to be in a battle with Erik Swenson. The other two starters we'd expect are Michael Thompson and Adrian Ealy.

VERDICT: Well, I was right in the title even if the actual four was a little off. But that's the rules set up on this so I'm going to take it. I was right about the four tackles but mistook Thompson for Tyrese Robinson.

BREAKDOWN: I know, I know, people are going to call me crazy on this one, but I can say I know I'm not the only one on this island with Cole Cubelic, recently beating me to the punch. However, I just like a lot of what sets up for Baylor. A) I think it's a very mediocre year in the Big 12 with even the Sooners a bit down, due to experience, in my opinion. B) They get both Oklahoma and Texas at home and their biggest road tests are TCU and Oklahoma State, both of who have a laundry list of question marks. C) I think they've got one of the league's better quarterbacks and an offense that should put up points in bunches as it's Matt Rhule's best offensive line since he arrived.

VERDICT: AGAIN YOU MOCKED ME!!! ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?!

BREAKDOWN: ...and that number is 46 receptions. It's kind of shocking with all of the great receivers that have come through Norman that there isn't a freshman with a bigger number than that. But it also puts into perspective that for a young receiver that's a lot to ask. I think Bridges has the advantages that some others didn't in that he won't be battling to get the attention of a quarterback others know well. In short, Stills had to play catch up with Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles had to do the same with Sam Bradford, etc. Add on top that Bridges is among the more complete receivers to hit Norman in quite some time and, here we are.

VERDICT: Ouchtown population, me. Bridges was rumored to be taking off in the summer but, as ever, summer rumors are to be taken with a huge grain of salt. I bought in, I paid for it.

BREAKDOWN: It's a shame sometimes that I lay all of these out a month in advance but I can say that it also has its advantages. First off, this one won't seem that wild now that we've watched some parts move around. On the other hand seeing those parts move around gives me a more clear indication of what things are going to look like. I'll go with basically the lineup most are predicting at this point but I'm expecting a move at left tackle and going to watch how it impacts everything.

Left Tackle - Michael Thompson

Left Guard - Marquis Hayes

Center - Creed Humphrey

Right Guard - R.J. Proctor

Right Tackle - Adrian Ealy

VERDICT: Well, I guess 60-percent would make me the greatest baseball player of all time? Seriously though, my love affair with Thompson just polluted my whole mind.

BREAKDOWN: This one should be a bit prettier from both defenses than last year's shootout but there is no denying that with two of the nation's more high profile quarterbacks, there are still going to be plenty of points put on the board. I expect something of the opposite of last year with Oklahoma dashing out to a lead and having to white knuckle to the end as Texas starts to get more comfortable facing a defensive front that will, almost undoubtedly, be showing its full capacity for the first time.

VERDICT: Well my prediction of how the game played out could have happened, save for the Texas comeback, if not for Hurts getting his first serious case of the yips this season. But the bottom line is Oklahoma won, so...I'm taking it.

Breakdown: And here we get to where the rubber meets the road, I've got Oklahoma with one hiccup, in Waco, and later avenging that loss in Dallas. With that in mind you've got a 12-1 Big 12 champion with the Sooners as steady an option as anyone not named Clemson. I'm guessing they end up with a third seed and end up facing some sort of Georgia, Alabama, Clemson contender in the semifinal. And for another year Oklahoma comes up a bit short but looking at the roster, if Oklahoma can get Creed Humphrey to return for 2020, it could be their best blend of talent and experience since 2008.

VERDICT: And another one. This was one that as I look back on, I'm a bit surprised I was as confident as I remember feeling. Oklahoma had a lot of holes and were a year or two away from being what they want to be. Still though, this is a win.

Scorecard: 9 hits, 11 misses

Analysis: I'm pretty pleased with this, a few ugly misses - there are always going to be - but a big part of this year's success was my belief in Baylor back when few were talking about the Bears. I bought in on the Sooners defense but not as much as I should have in hindsight. I believed that Oklahoma would grow but Alex Grinch had this bunch well ahead of where I had anticipated.