Oklahoma vs Texas – Preview and Prediction
OKLAHOMA 11 Texas (73)
Implied Projected Score: Oklahoma 42 Texas 31
MEGALOCKS LINE – Oklahoma 13
The Game
It’s Red River Shootout time, kids. Oklahoma and Texas both come into this game at 2-2 and needing a big win to propel them for the remainder of the season. The Sooners had a remarkable 42-3 run last week vs TCU and still almost lost the game. We have no idea how Big 12 fans handle that stuff week to week. Texas has forgotten how to tackle ever since the defensive guru Charlie Strong has showed up in Austin. Just a comedy of errors watching them attempt to play defense. However, we all know by now you can throw records out the door when these two teams hook up.
The Match-Up
Oklahoma offense vs Texas defense
The Sooners are pretty much moving the ball at will. They had two tough games with Houston and Ohio St (both losses) and are still ranked #25 in total offense. They are still turning it over too many times but QB Baker Mayfield is tougher than a $3 steak. He got banged up last week like he seems to every week but keeps bombing away and driving defenses nuts with his running ability. We love the combo of Mixon and Perine at RB, and even as hard as the coaches tried to screw the game up vs TCU, the running game was still the deciding factor. Texas has been a bit better vs the run than vs the pass but are still likely to pose little resistance without Oklahoma throwing up all over themselves with turnovers. We smell 40+ points.
Texas offense vs Oklahoma defense
QB Shane Buechele has been a really nice find for the Longhorns. When you combine him with bruising alternate “QB” Tyrone Swoopes, the Longhorns can look pretty great at times. It is an ongoing debate regarding the effectiveness of the rotating QB system. As far as this week goes, we think the Longhorns will need to pass on that Sooners’ secondary to win this game. Oklahoma is ranked #122 in pass effiency defense (just slightly ahead of Texas at #126 who is just slightly ahead of Bowling Green and Rice) so Texas is going to have to bomb away. RB Chris Warren is out for the Longhorns this week which hurts their depth but they should still be fine with Foreman and Swoopes.
MEGA-MAZEMENT !
Texas is 7-3-1 ATS L11 vs the Sooners…..Both of these teams are ranked in the bottom 25 in the FBS in turnover margin so who knows what might happen in this game once you add the rival tension into the mix.
Summary
We like the Sooners to lay a beating this week. The problem is that their defense is a bad combination of banged-up and horrible. Plus, this is a rivalry game.
Conclusion
Official play: None.
Lean: Oklahoma -13 or better.