Saturday, Oct. 12
3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific
ABC
The Texas Longhorns look like the best team in college football so far this season, though it does need to be said that their 19-point win at Michigan looks less impressive in light of the fact that Michigan just lost again to a two-loss Washington team. Nevertheless, we have not seen Texas stumble the way Georgia and especially Alabama have. Other SEC teams such as Missouri, Ole Miss, and Tennessee have all lost. Texas has kept itself clean and is therefore the No. 1 team in the country heading into its annual Red River Rivalry festival with Oklahoma in Dallas.
The Sooners do not look like a very good team. They were hugely fortunate to come back and beat Auburn a few weeks ago. Auburn lost at home to Cal and Arkansas and is having a miserable season this year. Oklahoma has a solid defense but is unable to do anything easily and comfortably this season. The program’s reliance on youthful Jackson Arnold as its quarterback did not pan out. Quarterback changes and overall uncertainty on offense leave the Sooners in a very precarious and uncertain position heading into this showdown with the No. 1 team in the country.
Oklahoma Sooners-Texas Longhorns Odds
Spread: Oklahoma +15 (-110), Texas -15 (-110)
Total: 50.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Underdog moneyline: Oklahoma +450
Hear T.J. preview Oklahoma vs. Texas on the newest edition of the “3 Dog Thursday Podcast” by clicking play below,
Is Oklahoma Headed For Blowout Loss?
The reality of rivalry games tells us to throw the records out the window and expect a game which is closer than the talent gap might first indicate. However, this might be a situation in which Oklahoma is simply not equipped to keep up with Texas. We have seen underdogs pull notable upsets in this series, but the past is not a guarantee of what will happen in the future. This time, Oklahoma’s lack of a clear-cut answer at quarterback seemingly opens the door for Texas to be able to dictate how this game is played. Even though Oklahoma has a very good defense which should win its share of battles against the Texas offense, the bigger picture is still grim for the Sooners. How are they going to score against Texas? On an even more elemental level, how will OU be able to control the ball against Texas and keep the Longhorns’ offense off the field?
This feels like the kind of game in which Oklahoma’s defense is going to play a terrific first half and keep Texas under wraps for 30 minutes, only to get exhausted in the second half because its offense can’t control the ball. Texas will wind up with over 35 minutes in time of possession, and the Longhorns will start leaning on Oklahoma’s defense in the third and fourth quarters. Texas minus the 15 might not hit, but an in-game bet – late second quarter or early third quarter – in which you can get Texas minus 8 or 9 points could be a perfect live play for this game. You could consider taking Texas in the first quarter at minus-13.5 points if the live line drops there, but the real potential for a winning ticket seems to lie in waiting a quarter or two for the Texas offense to eventually find its footing. The first quarter might be sluggish and close.