OCTOBER 12TH 11:00 AM
OKLAHOMA (-10.5) VS TEXAS
TEXAS +10.5 OVER 74
OKLAHOMA 47 TEXAS 34
The Red River Rivalry the hardest pronounced game in all of college football. The RRR has one of the most amazing atmospheres that I have ever experienced. You show up to the Texas State Fair, located in one of the worst areas in Dallas, at about 8:30-9:00 a.m. You wait in a line to buy $175 worth of coupons with a sea of 50+ OU/TX fans. You pay 12 coupons for an 8 ounce beer and another 16 coupons for fried bacon on a stick and some fried oreos, all before 9:15 a.m. Then you walk around the midway where you get to watch carnies laugh in your face before kickoff.
You walk into the stadium and see this beautiful sea of burnt orange and crimson divided down the middle, but a bit muddled to really hammer home the visual of what the Red River actually looks like. Then the game kicks off….and this is where everything you know about football goes right out the window.
This game makes no sense on a football perspective. Case McCoy beat a solid #12 OU team in this game. Whenever these teams meet, the unexpected happens. If one team is favored to win by a large margin, its close. It’s supposed to be a close game, it’s a blowout. It truly is one of, if not the best, rivalry in all of sports.
Texas’s Offense
After the LSU Tigers came into Austin and had Joe Burrow cement his case as one of the best players in college football, the Texas Longhorns have seemed to have lost any offensive identity. Tom Herman wants his offense to establish the run and then hit you on deep, explosive plays. Texas simply has not been able to do that this year. They rank 61st in rushing whilst only averaging 4.53 yards/carry. Granted, their backs have gone through a slew of injuries, but Ehlinger has been relying on his arm more than his legs this season.
Even with a stifled run game, Ehlinger has led the Longhorns to a quick 5-1 start. The shoot-out with LSU showed me that Ehlinger can play with anyone the CFB. Sam has gone 17 TDs with only 2 INTs all season with a nice 69.4% completion percentage.
Ehlinger has been able to keep these Longhorns in games through airing the ball out to stud receivers Colin Johnson and Dueverney. I expect Herman and Ehlinger to sling the ball around and throw the ball in a 65/35 ratio against this OU defense.
Texas’s defense
A normally strong Longhorns defense has been anything but in 2019. Texas simply doesn’t have the athletes that they normally have in the secondary. Todd Orlando has done a solid job with what he has, but Texas has given up an average of 25.5 points per game. That simply won’t hold up against this stout OU offense.
The run defense has been solid at only 122 yards/game good for 40th in CFB. Orlando’s defense has been able to keep teams from gashing them on the ground, even after playing Oklahoma State who has the best running back south of the Mason-Dixon. They’ll have their toughest test of the season against Jalen Hurts and Tre Sermon.
The Longhorns defense has been atrocious this season. Ranked 121st in the country against the pass. Their secondary has been the reason why Texas’s wins have been closer than what they actual were. OU’s ranked 4th in passing yards in the country.
Expect the Longhorns to get used and abused through the air. Hurts will have another notch into his Heisman belt after this game.
oklahoma’s offense
The Oklahoma Sooners offense is one of the best in the country. Ranking 2nd overall in the nation in offense. Jalen Hurts could win the Heisman, Tre Sermon is a great back that hasn’t been used as much as he should, and CeeDee Lamb is a top receiver in CFB.
Watching Jalen Hurts in this Lincoln Riley led offense is watching literal poetry in motion. He fits this scheme better than any other quarterback before him. (Even the two Heisman Winners). You watch Hurts play and then look at his stat line and you’re amazed, even though you shouldn’t be. Him getting 400+ yards through the air and 150+ yards on the ground is almost expected at this point.
OU’s offense is amazing and will continue to break records and win Heismans until Big 12 defenses can catch up to Lincoln Riley’s system. *Spoiler Alert* They won’t.
oklahoma’s Defense
The best selling movie this season has been How Alex Grinch Stole a Defense. Grinch has been able to do the impossible – Bring a top 30 defense to OU. Halfway through the season, Sooners defense ranks 29th in the county. Their ranking could be skewed due to other teams constantly playing catch-up, but Grinch has brought a solid defense regardless.
OU really hasn’t played any decent offense since Houston, back when they had D’Eriq King, and couldn’t cover in the season opener. The Texas offense will be their toughest test so far. Texas’s offense ranks 10th in CFB. The Texas rushing attack will be the key factor in how this game plays out for the defense. IF Oklahoma run defense shows up, they should keep a handle on this game.
Picks of the game
Texas +10.5 Over 74
Oklahoma 47 Texas 38
This matchup features two of the top 10 offenses in College Football. SO on paper this should be an easy over 74 and OU’s offense should gash this Texas secondary. Gus Johnson will have to keep his voice ready for all of the explosive plays that should happen with these two offenses.
But this is the RRR. Anything can, and will happen. I think Texas will take a halftime lead where Riley will ignite Hurts to outscore Texas in the second half by 14.
Across the Board 