The 110th edition of the Red River Rivalry could be one of the most lopsided with No. 10 Oklahoma looking to remain undefeated while sending spiraling Texas to a fourth consecutive loss. Watching the Longhorns last week was no easy task, but it goes a long way to describing how they have gone 1-6 SU and ATS in their past seven games.
ODDS
Oklahoma opened as a 15.5-point favorite with the total at 63. Texas fell last week as a 14-point underdog and is 1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS in its last eight games as a double-digit dog. While the spread was wagered up to -16.5, the total came down to 59.
KEY MISMATCH
A return to the Air Raid offense has the Sooners putting up crazy numbers, and that’s saying something in the Big 12, which is known for its whacky video game stats. Oklahoma is 12th in the country averaging 521.8 yards, but they are just fourth in the conference. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who grew up in the Austin area, directs the Air Raid and has been a nice fit since transferring from Texas Tech, working his way to the fringes of various Heisman lists. He’s second among FBS players in points responsible for per game at 25.5 and has thrown for at least three touchdowns in all four contests. Mayfield has 1,382 yards passing with 13 touchdowns, along with 138 rushing yards and four touchdowns. TCU amassed 604 total yards against the Horns in last week’s 50-7 win, and Texas gives up an astronomical 507.2 yards and 38.2 points per game. It could be another interesting week for Charlie Strong and his Longhorns.
KEY STAT
521.8 – Oklahoma’s total yards per game. The Sooners rank 12th nationally in total offense and face the 120th-ranked Texas defense, which gives up 507.2 yards per game.
BETTING ANGLE
Texas is off to its worst start in 60 years and it would be difficult to find a program at a lower point following its 50-7 loss to No. 4 TCU last Saturday. Along with the on-field woes, coach Charlie Strong’s players exposed a rift between some of the team’s veterans and a talented group of freshmen that have made their way on the depth chart with little success on the field. Several upperclassmen tried to squelch talk of a split locker room, but even they ended up reinforcing the message that some of their teammates haven’t been putting in the work needed to succeed. Part of Texas’ disappointing 1-4 SU and ATS start can bet attributed to the quality of opponents the Longhorns have faced. Cal, Oklahoma State and TCU are all undefeated, and Notre Dame just suffered its first loss last week. But Texas is supposed to be able to hang with anyone, and there isn’t much of an excuse for scores like 38-3 to Notre Dame and last week’s debacle.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Anything can happen in rivalry games and the Red River Rivalry is one of the most bitterly contested games each year. Flat out, these teams don’t like each other. OU experienced the unexpected just two years ago. Entering its annual showdown with Texas undefeated and two weeks removed from a win over a Notre Dame team that played for the national title the year before, the Sooners were ambushed by the 3-2 Horns. They vow to not let that happen again, especially with games against Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State on the horizon. Any slip ups along the way will be costly. The Sooners shouldn’t have a problem facing a team that’s trying to spackle its roster together and the Air Raid will be potent. Texas has shown very little all season and things are likely to get worse before they get better.
Oklahoma 34, Texas 17
The college football odds for this game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Sooners were pegged as 15.5-point chalk while the total opened at 63. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
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