McCoy and Texas face Bradford and Sooners
Colt McCoy and the Longhorns look to make it two in a row against Oklahoma when the two Big 12 rivals meet up for the 104th Red River Rivalry this Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Texas comes in ranked No. 2-3 in the country depending which poll you prefer and is favored to keep their BCS hopes alive against Sam Bradford and a Sooners team that enters the contest with a 3-2 record.
The Red River marks the southern boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. If residents of either state had their way, there’d also be a giant wall between the two.
They’ll have to settle for venting their frustrations at the 104th Red River Shootout – softened for corporate purposes in 2005 to the Red River Rivalry, but don’t let that fool you. There’s enough hatred between supporters of the Texas Longhorns (5-0 SU, 1-4 ATS) and the Oklahoma Sooners (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) to light up the city of Dallas, home of the Cotton Bowl and the “neutral” site location for Saturday’s matchup.
Last year’s shootout saw Texas beat Oklahoma 45-35 as a 7-point puppy, but when it came time for the BCS to decide who’d go to the national championship, the one-loss Sooners were chosen ahead of the one-loss ‘Horns. Texas had to settle for a Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State, while Oklahoma fell to Florida in the BCS title game. That’ll give UT a little extra motivation this year.
The stakes probably aren’t as high for the Sooners this time – probably. They’ve already suffered two losses this season, to BYU (+22.5) in the opener and at Miami-Florida (+7.5) two weeks ago. But it’s still possible for a two-loss team to make it to the title game, as LSU proved two years ago. And OU still controls its own destiny in the Big 12 conference; beating Texas would leave Oklahoma State (1-0 in conference play for now) as the only undefeated team in the South Division, and the Cowboys have a date with the Sooners at the end of the regular season.
This will be the first time since 2005 that the Longhorns will be laying points to the Sooners – 3.5 points at press time, up from three points at the open with the early action falling heavily on the Texas side of the river. The ‘Horns have covered each of the past four seasons at 3-1 SU. But they haven’t covered much of anything this year; the smallest spread they’ve seen thus far is 19.5 points, at home versus Texas Tech.
Otherwise, life looks pretty good for the ‘Horns these days. They’re ranked No. 3 on the AP poll and No. 2 by the coaches, with an exceptionally strong defense supporting a potent running attack (4.5 yards per carry). But Texas QB Colt McCoy hasn’t been as accurate as hoped with six interceptions to go along with his 10 touchdown passes. McCoy needed some help last week to beat Colorado (+33.5), and he got it in the form of a blocked punt return for a TD by Ben Wells, a 92-yard INT return for a TD by Earl Thomas, and a 74-yard punt return for a TD by Jordan Shipley.
It’ll be the Sooners bringing the better offense to the Cotton Bowl this year. Landry Jones (10 TDs, three INTs) was a capable fill-in for the injured Sam Bradford, but the reigning Heisman Trophy winner was back in the saddle in last week’s 33-7 victory over Baylor (+27.5). An unofficial count of 11 dropped passes kept OU from covering the spread; Bradford himself looked as good as always in his return from the shoulder injury he suffered in the opening loss to BYU. The Sooners running game is also firing on all cylinders at 4.4 yards per carry.
Ah, but that defense. The Sooners might have the second-best defense in the Big 12, but that’s like having the second-best navy in the Western Hemisphere. Oklahoma is ranked No. 29 in the nation with a combined opponents’ passer rating of 106.87, and No. 24 in yards per pass attempt at 5.9. The OU secondary is very much under the microscope heading into Saturday’s matchup.
Handicappers will also want to note that Oklahoma left guard Brian Simmons has been ruled out for this game by coach Bob Stoops. Simmons (knee) was injured in the third quarter against Baylor and replaced by Stephen Good. The Sooners are already missing tackle Phil Loadholt (now with the Minnesota Vikings) and guard Brandon Walker on what was the best offensive line in college last year. It’s not the best anymore.
ABC has the television coverage starting at noon Eastern. A small handful of books had a total of 51.5 points up on the betting odds board at press time. The under is at 5-0 for Oklahoma this year, and at 3-2 for Texas.
Colt McCoy and the Longhorns look to make it two in a row against Oklahoma when the two Big 12 rivals meet up for the 104th Red River Rivalry this Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Texas comes in ranked No. 2-3 in the country depending which poll you prefer and is favored to keep their BCS hopes alive against Sam Bradford and a Sooners team that enters the contest with a 3-2 record.
The Red River marks the southern boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. If residents of either state had their way, there’d also be a giant wall between the two.
They’ll have to settle for venting their frustrations at the 104th Red River Shootout – softened for corporate purposes in 2005 to the Red River Rivalry, but don’t let that fool you. There’s enough hatred between supporters of the Texas Longhorns (5-0 SU, 1-4 ATS) and the Oklahoma Sooners (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) to light up the city of Dallas, home of the Cotton Bowl and the “neutral” site location for Saturday’s matchup.
Last year’s shootout saw Texas beat Oklahoma 45-35 as a 7-point puppy, but when it came time for the BCS to decide who’d go to the national championship, the one-loss Sooners were chosen ahead of the one-loss ‘Horns. Texas had to settle for a Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State, while Oklahoma fell to Florida in the BCS title game. That’ll give UT a little extra motivation this year.
The stakes probably aren’t as high for the Sooners this time – probably. They’ve already suffered two losses this season, to BYU (+22.5) in the opener and at Miami-Florida (+7.5) two weeks ago. But it’s still possible for a two-loss team to make it to the title game, as LSU proved two years ago. And OU still controls its own destiny in the Big 12 conference; beating Texas would leave Oklahoma State (1-0 in conference play for now) as the only undefeated team in the South Division, and the Cowboys have a date with the Sooners at the end of the regular season.
This will be the first time since 2005 that the Longhorns will be laying points to the Sooners – 3.5 points at press time, up from three points at the open with the early action falling heavily on the Texas side of the river. The ‘Horns have covered each of the past four seasons at 3-1 SU. But they haven’t covered much of anything this year; the smallest spread they’ve seen thus far is 19.5 points, at home versus Texas Tech.
Otherwise, life looks pretty good for the ‘Horns these days. They’re ranked No. 3 on the AP poll and No. 2 by the coaches, with an exceptionally strong defense supporting a potent running attack (4.5 yards per carry). But Texas QB Colt McCoy hasn’t been as accurate as hoped with six interceptions to go along with his 10 touchdown passes. McCoy needed some help last week to beat Colorado (+33.5), and he got it in the form of a blocked punt return for a TD by Ben Wells, a 92-yard INT return for a TD by Earl Thomas, and a 74-yard punt return for a TD by Jordan Shipley.
It’ll be the Sooners bringing the better offense to the Cotton Bowl this year. Landry Jones (10 TDs, three INTs) was a capable fill-in for the injured Sam Bradford, but the reigning Heisman Trophy winner was back in the saddle in last week’s 33-7 victory over Baylor (+27.5). An unofficial count of 11 dropped passes kept OU from covering the spread; Bradford himself looked as good as always in his return from the shoulder injury he suffered in the opening loss to BYU. The Sooners running game is also firing on all cylinders at 4.4 yards per carry.
Ah, but that defense. The Sooners might have the second-best defense in the Big 12, but that’s like having the second-best navy in the Western Hemisphere. Oklahoma is ranked No. 29 in the nation with a combined opponents’ passer rating of 106.87, and No. 24 in yards per pass attempt at 5.9. The OU secondary is very much under the microscope heading into Saturday’s matchup.
Handicappers will also want to note that Oklahoma left guard Brian Simmons has been ruled out for this game by coach Bob Stoops. Simmons (knee) was injured in the third quarter against Baylor and replaced by Stephen Good. The Sooners are already missing tackle Phil Loadholt (now with the Minnesota Vikings) and guard Brandon Walker on what was the best offensive line in college last year. It’s not the best anymore.
ABC has the television coverage starting at noon Eastern. A small handful of books had a total of 51.5 points up on the betting odds board at press time. The under is at 5-0 for Oklahoma this year, and at 3-2 for Texas.