One of the fiercest rivalries in all of college sports starts up again when the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns meet in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday October 12/2013 (12:00 PM ET, ABC).
With a rivalry of this magnitude, so many things will be up for grabs in this game for the two teams: bragging rights, a winning streak, an undefeated record, a possible shot at the National Championship, and for one man — a job and his livelihood.
Texas vs Oklahoma: Red River Rivalry 2013 Preview
Texas Longhorns (3-2, 2-0)
Spread: +14 | Money: +450 | OU: 57.0
The Texas Longhorns have fallen on hard times under head coach Mack Brown. The 3-2 Longhorns will enter this year’s edition of the Red River Rivalry unranked for the first time in 25 years.
More importantly, they will come on the back of consecutive 30-plus point blowouts against the rival Sooners, and three straight losses overall. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas’s last 5 games vs Oklahoma.
A fourth successive loss in Dallas would almost certainly spell the end of Brown’s tenure in Texas.
Unfortunately for him and the Longhorns, they will be without their starting quarterback David Ash who is suffering from concussion-related symptoms. Senior Case McCoy will now start in the crucial game on Saturday.
McCoy also made the start in Texas’ previous game against Iowa State, where he scored the winning touchdown in the final minute as Longhorns escaped with a narrow 31-30 win on the road. McCoy went 26-of-45 with 244 yards and a touchdown in the game.
Texas will also lean upon leading rusher sophomore Jonathan Gray, who exploded for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns in their win against Kansas State three weeks ago. But McCoy must be prepared to throw if and when Oklahoma takes away the run.
Is this the year the Longhorns finally end their Red River Rivalry rut?
Bet on Texas at Top Bet now.
(12) Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 2-0)
Spread: -14 | Money: -600 | OU: 57.0
Oklahoma could not be in much better form going into the Red River Rivalry as the Sooners remain undefeated through the first five games. They were almost caught looking ahead to Texas by TCU last week, but Brennan Clay saved the day for the Sooners as they won 20-17. The senior running back rushed for 111 yards in just 9 carries and ran home the clinching 76-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
In the four games prior, Oklahoma had won their first four games by an average of 22 points, including their 14-point beatdown of Notre Dame in South Bend two weeks ago.
After sweating through uncertainty at quarterback earlier in the season, the Sooners have settled on Blake Bell as their starter. Bell was responsible for four rushing touchdowns during Oklahoma’s 63-21 humiliation of Texas last season. But the backbone of the Sooners’ success continues to be its defense. Oklahoma is giving up a paltry 168 passing yards and a paltrier 113 rushing yards which yield 13 points allowed per game, 6th best in the nation.
Will the Sooners hammer the final nail on Mack Brown’s coffin?
Oklahoma is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing Texas.
Bet on the Sooners on Top Bet now.
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