NCAA Football
2011-10-08 - Oklahoma Sooners at Texas Longhorns
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NCAA Football Week 6
Saturday 8 October 2011 - Kick Off 12pm ET
5pm (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Big 12 has a big game to look forward to in Dallas this week as the Texas Longhorns (4-0) and Oklahoma Sooners (4-0) meet each other with unbeaten records this season.
Oklahoma have real ambitions of playing in the National Championship game this season and will feel if they can run the table in the Big 12, they will get to play the winner of the SEC, either Alabama or LSU. The Sooners had been ranked as the Number 1 team in the nation coming in to the new season, but their results have not been considered as impressive as the two teams from the SEC and they have dropped down to Number 3 in the rankings.
The Sooners Offense has been playing well this season behind Landry Jones, who has 10 TD passes and 5 Interceptions, and the QB has been backed up by Dominique Whaley who has 7 TDs on the ground.
You would have to expect Whaley will get a chance for a big game against a Texas Defense that has allowed over 100 yards per game on average this season. The Offensive Line has also given Jones plenty of protection and that will give the QB time to test the Texas Secondary which has been very strong so far this year.
The game will also represent the first real test of Case McCoy's career with the Longhorns- Colt's younger brother has started well and thrown 2 TDs and zero Interceptions and there is plenty of balance in the Offense that has averaged 200 yards through the air and on the ground.
Oklahoma's Defense has not been brilliant this season but they have gone by the old mantra of 'bending, but not breaking'. They have allowed 348 yards of total Offense a game, with the team struggling to stop opponents through the air or on the ground. However, they have only allowed an average of 15 points per game and they have managed to get to the QB by producing 11 sacks and creating 10 turnovers.
The Sooners are boosted by the returns of Trey Franks (WR), Jamell Fleming (CB) and Jimmy Stevens (K) to the team and all are expected to make an impact in this game.
Head to Head
Oklahoma beat Texas by 8 points at home last season, but they have lost 4 of the last 6 games in the series.
Texas are 4-1-1 against the spread in the last 6 games of the series.
Both teams are 3-1 against the spread this season.
Other Interesting Notes
Texas are 0-5-1 against the spread in the last 6 games they have played on a neutral site. They are 1-5 against the spread in their last 6 games in Conference play.
Oklahoma are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games as the favourite. They are 6-2 against the spread in their last 8 games against a team with a winning record.
Prediction
It is my own fault that I did not take the 9.5 point spread earlier in the week, but I still can get the Sooners with a 10 point deficit and I will take that for the following reasons:
First, Texas face their first real test of the season and still have a young Offense that may find it hard against the best team they have faced this season.
Second, Oklahoma give Landry Jones enough protection to think he will have enough success against the Texas Secondary as plays are extended.
Third, the Sooners have an opportunistic Defense that can create turnovers and that could let them get away from the Longhorns as the game develops.
The Pick :
Texas Longhorns 17-31 Oklahoma Sooners
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Oklahoma Sooners - 10 Points @ 1.92 (William Hill)
