Oklahoma vs Texas Odds, Spread and Preview
By Chris Amberley in College Football
Published:
- #6 Oklahoma is a 3.5-point road favorite over #21 Texas on Saturday (October 9th, 12 pm ET) at Cotton Bowl Stadium, in Dallas, Texas
- The Sooners are 0-4 ATS this season versus top-80 competition
- Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction
It’s Red River Week meaning one of the oldest rivalries in college football is set to write another chapter in its storied history.
#6 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0 BIG 12) puts its undefeated record on the line against #21 Texas (4-1, 2-0 BIG 12) in Week 6, at what’s expected to be a jam packed Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.
#6 Oklahoma vs #21 Texas Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Sooners | -160 | -3.5 (-105) | O 63.5 (-110) |
| Texas Longhorns | +140 | +3.5 (-115) | U 63.5 (-110) |
Odds as of Oct. 6th at DraftKings.
The Sooners opened as 3.5-point favorites over the Longhorns, and so far the betting action is completely one-sided. 88% of the moneyline and ATS wagers are on Texas, while 71% of the total bets are backing the under.
🗣️ RED RIVER SHOWDOWN
See you in Dallas for @OU_Football vs. @TexasFootball: one of college football's greatest rivalries 👏 pic.twitter.com/mI9CQ6GaMJ
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 3, 2021
Kickoff is scheduled for Noon ET on Saturday, with ESPN’s College Game Day on site for the pregame show, and ABC providing the national broadcast. The forecast currently projects as a perfect day for football, with plenty of sunshine and 88 degree temperatures expected.
Oklahoma Undefeated But Underwhelming
Lincoln Riley’s crew enter the Red River Showdown without an impressive win on their resume. Sure, they’ve beaten who’s on their schedule, but Kansas State is the only FBS program they’ve faced with a winning record, and the Wildcats are far from a contender as evident by their 53rd overall ranking per SP+.
Nothing else matters.#BeatTexas pic.twitter.com/PFwGr7P1XN
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 5, 2021
The Sooners are 0-4 ATS against FBS schools so far, with all four contests decided by a single score. QB Spencer Rattler, who was the preseason favorite to be the first overall pick next year, is off to a slow start, while the team is struggling to run the football.
Rattler’s average yards per attempt and quarterback rating are both down significantly from a season ago, and he’s cleared 260 passing yards in just one start. He was booed mercilessly by his own home fans in Week 4, and while he was ultra efficient in last week’s win over K-State, Oklahoma barely prevailed 37-31.
Spencer Rattler stepped up his game with a strong performance against Kansas State on Saturday.
Rattler was especially effective versus pressure, after struggling in those situations early in the year. pic.twitter.com/RUexxQvXAD
— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) October 4, 2021
The offensive line, which was supposed to be a strength, has been a big disappointment which is hurting both Rattler and the run game. The red-shirt sophomore has been sacked eight times already, while OU ranks 76th in rushing offense.
Texas’ defense presents a difficult, but beatable matchup for Rattler and Co., as the Longhorns have yielded at least 27 points in three of their past four games, and is surrendering nearly 400 yards per contest.
Texas Coming In Hot
The Longhorns meanwhile, are on fire. They’ve ripped off three straight wins since Casey Thompson took over as QB1, outscoring their opponents 160-62. Thompson led Texas to 15 touchdowns on his first 17 drives, and has the Longhorns dominating the BIG 12 in most key offensive categories.
Casey Thompson is NIL U Player of the Week! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/RXfeuTPziR
— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) September 29, 2021
Texas ranks first in the conference in points, total yards, rushing and passing efficiency. They’ve scored at least 32 points in all but one game so far, and are 4-1 ATS.
Running back Bijan Robinson is one of the most talented players in the nation at his position, and only Kenneth Walker from Michigan State has produced more rushing yards. Robinson racked up a career-high 216 yards on the ground in last week’s 32-27 victory over Texas Tech, and has already hit paydirt nine times in 2021.
Bijan Robinson put the Longhorns on his BACK 😤
⭐️ 35 carries (career-high)
⭐️ 216 yards (career-high)
⭐️ 2 TDs @Bijan5Robinson (📸: @TexasFootball) pic.twitter.com/wzz8d6USGy— Overtime (@overtime) October 2, 2021
The matchup versus Oklahoma’s rush defense appears daunting on paper, but they’ve yet to face a talent like Robinson. OU is limiting enemy backs to 2.8 yards per carry this season, and are much more susceptible through the air. They coughed up 320 passing yards to the Wildcats last week, and 296 to Tulane in Week 1.
Oklahoma vs Texas Pick
The Sooners have won three straight matchups in this series, but have not looked like a Top-10 team all season. Texas on the other hand, looks like a playoff contender with Thompson under center and appear to be undervalued in this spot.
Love to see it. 🤘 pic.twitter.com/wIqviRYArf
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 4, 2021
They have the firepower to keep pace if the game turns into a shootout, and a dominant rushing attack to wear down the OU defense. This will be a big measuring stick game for Rattler, and a likely preview of the BIG 12 Championship in December. Take the points.
Pick: Texas +3.5 (-115)
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
