This year’s Red River rivalry game could have implications for which team will represent the SEC in Atlanta later this year. That’s the stakes when the No. 6-ranked Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 1-0 SEC) face the Texas Longhorns (3-2, 0-1 SEC).
Oklahoma enters the game undefeated despite the loss of quarterback John Mateer. The signal-caller suffered a broken finger against Auburn, and his backup – Michael Hawkins Jr. – was more than enough to help the Sooners defeat Kent 44-0.
Texas was the favorite to enter this game without a loss. The Longhorns suffered a defeat to the defending national champions – Ohio State – to open the season. Last week, Florida pulled an epic upset over Texas, winning 29-21 over the then-ranked Longhorns.
Can Texas keep the Sooners from having an undefeated season by winning this rivalry game? We’ll cover that and provide three player prop bets for Saturday’s matchup.
Coming into the season, expectations were high for Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. The 6-foot-4 sophomore hasn’t lived up to those lofty sights, however. Through five games, he’s completed just 60 percent of his passes for 1,151 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
He’s facing one of the best defensive fronts in college football, guaranteeing he’ll see pressure throughout the day on Saturday. Manning showed against Florida that he’s capable of side-stepping that pass-rush, evading would-be tacklers to make plays downfield.
Manning will need to repeat that on Saturday against Oklahoma for his team to have any chance at winning. Bettors should expect him to make enough throws to keep this game competitive, and he’ll surpass his player passing prop by a healthy margin on Saturday.
With Mateer sidelined, opponents are putting more players in the box to create pressure on Hawkins and stop the Sooners’ rushing attack. It’s one reason why freshman running back Tory Blaylock has had a less-than-stellar debut this season.
Still, Blaylock has recorded plenty of touches. He’s run the football 57 times for 257 yards, scoring three rushing touchdowns for the Sooners. He’s also caught five passes for 32 yards. Expect his decent workload to increase against Texas regardless of who is under center, and he’ll add to his touchdown totals on Saturday.
Texas tight end Jack Endries started the season with a bang. He recorded four receptions against Ohio State, notching 50 yards for the Longhorns. His next outing was a two-catch, 52-yard performance, where both touches resulted in scoring strikes.
Since then, he’s been almost nonexistent. Endries has only caught three passes for a combined seven yards. That’s why this player prop bet is a bit confusing. Take the under on Endries’ receiving prop bet.
With two strong defenses going against potentially weakened offenses, bettors could look at the total points wager – currently sitting at 43.5 combined points – as an option. That’s a tempting bet, but one that bettors should skip for this contest.
Instead, take the Sooners to win this contest. Oklahoma will have a chip on its shoulder, especially as an underdog to Texas. This line could change, especially if Mateer talks his way onto the field for this clash.