Texas @ Oklahoma preview
Cotton Bowl Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2011 ) Oklahoma 55, Texas 17
The annual Red River Rivalry between Big 12 Conference powers Oklahoma and Texas rarely lacks for storylines, but this year's edition at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas takes on added significance with the loser possibly dropping two games back in the league standings. The 10th-ranked Sooners will be seeking their third straight win in the series after dismantling No. 15 Texas 55-17 a year ago. This will mark only the third game in five weeks for Oklahoma, which bounced back from its only loss with a strong performance in a 41-20 victory at previously undefeated Texas Tech last week. The Longhorns will be looking to rebound from their only loss after coming out on the short end of a 48-45 shootout at home to Heisman Trophy front-runner Geno Smith and unbeaten West Virginia a week ago. Both teams enter the contest with a conference loss for the first time since 2007.
TV: 12 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Oklahoma -3
ABOUT TEXAS (4-1, 1-1 Big 12): The Longhorns carried a four-point lead into the final quarter last week, but could not keep West Virginia's vaunted offense in check. Quarterback David Ash acquitted himself well in a matchup of the nation's top two passers, completing 22-of-29 for 269 yards and one touchdown. Ash will be seeking redemption for last season when, as part of a quarterback platoon, he was intercepted twice and sacked four times. He has 11 touchdowns against only one pick and ranks third nationally in passer efficiency for an offense that has produced an average of 46.8 points. Bruising running back Joe Bergeron ran for only 45 yards on 17 carries but scored four touchdowns, giving him nine on the season and 14 in 13 career games.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA (3-1, 1-1 Big 12): Landry Jones threw a pair of touchdown passes last week to become the fourth quarterback in Big 12 history to reach 100. He also didn't commit a turnover after making two crucial mistakes in a 24-19 home loss to Kansas State - a team the Sooners shellacked by 41 points last season. Jones was spectacular in last season's beating of Texas, throwing for 367 yards and three touchdowns. Junior running back Damien Williams opened the season with a pair of 100-yard games, but has been held to a combined 82 yards against Kansas State and Texas Tech, although he had six receptions for 82 yards last week. The Sooners intercepted Texas Tech three times and rank No. 9 nationally in passing defense (160.5 yards per game).
EXTRA POINTS
1. Jones is one win from surpassing Steve Davis (32) for the school record in career wins as a starter.
2. Texas has lost seven games in a row to ranked opponents.
3. Since the start of the 2000 season, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (80-19) and Texas' Mack Brown (75-24) own the best records in Big 12 play.
PREDICTION: Texas 33, Oklahoma 30