Texas vs. Oklahoma Expert Pick and Prediction – October 12, 2024

TEXAS VS. OKLAHOMA EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – October 12, 2024 — Is Texas next on the SEC’s list of top 10 casualties, or can the Longhorns restore some order to the league? Traditionally, the Red River Rivalry has not been the place to look for normalcy in any way. The one place where you can look for normalcy is a lot of points, but upsets do tend to happen in this matchup.

And Oklahoma needs one badly. Five of the Sooners’ final seven games are against top-25 teams (Missouri might not really count in that anymore), and the Sooners could honestly be looking at 6-6 if they don’t pull a surprise.

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And the Sooners’ offense just hasn’t been as explosive as it needs to be. Oklahoma hasn’t been good enough with the football against any of the opponents it’s played, and you’ve got to score to hang with Texas. Usually, the Sooners have done enough of that to handle this game, winning four of the past five matchups with the Longhorns.

That included last year, which saw Oklahoma hand Texas its only defeat. But that required 34 points, which Oklahoma has failed to reach on three occasions this year. If the Sooners can’t score, the Longhorns will roll.

The Odds

Kickoff

When: Saturday, October 11 at 3:30 EST

Where: Cotton Bowl, Dallas

TV: ABC

Public Bets: Unavailable

Public Money: Unavailable

Odds courtesy of DraftKings, as of October 12th, 2024.

Texas vs. Oklahoma In-Season Trends

When Oklahoma and Texas get together, points are almost a sure thing. Out of the past nine meetings, only one saw less than 50 points scored, and that was because the Sooners never put anything on the board. Texas almost did the job on its own that day, scoring 49 points.

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Historically, this game has been where Sooner coaches really made a name for themselves. Oklahoma is 11-4 in the past 15 meetings with Texas, and nine of the past 11 have been decided by eight points or less.

Weather

Think fall weather’s on the way? Not here. Record high temperatures await the teams, with the thermometer pushing 95 degrees during this one.

The Difference-Makers

Is Dallas native Michael Hawkins Jr. ready for this moment? Shaky quarterback play led the Sooners to turn to him last week, and he delivered a fine performance in beating Auburn. But Texas is another animal, and Hawkins has to be ready.

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Regardless of whether Ewers or Arch Manning plays, Texas has been outstanding on offense. The Sooners have to find a way to neutralize whoever is taking the snaps to win this one.

The Pick

Too many weird things have happened in the Red River Rivalry for me to trust Texas here. The Longhorns should win the game, but Oklahoma always saves its best for this game. The Sooners have won five of six for a reason, and Texas is going to really have to work for this one.

This feels more like a 10-point Texas victory. Oklahoma will fight gamely, but it’s not quite on the Longhorns’ level.