Mike Roach
Staff
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2013
- Messages
- 2,021
Chris Flanagan
So this game is extremely unpredictable. But I'm going to predict it anyways. Maybe it's my bias that I want to believe that a good man and excel in the game of college football. I can see last year happening. I can see OU being prepared for the game and wanting to win really bad after last year. I just believe in the process and think Charlie rights the ship and begins a long winning streak on Saturday.
Score Prediction: Texas 45 – OU 35
Ryan Bridges
I made the mistake last week of expecting the coaching staff to get the team to play up to something resembling its potential. Not again. Texas' players will (again) be playing to save Charlie's job; it worked well last year. But Oklahoma is desperate this year, too — at 2-2, they're trying to avoid even more embarrassment, and after having been upset in Dallas last year, they won't be overlooking this team. Nothing about their offense scares me: Perine still doesn't have 100 career yards rushing against Texas and is averaging 3.5 yards per carry in the first two meetings; Mixon averaged 4.0 yards per touch last year; and Shepard is gone. That said, Mayfield can move the sticks with his legs on 3rd down, and I'm sure he'll find Westbrook uncovered two or seven times. On the flip side, the Foreman brothers could have big games: D'Onta because he's one of the best backs in America, and Armanti because he's pretty good and should be matched up against the Sooners' underwhelming rotation of right cornerbacks. The three wild cards for me are: (1) Does Texas' defense come out in full attack mode again (10 combined sacks in the previous two wins, one sack in the loss)? (2) Is Buechele healthy enough to connect on deep throws, and does Sterlin have the courage to call them? (3) Has Mike Stoops watched any Texas game film yet this year? Texas' best chance is to replicate the recipe of the past two wins: Jump on them early (14-0 start last year, 20-3 start in 2013) and hope Lincoln Riley abandons the run, as he tends to do. It would not surprise me in the least if Texas won this game, but I'm done trusting this team and especially this coaching staff.
Score Prediction: OU 48 – Texas 31
Taylor Smith
Texas’ fate in the Red River Rivalry hinges on Shane Buechele’s ability to throw down field, allowing for an up-tempo Longhorn offense. I believe Texas and Oklahoma come into the game pretty evenly matched despite the 10-point spread favoring the Sooners. Each team owns a bad loss and has something to prove. If Buechele is able to make deep passes down field, and D’Onta Foreman can get his running game going, the Longhorns will pull off a victory in the Red River Rivalry for the second straight year (when no one thought they had a chance). Foremen is going to have to pick up a majority of the load with Chris Warren out, but if the Longhorns create a presence down field, utilizing their wide receivers, that will open up the Sooner’s defense, allowing Foreman to run. I think the Longhorns’ defense will still struggle and give up crucial third-down plays, but the Texas’ offense has the ability to score a lot of points and help the defense out. In fact, the offense must score a lot of points and give the defense long breaks off the field in order to win this game. Last year “with Charlie Strong’s job on the line,†Texas pulled off a big upset. The Longhorns will do the same again this year, silencing the whispers of a possible Strong firing.
Score Prediction: Texas: 48 - Oklahoma: 45
Daniel Seahorn
Rivalry games like this are often hard to call because anything can happen and you have to throw the records out the window. Both teams come into this matchup 2-2 and both have flaws that could end up getting exposed on Saturday. While the OU defense will be down Charles Walker and their secondary hasn't been great, the Texas defense has given up its fair share of points and at this point doesn't leave me with a ton of confidence they will be able to slow down a potent offensive attack until proven otherwise. One thing I will say is that Charlie Strong has done a pretty good job of getting his team ready to play against the Sooners as you can argue they should be 2-0 against them since he arrived in Austin rather than 1-1. Strong has been said to be more hands with the defense this week so that will be interesting to monitor as far how that side of the ball reacts come gameday, but in order for me to pick them they are going to have to prove me wrong this time around.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma 42 - Texas 28
Will Baizer
Strong is kind of like Jason from the Friday the 13th movie. Stoops drowned him in the Red River Everyone thinks he’s dead until he kills you when you’re least expecting it. Every time Charlie Strong has been backed into a corner, he’s found some way to get his players to rally around him and go out and win a game. Maybe he’s more like Freddy Krueger for Bob Stoops. He keeps on popping up in Stoops’s nightmares. Stoops (like Art Briles) cannot figure out what is in Charlie Strong’s brand of “Michael’s Secret Stuff†that he gives to his players before they step into the Cotton bowl.
The Longhorns have lacked a defensive back 7 this season, and problems appear to be popping up for Charlie to fix like whack-a-mole. Luckily for the Longhorns the Sooners also lack a defense! Furthermore, I think the Longhorns have a decisive advantage in the trenches, which I hear is where games are won. If Texas’ defensive secondary can understand their assignments and play with minimal mistakes than this defense is a formidable unit. A turnover going the Longhorns way or if the defense learning their responsibilities than this game will swing Texas.
This is a winnable game!
However, for the Longhorns to win the past few weeks, they have had to play flawless football. Just seven defenses have allowed more 50-plus-yard plays than Texas. Unfortunately, they’re facing one of only nine offenses to have five or more gains of 60-plus yards. So once again the Longhorns will have to be mistake free as they face off against a healthy backfield and the better QB of either team.
This game will come down to which defense can make more stops, and which team can stay balanced. Both the Longhorns and OU have stout running defenses, but neither can cover a flea with a blanket the size of one of those ginormous flags that car dealerships have to show how American they are. If either team can establish the run, then they’ll win it through the air.
So unless Charlie can pull of another miracle in the heart of Dallas, I don’t think they will be able to play more mistake free than the Sooners.
Score Prediction: OU 44 – Texas 36
Harrison Weir
Texas takes on Oklahoma in what has been a down year for both football programs. Texas looks to repeat last year's upset after coming off a disappointing loss in Stillwater, while the Sooners are coming off a big win in Fort Worth. In order for Texas to win this game, they must be the more physical team in the trenches. Under the guidance of Charlie Strong, the Texas defense must force Baker Mayfield into mistakes and prevent plays of 20 yards or more. On offense, Texas must find its rhythm with freshman quarterback Shane Buechele. With running back Chris Warren being ruled out, Texas must utilize the 18-wheeler package with Tyrone Swoopes.
For Oklahoma, it's as simple as continuing the offensive chemistry that was built last week. Baker Mayfield has a weapon in WR DeDe Westbrook and a solid running game. Without Oklahoma's top defensive player, putting pressure on Shane Buechele is as important as ever.
Ultimately, anything can happen in the Red River Shootout. Whichever team creates the most turnovers and plays the most fundamentally sound football will reign victorious. Unfortunately for Texas, Oklahoma will be that team.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma 38 - Texas 28
Mike Roach
I think Charlie Strong has shown over his tenure that Texas is more than capable of winning this game when no one believes in them. While the Longhorns try to rebound from two straight road stumbles, OU is coming in on somewhat wobbly legs as well. I don’t expect this to be a blowout, but it absolutely has the potential to turn into one if the same mistakes that plagued Texas in the early season continue. If Lincoln Riley brings his running game to Norman, the Sooner offense seems too potent for this Texas defense to work with. The Longhorns will play hard for their coach, and they know that a win here could do a lot to keep the wolves at bay. If Shane Buechele is able to throw the deep ball we could have a high scoring affair. In the end, I don’t believe Texas can magically overcome the details that added up to two straight road losses.
Score Prediction: OU 49 – Texas 38
Season Prediction Records
Taylor Smith: 3-1
Harrison Weir: 2-1
Mike Roach: 1-3
Aaron Carrara: 1-3
Chris Flanagan: 1-3
Ryan Bridges: 1-3
Daniel Seahorn: 1-3
So this game is extremely unpredictable. But I'm going to predict it anyways. Maybe it's my bias that I want to believe that a good man and excel in the game of college football. I can see last year happening. I can see OU being prepared for the game and wanting to win really bad after last year. I just believe in the process and think Charlie rights the ship and begins a long winning streak on Saturday.
Score Prediction: Texas 45 – OU 35
Ryan Bridges
I made the mistake last week of expecting the coaching staff to get the team to play up to something resembling its potential. Not again. Texas' players will (again) be playing to save Charlie's job; it worked well last year. But Oklahoma is desperate this year, too — at 2-2, they're trying to avoid even more embarrassment, and after having been upset in Dallas last year, they won't be overlooking this team. Nothing about their offense scares me: Perine still doesn't have 100 career yards rushing against Texas and is averaging 3.5 yards per carry in the first two meetings; Mixon averaged 4.0 yards per touch last year; and Shepard is gone. That said, Mayfield can move the sticks with his legs on 3rd down, and I'm sure he'll find Westbrook uncovered two or seven times. On the flip side, the Foreman brothers could have big games: D'Onta because he's one of the best backs in America, and Armanti because he's pretty good and should be matched up against the Sooners' underwhelming rotation of right cornerbacks. The three wild cards for me are: (1) Does Texas' defense come out in full attack mode again (10 combined sacks in the previous two wins, one sack in the loss)? (2) Is Buechele healthy enough to connect on deep throws, and does Sterlin have the courage to call them? (3) Has Mike Stoops watched any Texas game film yet this year? Texas' best chance is to replicate the recipe of the past two wins: Jump on them early (14-0 start last year, 20-3 start in 2013) and hope Lincoln Riley abandons the run, as he tends to do. It would not surprise me in the least if Texas won this game, but I'm done trusting this team and especially this coaching staff.
Score Prediction: OU 48 – Texas 31
Taylor Smith
Texas’ fate in the Red River Rivalry hinges on Shane Buechele’s ability to throw down field, allowing for an up-tempo Longhorn offense. I believe Texas and Oklahoma come into the game pretty evenly matched despite the 10-point spread favoring the Sooners. Each team owns a bad loss and has something to prove. If Buechele is able to make deep passes down field, and D’Onta Foreman can get his running game going, the Longhorns will pull off a victory in the Red River Rivalry for the second straight year (when no one thought they had a chance). Foremen is going to have to pick up a majority of the load with Chris Warren out, but if the Longhorns create a presence down field, utilizing their wide receivers, that will open up the Sooner’s defense, allowing Foreman to run. I think the Longhorns’ defense will still struggle and give up crucial third-down plays, but the Texas’ offense has the ability to score a lot of points and help the defense out. In fact, the offense must score a lot of points and give the defense long breaks off the field in order to win this game. Last year “with Charlie Strong’s job on the line,†Texas pulled off a big upset. The Longhorns will do the same again this year, silencing the whispers of a possible Strong firing.
Score Prediction: Texas: 48 - Oklahoma: 45
Daniel Seahorn
Rivalry games like this are often hard to call because anything can happen and you have to throw the records out the window. Both teams come into this matchup 2-2 and both have flaws that could end up getting exposed on Saturday. While the OU defense will be down Charles Walker and their secondary hasn't been great, the Texas defense has given up its fair share of points and at this point doesn't leave me with a ton of confidence they will be able to slow down a potent offensive attack until proven otherwise. One thing I will say is that Charlie Strong has done a pretty good job of getting his team ready to play against the Sooners as you can argue they should be 2-0 against them since he arrived in Austin rather than 1-1. Strong has been said to be more hands with the defense this week so that will be interesting to monitor as far how that side of the ball reacts come gameday, but in order for me to pick them they are going to have to prove me wrong this time around.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma 42 - Texas 28
Will Baizer
Strong is kind of like Jason from the Friday the 13th movie. Stoops drowned him in the Red River Everyone thinks he’s dead until he kills you when you’re least expecting it. Every time Charlie Strong has been backed into a corner, he’s found some way to get his players to rally around him and go out and win a game. Maybe he’s more like Freddy Krueger for Bob Stoops. He keeps on popping up in Stoops’s nightmares. Stoops (like Art Briles) cannot figure out what is in Charlie Strong’s brand of “Michael’s Secret Stuff†that he gives to his players before they step into the Cotton bowl.
The Longhorns have lacked a defensive back 7 this season, and problems appear to be popping up for Charlie to fix like whack-a-mole. Luckily for the Longhorns the Sooners also lack a defense! Furthermore, I think the Longhorns have a decisive advantage in the trenches, which I hear is where games are won. If Texas’ defensive secondary can understand their assignments and play with minimal mistakes than this defense is a formidable unit. A turnover going the Longhorns way or if the defense learning their responsibilities than this game will swing Texas.
This is a winnable game!
However, for the Longhorns to win the past few weeks, they have had to play flawless football. Just seven defenses have allowed more 50-plus-yard plays than Texas. Unfortunately, they’re facing one of only nine offenses to have five or more gains of 60-plus yards. So once again the Longhorns will have to be mistake free as they face off against a healthy backfield and the better QB of either team.
This game will come down to which defense can make more stops, and which team can stay balanced. Both the Longhorns and OU have stout running defenses, but neither can cover a flea with a blanket the size of one of those ginormous flags that car dealerships have to show how American they are. If either team can establish the run, then they’ll win it through the air.
So unless Charlie can pull of another miracle in the heart of Dallas, I don’t think they will be able to play more mistake free than the Sooners.
Score Prediction: OU 44 – Texas 36
Harrison Weir
Texas takes on Oklahoma in what has been a down year for both football programs. Texas looks to repeat last year's upset after coming off a disappointing loss in Stillwater, while the Sooners are coming off a big win in Fort Worth. In order for Texas to win this game, they must be the more physical team in the trenches. Under the guidance of Charlie Strong, the Texas defense must force Baker Mayfield into mistakes and prevent plays of 20 yards or more. On offense, Texas must find its rhythm with freshman quarterback Shane Buechele. With running back Chris Warren being ruled out, Texas must utilize the 18-wheeler package with Tyrone Swoopes.
For Oklahoma, it's as simple as continuing the offensive chemistry that was built last week. Baker Mayfield has a weapon in WR DeDe Westbrook and a solid running game. Without Oklahoma's top defensive player, putting pressure on Shane Buechele is as important as ever.
Ultimately, anything can happen in the Red River Shootout. Whichever team creates the most turnovers and plays the most fundamentally sound football will reign victorious. Unfortunately for Texas, Oklahoma will be that team.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma 38 - Texas 28
Mike Roach
I think Charlie Strong has shown over his tenure that Texas is more than capable of winning this game when no one believes in them. While the Longhorns try to rebound from two straight road stumbles, OU is coming in on somewhat wobbly legs as well. I don’t expect this to be a blowout, but it absolutely has the potential to turn into one if the same mistakes that plagued Texas in the early season continue. If Lincoln Riley brings his running game to Norman, the Sooner offense seems too potent for this Texas defense to work with. The Longhorns will play hard for their coach, and they know that a win here could do a lot to keep the wolves at bay. If Shane Buechele is able to throw the deep ball we could have a high scoring affair. In the end, I don’t believe Texas can magically overcome the details that added up to two straight road losses.
Score Prediction: OU 49 – Texas 38
Season Prediction Records
Taylor Smith: 3-1
Harrison Weir: 2-1
Mike Roach: 1-3
Aaron Carrara: 1-3
Chris Flanagan: 1-3
Ryan Bridges: 1-3
Daniel Seahorn: 1-3
