3afan
10-06-2005, 05:06 PM
Big 12 Game of the Week
Oklahoma (2-2) vs. Texas (4-0) 12 p.m. ET ABC
Why to watch: It's the 100th meeting between the two superpowers, and Texas hopes this marks the beginning of a new era in the series. Over the last five years, Texas has gone 0-5 against Oklahoma and 56-6 against everyone else. There have been defensive battles in the five game streak, and there have been blowouts, but they've all built up to the point of becoming a mega-ton monkey on Mack Brown's back. Finally, this should be the year Texas gets over the hump and beats its arch-rival boasting its best team yet, while Oklahoma is stuck trying to rebuild. Texas doesn't want to just win this game, it wants to make a statement that it really is a contender for the national title. Oklahoma might be 2-2, but it's 1-0 in the Big 12 and can be on its way to yet another conference title with the win. In other words, if Texas doesn't win this time around, it'll probably be a very, very ugly next 12 months in Austin no matter what happens the rest of the way.
Why Texas might win: Is there anything Texas isn't doing well at the moment? The rushing attack is the best in the country, the passing game is efficient when it has to be, and the defense leads the Big 12 allowing just 258 yards per game. This is a swarming defense that kept Missouri's Brad Smith in check last week; Oklahoma's Rhett Bomar isn't Smith and will be under pressure from the tremendous Texas front seven all game long. The Longhorns don't have a killer pass rusher, but they get into the backfield with several players from several angles. Bomar will have to quickly adjust to the speed of the game; the Texas D plays faster than anything he has seen in live action and will have to make razor-sharp decisions. The UT run defense is allowing just 108 yards per game, and if Adrian Peterson isn't 100% and doesn't rush for at least 150, Texas will get the blowout it so desperately wants.
Why Oklahoma might win: Run defense. Despite several problems on both sides of the ball over the last four games, OU's run defense has been rock solid allowing just 65.25 yards per game holding Kansas State's Thomas Clayton, the nation's leading rusher coming into the game, to eight yards on 12 carries and UCLA's Maurice Drew to 69 yards. Yes, Vince Young can throw the ball and yes, OU has to man up on the big, physical Texas receivers, but if the Longhorn ground game doesn't roll for around 200 yards, it'll be a much tighter game than many expect. Also, don't discount the pressure factor. OU isn't supposed to win this game, and it can come in loose and with a little bit of a "nobody respects us" chip on its shoulder. The longer the game is close, the tighter Texas will probably play.
Who to watch: Everyone will focus on the matchup of Heisman candidates with Vince Young and Adrian Peterson getting all of the attention, but this game should belong to the defenses. Texas LB Aaron Harris isn't getting anywhere near the amount of publicity Derrick Johnson received last year, but he's having almost as strong a 2005 with 36 tackles with 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and six tackles for loss. Oklahoma's unsung star LB is Rufus Alexander, who leads the team with 33 tackles with a sack and six tackles for loss. It'll be up to him and Zach Latimer to keep the number one running game from controlling the tempo.
What will happen: Vince Young already holds a special place in the hearts of Longhorn fans after winning the Rose Bowl and beating Ohio State earlier this year. He will grow into an even bigger legend with a win over the Sooners this week. Oklahoma will play inspired defense and keep Young from going nuts, but this is the Longhorns' year to end the hex.
CFN Prediction: Texas 31 ... Oklahoma 20
Other CFN Big 12 Picks:
Kansas State 20 ... Kansas 17
Iowa State 27 ... Baylor 16
Missouri 24 ... Oklahoma State 16
Texas Tech 27 ... Nebraska 20
Colorado 26 ... Texas A&M 20
Oklahoma (2-2) vs. Texas (4-0) 12 p.m. ET ABC
Why to watch: It's the 100th meeting between the two superpowers, and Texas hopes this marks the beginning of a new era in the series. Over the last five years, Texas has gone 0-5 against Oklahoma and 56-6 against everyone else. There have been defensive battles in the five game streak, and there have been blowouts, but they've all built up to the point of becoming a mega-ton monkey on Mack Brown's back. Finally, this should be the year Texas gets over the hump and beats its arch-rival boasting its best team yet, while Oklahoma is stuck trying to rebuild. Texas doesn't want to just win this game, it wants to make a statement that it really is a contender for the national title. Oklahoma might be 2-2, but it's 1-0 in the Big 12 and can be on its way to yet another conference title with the win. In other words, if Texas doesn't win this time around, it'll probably be a very, very ugly next 12 months in Austin no matter what happens the rest of the way.
Why Texas might win: Is there anything Texas isn't doing well at the moment? The rushing attack is the best in the country, the passing game is efficient when it has to be, and the defense leads the Big 12 allowing just 258 yards per game. This is a swarming defense that kept Missouri's Brad Smith in check last week; Oklahoma's Rhett Bomar isn't Smith and will be under pressure from the tremendous Texas front seven all game long. The Longhorns don't have a killer pass rusher, but they get into the backfield with several players from several angles. Bomar will have to quickly adjust to the speed of the game; the Texas D plays faster than anything he has seen in live action and will have to make razor-sharp decisions. The UT run defense is allowing just 108 yards per game, and if Adrian Peterson isn't 100% and doesn't rush for at least 150, Texas will get the blowout it so desperately wants.
Why Oklahoma might win: Run defense. Despite several problems on both sides of the ball over the last four games, OU's run defense has been rock solid allowing just 65.25 yards per game holding Kansas State's Thomas Clayton, the nation's leading rusher coming into the game, to eight yards on 12 carries and UCLA's Maurice Drew to 69 yards. Yes, Vince Young can throw the ball and yes, OU has to man up on the big, physical Texas receivers, but if the Longhorn ground game doesn't roll for around 200 yards, it'll be a much tighter game than many expect. Also, don't discount the pressure factor. OU isn't supposed to win this game, and it can come in loose and with a little bit of a "nobody respects us" chip on its shoulder. The longer the game is close, the tighter Texas will probably play.
Who to watch: Everyone will focus on the matchup of Heisman candidates with Vince Young and Adrian Peterson getting all of the attention, but this game should belong to the defenses. Texas LB Aaron Harris isn't getting anywhere near the amount of publicity Derrick Johnson received last year, but he's having almost as strong a 2005 with 36 tackles with 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and six tackles for loss. Oklahoma's unsung star LB is Rufus Alexander, who leads the team with 33 tackles with a sack and six tackles for loss. It'll be up to him and Zach Latimer to keep the number one running game from controlling the tempo.
What will happen: Vince Young already holds a special place in the hearts of Longhorn fans after winning the Rose Bowl and beating Ohio State earlier this year. He will grow into an even bigger legend with a win over the Sooners this week. Oklahoma will play inspired defense and keep Young from going nuts, but this is the Longhorns' year to end the hex.
CFN Prediction: Texas 31 ... Oklahoma 20
Other CFN Big 12 Picks:
Kansas State 20 ... Kansas 17
Iowa State 27 ... Baylor 16
Missouri 24 ... Oklahoma State 16
Texas Tech 27 ... Nebraska 20
Colorado 26 ... Texas A&M 20