2008 Red River Shootout football preview

#1 Oklahoma & #5 Texas face off at the Cotton Bowl

The Big 12 South plays its divisional title game this weekend. Or at least, that’s how it typically plays out.

No, there isn’t an official championship game for either Big 12 division, but for the south, it might as well be scheduled for the second Saturday in October every year. The Red River Shootout.

This is when the Big 12’s biggest football rivalry, as well as one of the country’s biggest rivalries, gets together every season. Texas and Oklahoma. Longhorons and Sooners.

Since the Big 12’s inception in 1996, only twice has the Big 12 south been represented by a team in the conference title game other than Oklahoma or Texas. In back to back seasons, the Texas A & M Aggies won the south in 1997 and 1998.

This is why, rivalries aside, this game has so much meaning just in terms of football. This year, Oklahoma and Texas come in ranked 1 st and 5 th respectively. This year, the game has the potential to decide more than just the Big 12 south champion, or the Big 12 champion, but the national champion as well.

Neither squad has played a close game so far this season. The smallest margin of victory for either team this season, was 24. That was Texas’ margin of victory last week at the University of Colorado to open conference play. Colorado has beaten a top 25 team in West Virginia, and started 3-0, before losing at a now 4-1 Florida State team, so they’re no slouch either.

That being said, this game not might not be as close as the rankings say it may be. Both Texas and Oklahoma can score, and score a lot. No one can dispute that. Both teams are in the top six in points per game this so far this season. The fewest points scored by either team in a game this year was again, last week’s 38 for Texas at Colorado.

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So the key to this year’s Red River Shootout should be defense. Which defense will give up the fewest big plays? Which defense will come up with the big stops on third and short? Which defense will make big plays?

The statistics say it will be Oklahoma. They’ve given up about 40 yards less per game than Texas. Oklahoma also has a plus-1 turnover margin per game this season, as opposed to Texas who’s is only a plus-.2 per game.

And if Texas gets sloppy, turns the ball over a few times too many, and falls behind, there’s another very big statistic looming against them. Oklahoma has given up fewer passing yards than any other FBS team this season, at 85.60 per game. That’s a number one that doesn’t come with any bias from voters. The Sooners haven’t played anyone extremely strong this year, but with five games on the books, that statistic is probably not an anomaly. So if Texas has to throw the ball to come from behind, they will be in big trouble.

The Sooners only problem might be running the ball, as Texas is ranked number three in the country in rushing defense at only 51.8 ypg. Both teams will have to try and establish the run early, because Texas doesn’t want to have to rely on the pass, and Oklahoma will need to do the same against such a strong rushing defense.

More than likely, an actual shootout will probably prevail, so look for Oklahoma’s passing D and turnover margin to be the difference, as the Sooners retain their number 1 ranking.

By Ryan Turner
Big 12 Fans Guest Writer

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