Inside Texas Answers: Texas versus Oklahoma predictions

The Red River Shootout is less than 24 hours away. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will make his Cotton Bowl debut against Lincoln Riley and his Oklahoma Sooners, winner of two straight contests between the two schools in the Cotton Bowl.

How does the Inside Texas staff see the 117th edition of the Red River Shootout playing out?

Justin Wells – Oklahoma 35-31. It’s always more interesting when the Red River Shootout is a mystery like it is this year. OU’s offense is potent, but not like it has been in the past. OU’s defense is solid, but with holes. Texas and Bijan Robinson have an opportunity to seize here. If UT’s defense can fluster Spencer Rattler, the Horns have a shot. Might be too much crimson on Saturday though. 

Eric Nahlin – Texas, 31-23. It’s impossible to call this game because of rivalry outliers, but this year it’s especially difficult if just looking at these evenly matched teams on paper. A week ago I favored UT. On Monday I favored OU. I’m back to favoring UT but certainly not confident. I like PK’s defense, buoyed by solid interior defensive linemen and physical corner play, against an offense that’s struggling up front and prone to working underneath in the passing game. I do have concerns regarding misdirection and ancillary offensive weapons working in the flat and middle. I do sense interception opportunities this week if Rattler becomes rattled. On offense, enough with the Texas is due to hit deep talk. It’s time to scheme it, protect it, and execute it. They are due, though. Bijan sets a floor for the offense and at a minimum provides Sarkisian with a clear understanding of how OU will try to defend out of the gates. Bijan’s singular ability is a big advantage when it comes to making defenses declare intentions.

Joe Cook – Oklahoma, 41-31. After coming into the year expecting to be in the national title picture, the Sooners do not look like a team that will win a playoff game. That said, at this point they are the class of the conference. For Texas, it comes down to taking advantage of a down O-line for Sooner standards and pressuring Spencer Rattler while also finally connecting on deep passes on offense. Texas will have to win with its D-line, quarterback, and secondary. I don’t see it happening in Dallas on Saturday.

Ian Boyd – Oklahoma, 28-21. I think both of these teams know who they are at this point and will lean on their studs, Spencer Rattler and Bijan Robinson, to win this one. It’s harder to stop a good quarterback than a running back, especially one coached by Lincoln Riley, so I think the Sooners will pull this one out.

Hudson Standish – Oklahoma 40-31. A big day from Bijan Robinson in the rushing and receiving game keeps the Horns in the fight, but Spencer Rattler gets his groove back and leads OU to victory. If Texas is going to win, they need an Apple Cup level defensive masterclass from Pete Kwiatkowski. 

Bobby Burton – Texas, 35-33. Spencer Rattler is starting to finally find his rhythm, and that will help the OU run game immeasurably. Expect the Sooners to be exacting on offense, trying to move the ball down the field in a deliberate fashion compared to the quick-strike capability that defined their offenses with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at the helm. I also expect the Texas offense to sputter at times. OU’s defense has some real talent. One key for the Texas O will be efficiency on first downs. The other will be scoring touchdowns instead of taking field goals. Texas has to score TDs while simultaneously forcing OU’s offense into FGs. Whichever team’s defense does that the best likely wins.

Scipio Tex – Oklahoma, 28-27. No result would surprise me in Dallas, but the Sooner defensive front is the most likely unit to prove decisive in the outcome. I don’t like the prediction and hope to eat it with a sweet win. 

Gerry Hamilton – Texas, 34-30. This game starts with the team that brings the hat from the first snap. That is a huge task for the Texas offensive line. The Longhorns have to be the most physical team on the field. Then it comes down to stars being stars. Bijan Robinson will walk into the Cotton Bowl coming off the first game in his career in which he had a maximum workload the game prior. Will he have the same pop this week? Adrenaline will likely help in that regard, at least early in the game. Xavier Worthy has to have a strong bounce back game because Oklahoma will force Casey Thompson to make throws down the field. Defensively, PK and staff aren’t facing an Oklahoma team that Texas fans are accustomed to seeing. The Sooners don’t have the electric playmakers with momentum changing speed at wide receiver like many teams in the last 20 years. So in many ways this game could come down to which quarterback makes the plays down the field without throwing interceptions. Spencer Rattler is an overrated NFL Draft prospect, but he can make throws down the field when there is clean pocket. If the Longhorns can come up with some pressures, Rattler move right an incredibly high percentage of the time, thus giving away half the field. Texas has to make the most of those opportunities with tight window, forced throws.