You know where I stand if you’ve been listening to me on “Locked On Sooners” for the last few months. I’ve been predicting Oklahoma to beat Texas since the offseason.
What happened a year ago doesn’t matter. This is a completely different team with a different mentality and edge about them. They are a tougher team full of playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Yes, Texas is a different team as well. Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns went into Tuscaloosa and beat Alabama. That’s a huge feather in the cap for Ewers and Steve Sarkisian.
But first-half struggles against Wyoming and Kansas put this team in a different perspective. The Oklahoma offense has the ability to jump on teams early, even without a running game that’s had much efficiency to start the season.
The Sooners’ running game may not be breaking big runs right now, but they’re getting enough to help Dillon Gabriel and the offense become a top 3 offense in the country.
Gabriel is absolutely dealing, and the Oklahoma offense will be the best the Longhorns have faced in 2023. Sure, they’re only allowing 12 points per game, but we saw what the Sooners were capable of against a stout Iowa State defense.
Defensively, the Sooners are also in the top three in points allowed per game. They’ve been really good against the run, which has allowed Brent Venables and the defense to get aggressive in second and third and long situations.
Now, this is easily the best team and the best quarterback the Sooners have seen this year. If the Sooners are able to slow the running game and make Ewers uncomfortable, it will go a long way to winning on Saturday.
This year’s Red River Rivalry will come down to the final few minutes of the game, and I believe Brent Venables’ defense will get a stop to seal the win at the end.
Oklahoma 33, Texas 30
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