OKLAHOMA PASS OFFENSE VS TEXAS PASS DEFENSE
OU's passing game is very similar to what they did last year minus the obvious absence of wide receiver Sterling Shepard. Dede Westbrook had a huge game against TCU last week, and Bob Stoops said after the game that it was the first time Westbrook had been fully healthy. Sophomore Mark Andrews is the second-leading pass catcher among the receivers, and four of his 11 receptions have gone for TDs. Oklahoma has used A.D. Miller and Dahu Green at outside receiver but that's been an area of weakness due to youth and inexperience. Miller had a key drop last week. Joe Mixon is a running back, but he's been getting more and more involved in the pass game. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was banged up last week against TCU but has practiced the past two days. He's second in the Big 12 in passing efficiency.
Edge: Oklahoma ****
OKLAHOMA RUN OFFENSE VS TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
Samaje Perine hasn't lived up to expectations, but did turn in his best game last week against TCU. He's 10th in the conference in rushing yards per game, but did go for 98 yards and 2 TDs last week. Before that, a lot of people were questioning how healthy Perine was since he had off-season ankle surgery. Oklahoma doesn't let either of its top running backs go live in practice, so it's taken some time for Perine to hit his stride, but he was a big reason OU was able to come back from a 21-7 deficit last week. Mixon, unlike Perine, is not really a great runner between the tackles, but if he gets a hole, he's capable of taking it to the house. He is really good at busting runs to the outside and taking the ball to the edge.
Edge: Oklahoma **
OKLAHOMA OFFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
Sophomore Orlando Brown has really settled into the left tackle spot. Oklahoma is supposed to get Jonathan Alvarez back this week after he missed the TCU game. Overall, the Sooners do have a pretty good amount of depth up front. Left guard Ben Powers played last week against TCU and was really good. Dru Samia has moved from tackle to right guard and seems to have settled in. This is a unit that has been banged up a big, but the line has done a good job of giving Mayfield pretty good protection.
Edge: Oklahoma *
TEXAS PASS OFFENSE VS OKLAHOMA PASS DEFENSE
The cornerback opposite Jordan Thomas been a disaster all year. Dakota Austin has played some. Against Ohio State, they went to true freshman Parish Cobb, but he was hurt last week. Last week it was Michiah Quick, a heavily-recruited player out of California who switched over from offense, who got most of the work. He played pretty well but gave up some big plays. OU won't have Will Johnson, its starting nickel back, so the Sooner will be moving parts around, which led to confusion last week.
Edge: Texas ***
TEXAS RUN OFFENSE VS OKLAHOMA RUN DEFENSE
Oklahoma has been good, for the most part, with its run defense, although Ohio State was abler to do whatever it wanted in either the run (291 yards) or pass game. TCU couldn't get anything going on the ground, rushing for just 65 yards and 2.2 yards per carry. Statistically, this is an OU run defense that is pretty good, ranking second in the Big 12 with 130.8 yards given up per game.
Edge: Texas ***
TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE VS OKLAHOMA DEFENSIVE LINE
OU's defensive line has been good when it's been healthy, but it hasn't been healthy very much. The Sooners will be without one of their best players, DT Charles Walker. Defensive end Matt Dimon is also out. It's a decent defensive line without those two, but it's really thin. The Sooners run an odd front with three down linemen and they ask the guys on the edges to be pass rushers, but they're really not that good. OU really has one true pass rusher in Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, which forces the defense to dial up pressure from the defensive backs. Okoronkwo has good stats (4 sacks), but there's nobody on the other side.
Edge: Texas **
SPECIAL TEAMS
In the kicking game, OU's Austin Seibert missed a 27-yarder against Ohio State and had the kick-6 against Houston, but those have really been the only two mistakes he has had. He's a good kicker, not great. Seibert also punts, but averages about 7 yards fewer than UT's Michael Dickson. Mixon is the return guy and he leads the Big 12 in large part due to his 97-yarder against Ohio State. Mixon also handles punt returns.
Edge: Oklahoma **
INTANGIBLES
On one hand, you have the fact that Texas has played over its head in this match-up the past two years. In addition to that, the Longhorns come into this game once again fighting for their pride (and possibly their coach's job) so they should have all the motivation they need. On the other hand, Oklahoma will come into this game with a little more momentum than Texas, and the Sooners won't be overlooking the Longhorns like they did last year. Plus, you have to know the OU coaches and players know there's blood in the water in Austin and they'd love to add to UT's problems. Slight edge to Oklahoma.
Edge: Oklahoma *
