A staple in college football, the Red River Showdown headlines Week 5 with plenty on the line. This Texas vs. Oklahoma prediction will highlight both sides, and we’ll look at which team can make a bold statement in Week 6.
Can the Texas Longhorns continue on its path to the College Football Playoff or will the Oklahoma Sooners prove it’s legit? We dive into that and more.
Texas vs. Oklahoma Betting and DFS Preview
- Spread
Texas -6 - Moneyline
Texas -205, Oklahoma +170 - Over/Under
58.5 total points - Game time
12 p.m. ET - Location
Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX - Predicted Weather at Kick
72 degrees, sunny, 11 mph winds - How to Watch
ABC
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Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
All values below come from FanDuel’s multi-team entries for the weekend. Are you looking to sign up for FanDuel? New customers bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets guaranteed. Click here for more details.
- QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma ($10,500)
- QB Quinn Ewers, Texas ($10,400)
- RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas ($9,500)
- RB Marcus Major, Oklahoma ($6,500)
- RB Tawee Walker, Oklahoma ($5,700)
- RB CJ Baxter, Texas ($5,600)
- WR Xavier Worthy, Texas ($8,100)
- WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas ($7,600)
- WR Nic Anderson, Oklahoma ($7,500)
- WR Andrel Anthony, Oklahoma ($6,900)
- WR Drake Stoops, Oklahoma ($6,700)
- WR Jalil Farooq, Oklahoma ($6,400)
- WR Gavin Freeman, Oklahoma ($5,400)
- WR Jordan Whittington, Texas ($5,200)
- TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas ($7,000)
- TE Gunnar Helm, Texas ($4,900)
If you like offense, then the Red River Showdown is for you. Both teams feature second-year quarterbacks in their systems, and the results speak for themselves. Oklahoma and Texas are ninth and 17th in total offense, as well as third and 30th in scoring offense, respectively.
Sooners QB Dillon Gabriel and Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers look more comfortable in these systems than last year. Gabriel has already thrown for 1,593 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Ewers sits at 1,358 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gabriel adds the running aspect to his game, making him the more appealing fantasy option, but Ewers has plenty of weapons at his disposal.
Texas found that it doesn’t miss Longhorn-turned-Atlanta-Falcons RB Bijan Robinson or now-Chicago-Bear RB Roschon Johnson. Ok, that’s a lie, but they did learn that RB Jonathon Brooks has that dog in him. After a 218-yard, two-touchdown performance against Kansas, the Longhorns feel extremely comfortable with their rushing attack now.
If you’re looking at wide receiver options this week, you’ll find plenty in this game. You just might not know who to pick. WR Andrel Anthony is emerging as a breakout player for the Sooners, but WRs Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, and Drake Stoops are right behind him.
Texas is in a similar situation. WR Xavier Worthy and WR Adonai Mitchell are battling for the team lead in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, but WR Jordan Whittington is a solid option, too. TE Ja’Tavion Sanders is also averaging 21.4 yards per catch.
Prediction for Texas vs. Oklahoma
Rivalry games are great. They bring out the passion in the players and the fanbases, and the Red River Showdown is one of the best in the sport. With both teams headed to the SEC in 2024, this one has extra significance. Hopefully, it’s closer than 2022.
Oklahoma wants to erase the 49-0 beatdown by Texas last season. A disappointing season left fans wanting more, and the lack of domination against decent teams keeps that doubt in the minds of some. If the Sooners’ defense can slow down the Longhorns, then this should be a good game.
OU head coach Brent Venables did a great job of improving the defense to aid an offense with explosive potential. So far, the defense has been the biggest difference, especially when the offense only mustered 20 points against Cincinnati and 28 against SMU. With this being their first true test of the year, there’s plenty that this team must prove.
Texas is playing on a different level than we’ve seen in the past few years. They beat Alabama in Week 2 on the road and took care of business against both Baylor and Kansas. There hasn’t been any doubt about who the better team is when the Longhorns play. It feels like that trend will continue.
Oklahoma’s secondary has shown improvement this year under Venables, but they haven’t faced a group of pass catchers like the ones Texas possesses. If they can’t hang, last year’s result will repeat itself. However, it’s not completely on that side of the ball.
If Gabriel and the passing attack can find consistency, then the Sooners are in great hands. Texas will score, but can the Sooners keep pace? The Longhorns’ defense is no joke this year, and missed opportunities to score won’t bode well.
Texas’ bandwagon is going full speed, and it requires Oklahoma’s best effort (and then some).
Prediction: Texas 38, Oklahoma 30