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different is how sneaky good both defenses are. OU is first in the nation in pass efficiency defense, and has not allowed any QB to throw for 225 yards in a game this season. Texas is third in the nation in run defense, giving up barely over 50 yards a game. Heck, both teams are giving up fewer than 14 points per game, going 1-2 in the conference in scoring defense.
The bizarrely similar stats. Texas and OU have been equally dominant in a surprising number of categories. They are tied in first in the nation in scoring margin (35.8 per game). They are two of only three teams (C-USA's Tulsa is the other) to have yet to play a game within 20 points. OU's closest win was 25 against TCU; UT's closest was 24 against Colorado (Tulsa's closest was 23 against UAB). The teams are both in the top 10 in red zone offense, with Oklahoma being perfect (24 scores in 24 opportunities) while Texas has been pretty darn close (25 of 26). Both teams are in the top 15 nationally in red zone defense, Texas at 53 percent and OU at 64 percent. Both are deadly efficient at third-down conversions. Texas is a little bit better on offense (UT-52 percent, OU-49 percent) and Oklahoma's a bit better on defense (OU-27 percent, UT 31 percent). Both teams are fantastic at sacking the QB, with UT No. 1 in the nation at 3.8 sacks a game, and OU No. 3 at 3.4. Ironically both teams are bad (No. 93 and No. 104) at kickoff coverage, each giving up over 23 yards per return. Both teams average 27 first downs a game (top 5 in the nation). Both teams are great in passing efficiency as teams (top 5 in the nation). Both teams are not satisfied in their run game (four combined 100-yard games) or comfortable in their backup QBs (Joey Halzle is 14-of-22 with 1 TD, but little faith, and John Chiles is 9-of-10 for 81 yards, but 2 lost fumbles and zero faith).
The kicking game will matter. If OU, the 6.5-point favorite, loses, the kicking game will have something to do with it. Special teams have a lot to do with the fact that while OU both gains more yards and allows fewer than Texas the margin is the same. While both struggle in kick coverage, UT has been perfect in both extra points and field goals (all three attempts), OU has attempted only one FG and missed two extra points. Texas has allowed four less yards per punt return, a pretty small amount, but the net punting difference is nine yards (40.6 to 31.6). Texas has already blocked three punts this season.
Weapons gain. A big part of OU being the favorite is the large number of people that can gain yards. Oklahoma has two RBs with over 300 yards rushing this season (DeMarco Murray, Chris Brown) while Texas has one QB (McCoy) and zero RBs over even 200. OU has four receivers over 250 yards receiving (Manuel Johnson, Joaquin Iglesias, Jermaine Gresham, and Ryan Broyles) while Texas has two (Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley, though RB Chris Ogbannaya is close with 244). TE is the big mismatch, as Texas will only have available three TEs who have a combined 17 yards receiving this season after original starting TE Blaine Irby was knocked out for the season with a knee injury. OU, meanwhile, has Gresham, one of the top five TE in the country.
Matchups. There's a lot of them. Two great D-Lines against two very good O-lines, though many Oklahoma fans will say their line is great, which it probably is. Oklahoma's O-line has four seniors and a ton of experience, while Texas' O-line has one senior and a slowly growing amount of experience. A specific one to watch is OU LT Phil Loadholt (all 6-foot-8, 337 pounds of him) against Big 12 sack leader and UT DE Brian Orakpo. Oklahoma's WR against UT's secondary will be a huge matchup, as there is a ton of youth for Texas, with two freshmen and a sophomore making up 3/4 of the group. Protecting the deep ball will be a key point. Gresham will be his own nightmare matchup, as he will likely go up against UT's leading tackler in Roddrick Muckelroy. The underproducing RB groups will be a fun matchup as they go up against two very talented, fast, and disciplined LB corps. And, of course, McCoy vs. Bradford.
The Cotton Bowl. It's now been renovated to look like a bigtime college stadium now, with over 92,000 seats. And the big split at the 50-yard line with burnt orange on one side and crimson on the other.
My neutral view thinks OU's got the edge, but my alma mater view is rooting for the Horns. We'll see what happens. Enjoy the game.
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