Alamo Bowl 2012: 5 Bold Predictions for Texas vs. Oregon State

With just a few days until the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, it's time to predict how the showdown between No. 23 Texas and No. 13 Oregon State will play out.

It's easy to say that the Beavers will have a ton of passing yards or that Longhorn RB Joe Bergeron will get the lion's share of red-zone touches, but that's not very exciting.

After all, this is a bowl game, and anything can happen. Expect lots of turnovers, plenty of big plays and maybe even some good old-fashioned "trickeration."

Here are five bold predictions to watch for in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.

Alex Okafor Will Record Two or More Sacks

After standing by idly while his team suffered consecutive losses to finish the season, DE Alex Okafor will be looking to return with a vengeance in the Alamo Bowl.

The 6'4", 265-pound senior has been nursing an ankle injury since November 22, but is listed as probable for the matchup with Oregon State.

That's very bad news for the Beavers, as Okafor has been the Longhorns' leading sack producer this season, tallying eight QB takedowns in limited action.

OSU enters the game with an uncertain quarterback situation, despite the fact that Cody Vaz was reportedly named the starter earlier this week.

Given the constant shuffling of QBs in Corvallis, it wouldn't be surprising if both Vaz and Sean Mannion see the field on Saturday. Regardless, Okafor should be able to wreak havoc no matter who's under center.

Mannion and Vaz have been sacked a combined 24 times this season, and Okafor will add at least two more to the stat sheet in his final Texas game.

Storm Woods Will Eclipse the Century Mark

Despite the fact that Oregon State's offense is heavily pass-favored, the Beavers will undoubtedly turn to the run more against a UT rush defense that ranks No. 100 in the country.

RB Storm Woods will reap the benefits of the philosophy shift, using the increase in touches to massively boost his stats.

Woods is a native of Pflugerville, a suburb of Austin, and he will be looking to stick it to his hometown foe on Saturday.

The 6'0", 202-pound freshman has rushed for 822 yards and 11 TDs on 171 carries this year, which works out to a respectable 4.8 yards per carry.

Woods has only surpassed the century mark once this season (161 yards vs. Arizona), but he will make it twice against the Longhorns.

Kenny Vaccaro Will Shine in His Last College Game

While the Texas defense has struggled mightily in 2012, the one area of solidity has been in the secondary, especially the play of safety Kenny Vaccaro.

The Big 12 saw fit to honor Vaccaro's consistency by naming him to the all-conference first-team defense, a well-deserved distinction for the stalwart senior.

Vaccaro is coming off a career-best 12-tackle performance in Texas' loss to Kansas State, bringing his season total to 88 takedowns.

And if his steady progress during his time in Austin is any indication, Vaccaro should cap off his Longhorn career with a stellar outing in the Alamo Bowl.

Against Oregon State's pass-happy offense, Vaccaro will see plenty of action and have boundless opportunities to make big plays.

Vaccaro will finish the night versus the Beavers with at least one turnover (by way of the interception or forced fumble) and 10 or more tackles, as well as a couple pass break-ups.

The electrifying evening will send Vaccaro off on a high note, earning him the respect of the UT faithful and NFL scouts alike.

The Winning Team Will Score More Than 35 Points

If there's one thing that Texas and Oregon State have in common, it's offensive firepower.

The Longhorns boast the No. 24 scoring offense in the nation, averaging over 36 points per game, while the Beavers rank No. 38 in scoring with 33 PPG.

Needless to say, there will be an onslaught of offensive highlights at the Alamodome.

UT does its damage with a balanced attack, while OSU relies almost exclusively on the pass, though it doesn't really matter how the points are scored.

Oregon State has a stout defense that allows a stingy 19.8 PPG, while the Texas defense figures to be improved with the return of Okafor, but none of that will matter.

The winning team will score 35 or more points in the Alamo Bowl, while the losers will be stuck catching their breath on the bench.

The Season Will End with a QB Controversy

For anyone that has watched the Texas Longhorns this season, this really isn't that bold of a prediction. In fact, you might say that a QB controversy is a forgone conclusion for the upcoming offseason.

But, nonetheless, it won't be official until both David Ash and Case McCoy struggle against Oregon State's defensive pressure.

Ash was named the starter for the Alamo Bowl, but it's highly likely that McCoy will end up seeing the field against the Beavs as well.

In an eerily similar situation to its opponent, Texas is faced with a battle under center that won't resolve itself in San Antonio.

The QB carousel will start spinning after Ash is smacked around by Scott Crichton and the OSU defense, and it will go into hyperdrive once McCoy jumps on board.

When exactly McCoy will get the nod to relieve Ash is uncertain, but it will probably come after a few sacks and an untimely interception that rattles Mack Brown's confidence.

At the end of the day, Longhorn fans will be left wondering which of these two signal-callers will lead the team in 2013.

Unfortunately for those donning the burnt orange, the eventual answer to that quandary will be underwhelming either way.