Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Odds, College Football Pick

The underdog isn't just 6-3-1 against the spread over the last 10 Oklahoma-Texas showdowns, it's won four of those games outright. The Longhorns will play the dog on the college football point spreads for this year's version of the Red River Shootout on Saturday afternoon at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Point spread: The Sooners opened as 6.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 43.4-33.2 Sooners (College football picks on every game)

Why the Oklahoma Sooners can cover the spread

OU opened its Big 12 slate last week with a big 52-46 win at fellow conference contender TCU. Oklahoma fell down to the Frogs 21-7 after one quarter, then scored four unanswered touchdowns to take a 28-21 lead. The Sooners bumped that advantage to 49-24 late in the third quarter, allowed TCU to get within a field goal with about six minutes to go, but kicked a field goal of their own and held on from there for the victory and the cover as three-point road favorites.

Oklahoma produced 534 yards of offense, 260 on the ground and 274 through the air, and won time of possession by a 35-25 split. The Sooners may be out of the running for a return visit to the College Football Playoff this season, but they'd still like to win the Big 12.

Why the Texas Longhorns can cover the spread

Texas started 2-0 on the season but has now lost a couple of tough ones in a row after falling at Oklahoma State last week 49-31. The Longhorns fell down to the Cowboys 14-0, rallied to lead 25-23 late in the second quarter, but could not maintain.

Texas was right in it until quarterback Shane Buechele threw a bad interception, the game's only turnover, midway through the third quarter, leading to the Oklahoma State score that iced the outcome.

For the day, Texas actually outgained OSU 568-555, rushing for 329 yards as both D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III hit the century mark. But the Longhorns had three extra points blocked, one of which went the other way for two Cowboys points, missed a field goal and failed on a two-point conversion. That's 10 points right there.

Three years ago Texas stunned the Sooners as a 13-point underdog with a 36-20 outright victory. Two years ago the Longhorns, getting 17 points, rallied to within one score in the fourth quarter for the cover. And last year, as a 16-point dog, Texas upset Oklahoma 24-17. So the Longhorns don't care what the spread is when it comes to playing the Sooners; they think they can win.

Smart pick

Oklahoma just won a big conference game on the road, while Texas lost one. But neither of these teams is above experiencing college football's week-to-week tribulations. The smart play for this games, as it's been for most recent Shootouts, is the dog plus the points.

Betting trends

Oklahoma is 0-3 ATS in its last three games against Texas.

Texas is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games in October.

Oklahoma is 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS in its last eight games against its conference.

All college football betting lines and point spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.