Longhorns and Sooners : Red River Rivalry Preview 2009

The Red River Rivalry. This game is one of the biggest rivalries in the college football world, and has been for sometime. The rivalry's intensity seemed to heighten when the Big 8 became the Big 12, and the four Texas schools joined the conference. In the last few years, this game has had National Championship implications, and promises to be a thriller as always.

Since 2000, either Oklahoma or Texas has held a top 5 ranking seven of the last ten match-ups, with BOTH being in the top five, five times. This year is no exception, with Texas holding a no. 3 spot (5-0). The Sooners are ranked 20th (3-2), but they've had to deal with injuries, namely Heisman stud Quarterback Sam Bradford, and Wide Receiver Ryan Broyle. Broyle is listed as "likely" for this weekend's battle.

This rivalry has been typically close of late, but both teams have had blowout wins twice this decade. In 2000, Oklahoma laid the proverbial wood to the 'Horns, 63-14. They again dominated Texas in 2003, manhandling the Longhorns, 65-13. Jason White threw for 290 yards and one TD in the routing of UT. The Sooners owned their rival, Texas, for six straight years from 2000-2005, and tout a 7-3 record this decade against Mack Brown's "Hook em Horns". OU has dropped 3 of the last 4, however, and are under-dogs in 2009.

The Longhorns, led by Vince Young, won decisively against Bob Stoops and his Sooners, by a score of 45 - 12 in 2006,  dominating OU from start to finish. Young lit up  OU for 3 touchdowns, passed for 241 yards, and did he what he did best (rushing) for 45 yards.

Last year, the fifth ranked 'Horns edged out Oklahoma in a shootout at the Cotton Bowl, 45-35, handing the Sooners their first and only loss of the regular season. Oklahoma went on to play for the BCS National Championship, but were thwarted by Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators, 24-14.  

The Longhorns would have the edge in this year's contest, or at least it would seem. As history would suggest (this decade), the team with the higher ranking, should come out on top. This has been true all but once since 2000, when in 2008, the 5th ranked 'Horns knocked off the cream of the crop, no. 1 Oklahoma.

A Longhorn win could strengthen Colt McCoy's Heisman chances, my preseason pick to win the award. An Oklahoma win could catapult the Sooners' confidence, and put them in better position to make a Big 12 Title run. The Sooners have suffered two close losses at the hands of the Miami Hurricanes (21-20), and the Cougars of BYU, (14-13). OU's defense had a statement win last week vs. Baylor, allowing just six yards on the ground, injecting some swagger back into the Sooners squad.

The Red River Rivalry is a must watch game for college football fans, no matter who you root for. Can Texas' Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley supply enough offense to topple the crippled Sooners ? Or will Sam Bradford work his magic against the Longhorn D and upset third ranked Texas. Wait and see !

My pick: Texas 48, Oklahoma 35.