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Texas vs. Oklahoma State Prediction, Game Preview
Texas vs. Oklahoma State prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Longhorns and Cowboys.
September 27, 2016Texas vs. Oklahoma State prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Longhorns and Cowboys.
Texas at Oklahoma State Game Preview
When: Saturday, October 1 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK
Broadcast: ABC
The Longhorns and Cowboys will be looking to shake off their previous outings and nab their first league win they meet Saturday in Stillwater. Texas is still stewing from its 50-43 loss at Cal two weeks ago that dampened the enthusiasm of an opening day upset of Notre Dame. Back-to-back losses, with the Red River Rivalry upcoming, could conjure up the narrative that it’s the same old Horns under Charlie Strong. Oklahoma State already has a pair of losses, to Central Michigan and last week at Baylor. A second straight Big 12 stumble would put the Cowboys’ conference title hopes on life support.
What To Know About Texas
Offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert has paid immediate dividends in his first year in Austin. The Horns are averaging almost 45 points a game. Gilbert has deftly employed his quarterbacks, rookie Shane Buechele and senior Tyrone Swoopes, while running backs D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren are delivering the punch between the tackles. But the defense, namely the defensive backfield, could put a ceiling on how high Texas elevates in 2016. Quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Davis Webb had their way with UT’s 122nd-ranked Longhorn pass defense, which has allowed nine touchdown passes with no picks.
What To Know About Oklahoma State
Mike Gundy’s Cowboys have issues, more in fact than most anticipated before the season began. First the promising news—Mason Rudolph to James Washington is a top-flight pitch-and-catch combo that should again post big numbers against the shaky Texas secondary. Pretty much everywhere else, though, Okie State has concerns. The O-line has allowed more sacks than any other Big 12 team, and the secondary is 118th nationally in pass efficiency defense after being carved up by Seth Russell. Plus, the team turned the ball over four times in Waco, while twice getting no points in the fourth quarter after driving deep into Baylor territory.
Advantages
Offense: Texas. Running back Justice Hill emerged last week as a Cowboy weapon, but the Horns have a better shot of establishing the run with Foreman and Warren.
Defense: Push. Too close to call, since both schools have shown an ability to stop the run, but have been like catnip for opposing quarterbacks.
Special Teams: Texas. Both teams are solid here, but Longhorn punter Michael Dickson is norming greater than 50 yards, and LSU transfer Trent Domingue has helped stabilize the kicking game.
Coaching: Oklahoma State. Texas is home to the hottest coordinator, Gilbert, but Gundy trumps Strong until further notice.
Intangibles: Texas. Longhorns will be rested and ornery by the time they arrive in Stillwater.
Matchup To Watch
Texas WRs John Burt and Jacorey Warrick vs. Oklahoma State CBs Ashton Lampkin and Ramon Richards
The Cowboys have Washington and Jalen McCleskey to exploit the shaky Longhorn secondary. But who can Buechele team with to keep the OSU defensive backfield reeling? Burt and Warrick are likely to be the true freshman’s favorite targets. Burt has tailed off since the Notre Dame opener, but Warrick has picked up some of the slack with a touchdown grab in consecutive games.
Texas at Oklahoma State Betting Odds
Spread: Oklahoma State -3
Over/Under: N/A
Texas at Oklahoma State Prediction
The Longhorns are poised to bounce back after suffering their first loss in Berkeley. The extra week of preparation will help the young team, while Oklahoma State is coming off an emotional loss in Waco. The teams share similar defensive flaws, which will result in a predictably high-scoring and entertaining shootout. The difference in a seesaw affair will be Texas’ ability to run the ball and protect it. Foreman and Warren will be instrumental down the stretch, wearing out the Cowboy defense and breaking tackles for tempo-changing conversions and scores.
Texas at Oklahoma State Score Prediction: Texas 40, Oklahoma State 35
