CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel breaks down this week's big game.
It's one of the fiercest and most unique rivalries in the country, played at a neutral site midway between the campuses, with the sights and sounds of the Texas State Fair whirring around the stadium and the crowd split evenly down the middle. And for just the third time in the 97-year history of the Red River Shootout -- but the second in two years -- Texas and Oklahoma meet while both are ranked in the top five. Oklahoma won 14-3 last year, its second straight victory in the series after Texas had won eight of 10.
Chris Simms AP
Texas' offense vs. Oklahoma's defense
All eyes will be on Longhorns QB Chris Simms, whose struggles in big games have been well chronicled. The senior made his first start against the Sooners last season, going 24-of-42 for 198 yards and four interceptions. But the real key for Texas will be whether it can run the ball against OU's notoriously stingy defense. Sophomore tailback Cedric Benson, who is averaging 124.4 yards per game, did not even play a year ago. The Sooners counter with an intimidating defensive front, led by LBs Lance Mitchell (62 tackles, 11 for loss) and Teddy Lehman (52, eight). Vaunted DT Tommie Harris has been mostly quiet but can't be overlooked. Simms has a trio dangerous receivers at his disposal in Roy Williams, B.J. Johnson and Sloan Thomas, but cornerbacks Derrick Strait and Andre Woolfolk are talented enough to play them straight up, freeing more guys to pressure Simms.
Quentin Griffin Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Oklahoma's offense vs. Texas' defense
The Sooners' run game, led by senior Quentin Griffin, has been lagging for much of the season, held to a combined 171 yards the past two weeks. Now, they need to find a way to break down a Longhorns defense ranked second in the country (225.6 yards per game). Texas' three starting linebackers, Derrick Johnson, Lee Jackson and Reed Boyd, already have combined for 133 tackles. Oft-criticized Oklahoma QB Nate Hybl has proven a worthy leader and capable of delivering the home run ball. He's yet to throw an interception. Look for the Sooners to take advantage of their multiple-receiver sets to open up the middle of the field for all-conference TE Trent Smith, who leads the team with 16 receptions. Receivers Will Peoples, Antwone Savage, Curtis Fagan and Mark Clayton have shown flashes of brilliance, but Texas counters with two of the best coverage men in the country, Nathan Vasher and Rod Babers.
Both teams rely heavily on big plays from their return men, Texas with Vasher and Selvin Young, OU with Antonio Perkins. But both have also had trouble in the kicking game, with the Horns' Dusty Mangum missing three of four attempts last week against Oklahoma State and the Sooners choosing to fake a deciding 31-yard field goal attempt against Missouri rather than rely on freshman Trey DiCarlo. On the sidelines, Bob Stoops' staff is masters at preparing their team for big games, while Mack Brown's Longhorns have a reputation for folding under the pressure.
Texas WR Roy Williams
Jr. 6-4, 210
2002 stats: 16 catches, 269 yards, 16.8 yards per catch, 3 TDs
"The Legend" has 1,914 career receiving yards but only 80, on nine catches, in his two previous games against Oklahoma.
Oklahoma CB Andre Woolfolk
Sr. 6-1, 195
2002 stats: nine tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick
The former receiver, who should be back after missing two games, had his breakout as a defender against Williams in last year's Texas game.
This should be another defensive battle, much like last year's game, decided by field position and turnovers. Oklahoma's offense will have trouble scoring points. The question is, will the Longhorns take advantage and produce some of their own, or will the Sooners feast on Simms -- who's thrown 12 interceptions in his four career games against Top 10 teams -- to produce a defensive touchdown for the 10th time in 21 games. On paper, Texas is the more talented team. But that doesn't seem to matter when they run into Stoops' Sooners.
The pick: Oklahoma 17, Texas 13.
Chris Simms
Quentin Griffin
