The Red River Rivalry will make its SEC debut when No. 1 Texas (5-0) takes on No. 18 Oklahoma (4-1) at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
Despite having a bye week, the Longhorns returned to the pinnacle of the AP Top 25 following Alabama’s stunning loss to Vanderbilt. The Sooners also had an extra week to prepare for this colossal matchup following their Week 5 win at Auburn.
As we get set for the 120th all-time meeting between these two prestigious programs, let’s examine the latest betting odds before getting into my Texas vs Oklahoma prediction and best bets.
Texas vs Oklahoma Odds
College football odds are current as of Tuesday, Oct. 8, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Texas (-625) vs Oklahoma (+455)
- Spread: Texas -14.5 (-110) vs Oklahoma +14.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 49.5 (-110) / Under 49.5 (-110)
Texas vs Oklahoma Prediction
Texas 34, Oklahoma 13
We’ve seen some crazy results in the Red River Rivalry over the years, but I don’t see a path to Oklahoma pulling off the upset on Saturday.
The Sooners were lucky to escape Jordan-Hare Stadium with a win over a below-average Auburn team last time out, as they needed a fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown to turn the tide on the Tigers.
OU was outgained 482-291 in the contest, showing that the decision to bench starting quarterback Jackson Arnold for freshman Michael Hawkins hasn’t yet yielded significant improvement.
Expecting a freshman making his second start in a game of this magnitude to raise the level of this offense feels like a tall order, especially against a Texas defense that ranks second in the nation in points allowed at seven per game.
Additionally, the Longhorns are expected to get junior QB Quinn Ewers (oblique) back from injury for this contest. While backup Arch Manning was fine in his stead, Ewers’ experience and veteran savvy should have a significant impact in a high-pressure environment, as we saw in Texas’ impressive win at Michigan.
Look for the Longhorns to cruise on Saturday afternoon.
Texas vs Oklahoma Best Bets
Texas -14.5 (-110) @ Oklahoma
Nine of the last 10 games in this rivalry have been decided by one score, so laying the points with a double-digit favorite typically isn’t the way to go.
However, when analyzing all the aspects of this matchup, it’s hard to see anything other than a Texas rout similar to the 49-0 beatdown it laid on Oklahoma in 2022.
The Longhorns have more experience and talent on both sides of the ball, so a lopsided victory certainly isn’t out of the question.
Back Texas to cover the spread in the Red River Rivalry as one of your best college football bets today.
Under 49.5 Points (-110)
The Under is the only option here, as I don’t see how Oklahoma consistently moves the ball against this stout Texas defense.
It also wouldn’t surprise me if the Longhorns start slow on offense as Ewers gets his feet back under him after a few weeks on the sideline.
Despite the history of fast-paced shootouts, I think this game will have a lower-scoring environment, similar to Texas’ win over Michigan or Oklahoma’s loss to Tennessee.
