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Texas as Oklahoma State
10/31/09
Ever since Oklahoma was chosen over Texas last year for the BCS Title game
it’s been National Title or bust for the Longhorns. They have taken down every
challenger so far, and this game against Oklahoma State looks like the last real
test standing in the Longhorns way until the Big 12 Title game. The only good
thing that can be said about this year’s Red River Rivalry is that Texas won. It
wasn’t pretty, but the main thing is they got the win. After that game Texas
felt like making a statement that they are still the team to beat for a spot in
the BCS Title game against Missouri. The Longhorns dominated the Tigers the
whole game and won it 41-7. That is the Texas team people have been waiting to
see to prove that they are the same team, and they did not disappoint. This
Texas team would love nothing more than to make another statement against
Oklahoma State this Saturday, but this is a very good Cowboy team. Oklahoma
State is 6-1 on the year with their lone loss being a slip up against Houston.
This Cowboy football team had high expectations coming into the season, and
after their upset loss to Houston it looked like things might come undone, but
Coach Mike Gundy has done a very good job of getting his team back on track, and
they are still very much in the Big 12 South Title discussion, but if they are
going to win the South this game against Texas is a must win.
PRIMETIME MATCHUP
This Texas Longhorn football teams is all about Colt McCoy. He is what makes
this team go. When McCoy is hot this team is hot when McCoy is cold this team is
cold. Texas is #1 in the Country in scoring offense putting up 42 points per
game with McCoy under center. Oklahoma was able to put McCoy into bad
situations, and if it wasn’t for Oklahoma turning the ball over 5 times they
would have got the win. If Oklahoma State wants to pull the upset it all starts
with McCoy. This Oklahoma State front seven has got to get pressure on McCoy to
help out their #11 ranked pass defense, because if McCoy has time to go through
his reads he will pick this Cowboy defense apart. In most of Oklahoma State’s
games they have been able to rely on their offense to come through for them when
the defense was allowing big yards through the air. That is fine whenever the
opposing team doesn’t have as much talent as you do on the offensive side of the
ball, but this Texas offense has several players who can score from anywhere on
the field, so if Oklahoma State finds themselves in a shootout it will be very
difficult for them to outscore Texas.
THE FINAL VERDICT
Texas not only had their spot in the BCS Title game taken away from them by
Oklahoma, but their QB Colt McCoy also had his Heisman taken away from him from
Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford. This Texas team led by McCoy has played like they have
a chip on their shoulder all year, and they have their eye on the prize. It is
BCS Title game or bust for the Longhorns, and they are playing like a team who
doesn’t plan on giving that goal up again. Texas had some problems against the
Sooners, but they still got the win which is all that matters. Texas showed in
their last win against Missouri that they are back on track, and ready to roll.
Oklahoma State is going to try to get after McCoy early and often and put him
into bad situations like the Sooners were able to do. If they have success and
are able to find their rhythm on offense early they will have a chance to pull
off the upset in the 4th quarter, but if McCoy is given time to throw the ball
this offense will put up points in a hurry, and it will be over by halftime. We
expect Oklahoma State to be ready to play early and their offense will find ways
to put the ball in the endzone, but in the end Texas just has too much fire
power and will be able to pull away in the second half.
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