NCAA Game of the Week
by Matt Miller
The Red River Rivalary heats up again today with the Oklahoma Sooners (No.1) and Texas Longhorns (No. 5) playing with BCS National Championship Game implications.
Oklahoma vs Texas
The 104th meeting between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners will feature the No. 5 team in the nation hosting the No. 1 ranked Sooners. While the game will be heavy on tradition and pageantry, the talent on both teams is the story line.
The Sooners are led by sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford and his career completion percentage of 71 percent. Bradford is a strong mid-season candidate for the Heisman Trophy, as well as a future first-round pick in the NFL Draft. Bradford is not alone in terms of accolades and a future in the NFL. The Sooners feature all-conference players at virtually every position, but look no further than the left side of their offensive line, which features left tackle Phil Loadholt and guard Duke Robinson. Both players figure to be first-round picks in the upcoming draft and make up the best left side in college football. The two are opening holes for running back DeMarco Murray, a sophomore with legit 4.43 speed in the 40-yard dash. Murray is a classic home-run threat in the backfield and is the horse of the OU offense.
The defense for the Sooners doesn’t feature the big-name superstar players like Bradford and Murray, but there is no shortage of talent. The team is led by linebacker Ryan Reynolds, a highly touted prep player who is starting to live up to his potential. The defensive line is stout, with Auston English considered the best defensive end in the conference. The secondary has holes, mainly due to graduate and the departure of players to the NFL. If the Sooners have a weakness, it is in pass coverage.
The weakness of Oklahoma is in contrast to the strength of the Longhorns. Junior quarterback Colt McCoy has gone from setting school records as a freshman to a bumpy ride behind a young line as a sophomore to being mentioned in the Heisman debate. McCoy is impressively efficient, completing 79 percent of his passes this season to only three interceptions. Oh, and he leads the team in rushing too. McCoy is the Texas offense. The team will go as far as he can carry them, and can only succeed if he is able to make players like Chris Ogbonnaya raise their game to new levels. McCoy does have weapons at receiver. Seniors Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley are experienced and dangerous in the open field.
The defense of Texas has been stout all season. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has brought his aggressive, attacking style of play to Austin, and the results are clear. The Longhorns’ defense is led by end Brian Orakpo, the current Big 12 leader in sacks. Orakpo is flanked with talent, strength and speed at every position. The defense is young, but athletic and just reckless enough to make plays. Watching Orakpo versus Loadholt Saturday will be the point of emphasis for Big 12 scouts.
Oklahoma Sooners Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
1. Passing Offense
2. Offensive Line
3. Breakaway Threats
Weaknesses
1. Passing Defense
2. Depth at receiver
3. Consistency at defensive tackle
Texas Longhorns Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
1. Colt McCoy
2. Attacking defense
3. Team speed
Weaknesses
1. Experience on the offensive line
2. Experience in the secondary
3. No threat at running back
Top Senior Prospects
1. OG Duke Robinson- Oklahoma
2. DE Brian Orakpo- Texas
3. OT Phil Loadholt- Oklahoma
4. WR Juaquin Iglesias- Oklahoma
5. S Nic Harris- Oklahoma
Top Underclassmen Prospects
1. QB Sam Bradford- Oklahoma
2. QB Colt McCoy- Texas
3. RB DeMarco Murray- Oklahoma
4. LB Sergio Kindle- Texas
5. DE Auston English- Oklahoma
Prediction: Texas 35, Oklahoma 31
How will Texas win? By breaking off big plays with McCoy and the Longhorn defense. The match up of Orakpo and Loadholt will be classic, but the play of right end Henry Melton and Sergio Kindle rushing the passer can be the difference. The young Texas cornerbacks can shut down Oklahoma’s receiving core, but the pass rush must disrupt the timing of Bradford.
The end result could be very high scoring, and in a game with so much passion attached to it, it is generally the more poised team who comes out on top.