Texas Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Oklahoma State in Week 8
By Shawn Ekwall
Oklahoma State travels to Austin to tangle with Texas football in a key Big 12 matchup. Here’s everything you need to know.
After dispatching Baylor 59-16 last week, the No. 10 Cowboys take their offensive juggernaut on the road to tangle with Texas. An Oklahoma State win would make it five straight wins by the Cowboys in Austin – the only visiting team to ever win that many in a row at Texas.
The Longhorns are licking their wounds from a 29-24 loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout. Texas rallied from a 20-3 deficit in the first half to grab a 24-23 lead only to see Baker Mayfield rally the Sooners with a 59-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews for the game-winning score.
Freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger continues to be a bright spot for Texas. His 388 total yards of offense nearly single-handedly was enough to derail the Sooners. The Cowboys’ defense will be tested to defend his dual-threat capabilities.
Once again, Texas coach Tom Herman showed his knack for having an underdog team ready to play. The Longhorns entered as 9.5-point underdogs against Oklahoma, and although they ended up on the short-end of the scoreboard, Herman’s team covered the spread for the 7th straight time in his tenure as head coach at Houston and Texas. For the second straight week Texas will be getting points. Oklahoma State enters as a seven-point favorite.
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s Oklahoma State vs. Texas game:
Date: Saturday, Oct. 21
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Austin, Texas
Venue: Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchEspn
Keys to Victory
Can Mason Rudolph continue to torch teams with the deep ball? The Cowboys’ offense leads the nation averaging 610.7 yards per game, with 411.2 yards coming through the air. If the Texas defense offers little resistance to the Oklahoma State aerial attack, it will be a long day for the home team. A formidable Texas secondary led by DeShon Elliott awaits. Can the Longhorns slow down the nation’s leading offense?
Last week I predicted a Texas upset of Oklahoma. Although it was close, the Longhorns couldn’t get over the hump. Ehlinger showed glimpses of brilliance. However, the Texas offensive line continues to be an issue. Breakdowns in protections are still happening much too often. Ehlinger must receive better protection for Texas to pull the upset.
Prediction
The Cowboys have been tremendous on the road. The Pokes have won 12 of their past 14 true road games, and are 58-6 in their past 64 games playing against an unranked opponent. Having won 4 straight in Austin, the Cowboys will not be intimidated by the environment.
Like I mentioned last week, Texas is improving by the week. Even though they sit at 3-3, the Longhorns are a dangerous outfit. They’ve taken USC and Oklahoma to the wire. You’d have to think an upset is coming soon. With a dual-threat quarterback, the Texas offense can hurt the opposition in many ways.
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Finally, this is a matchup of quality head coaches. Mike Gundy continues to push the right buttons in Stillwater. You feel as though Herman is about to earn a breakthrough win. I think the Longhorns’ defense limits the big plays, and Ehlinger has his signature moment, leading Texas down the field for the winning touchdown.
Final Score: Texas 41, Oklahoma State 38