Preview: Oklahoma St vs. Texas - Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008

By Tom Hatfield of Razor Sharp Sports

So the Texas Longhorns (3-0 7-0) have passed their first two big tests with flying colors.  First they took care of Oklahoma, then they jumped on Missouri.  The tests aren’t done yet.  As a matter of fact, they really have just begun for the #1 team in the first BCS rankings of the season.  They still have 3 more ranked teams on their schedule and more than likely a fourth waiting at the Big-12 Championship game.  This week the test is the offensive attack of the Oklahoma St Cowboys (3-0 7-0).  The Cowboys are currently #6 in the BCS and  sport a dangerous double threat offense.  Lets take a look at both teams closer.

Why not start with the #1 team in the country.  I believe they have earned it.  For the second straight week, Texas has beaten a ranked conference opponent by double digits.  It is kind of like Lou Gossett Jr. in Diggstown, when they keep bringing the next fighter into the ring and “Honey” Roy Palmer keeps knocking them out.  As a matter of fact,  the Longhorns have beaten all 7 opponents by double digits and by an average of over 30 points per game.  On offense they rank #2 in the country in scoring at 48.1 points per game and 10th in total offense with 484 yards per game.  The team is lead by Heisman hopeful QB Colt McCoy.  For the season McCoy has completed an incredible 81.2% of his passes (160 of 197) for 1894 yards, 19 TDs and just 3 interceptions.  He is also the teams leading rusher with 371 yards and 6 TDs.  When McCoy isn’t handling the ball, he has plenty of other weapons to take care of things. 3 other RBs have run for more than 200 yards. Chris Ogbonnaya has 285 yards and 3 TDs (including 2 last week against Missouri), Vondrell McGee has 243 and 1 score and FB Cody Johnson has 214 and 10 TDs.  McCoy’s favorite targets through the air are Quan Cosby with 48 catches for 612 yards and 3 TDs and Jordan Shipley with 43 catches for 569 yards and 9 tallies.  Ogbonnaya has also caught 25 balls for 339 yards and 3 TDs.  The defense is allowing 17.6 points per game.  That number has gone up a bit after the last two weeks games, but they are still ranked in the top 30 in the nation.  The defense is lead by LB Roddrick Muckelroy (67 tackles) and All-American DE Brian Orakpo (12 tackles  for losses and 8 sacks)  For the season Texas is +6 on the turnover ratio.  That is a little lower that what you would expect for a team that has been as dominant as they have been.

Now lets take a look at the Oklahoma St Cowboys.  Mike Gundy’s team is out to a 7-0 start which ties their 7 totals wins that they had in the 2007 season.  The Cowboys, like the Longhorns have been pretty dominant this year.  6 of the 7 wins came by double digits.  Only their win over Missouri 28-23 was close. The offense is currently ranked 4th in the nation in points scored with 46.4/game.  They are 7th in the country on total offense at 501.4 yards per game and are 5th in rushing.  Another similarity to Texas, is at the QB position.  Like McCoy, Zac Robinson is a double threat.  For the season Robinson is completing 70.1% of his passes (94-134) for 1488 yards, 14 TDs and just 4 interceptions.  He has also run for 249 yards and 5 more scores.  Where they differ, is that Robinson has a RB that ranks 5th in the country in Kendall Hunter.  Hunter has run for 955 yards and 9 TDs. When Hunter needs a breather, Keith Toston has filled in just fine.  He has run for 487 yards and 7 more scores.  Robinson’s favorite reciever is by far Dez Bryant.  ryant has 45 catches for 809 yards and 11TDs.  Compare that to the rest of the team that has 52 catches total for 719 yards and 3 TDs.  Defensively, the Cowboys are allowing 20.6 points per game.  That unit is lead by S Andre Sexton with 57 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception and 2 forced fumbles. LB Orie Lemon has also added 45 tackles.  The Cowboys are +8 in turnovers this year.

As a free winner here in this game I have to go with the OVER.  The way both of these teams can move the ball and score, I think Vegas will have a hard time making a total high enough. Much like they have been in the last two Texas games. FREE WINNER: OKLAHOMA ST/TEXAS OVER the total.  Don’t forget you can always get a free winner each and everyday from us by going to www.feeplays.com and clicking on Razor Sharp Sports or you can alwasy call the Razor Sharp Free Pick Phone at 1-800-549-7111.