Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, top 25 predictions for Week Seven of 2019
No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners vs. No. 11 Texas Longhorns
Line: Oklahoma -10.5; Over/Under: 76.5; TV: Fox
Saturday, Oct. 12 at Noon E.T.; Cotton Bowl; Dallas, Texas
Last year’s Red River Shootout truly was a shootout, and expectations are that it will be the same this year. But will the upset be the same? As Jalen Hurts continues to put up Heisman-like numbers as the new quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners, he has a new challenger in Sam Ehlinger, who has emerged for the Texas Longhorns.
That battle of quarterbacks means this one should become a thriller, just like it was last year. Despite Texas having just one loss, they are still very much in the College Football Playoff hunt, and a win Saturday would give them a huge boost. After all, losing by a touchdown to the LSU Tigers isn’t looking so bad right now.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma needs this victory because its their one chance at a quality win on the year. If they don’t pull this off, it could become hard to justify putting them in the playoff unless the avenge UT in a Big 12 championship game. But what’s clear is the fact that Hurts needs this to keep up his Heisman hype as well.
Prediction
Tennessee football would kill for either of these offense. It doesn’t matter that the over/under is set at 76.5. Take the over. Another shootout is in the works. As for the spread, that’s a bit more difficult, but we have enough respect for Texas to say this will be a close game with Oklahoma winning late. So take the Sooners in a shootout that hits the over, but they don’t cover.