OU UT Twice Again in 2019?
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
HEAD COACH: LINCOLN RILEY 24-4 (3rd year)
LAST YEAR: 12-2
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TEXAS LONGHORNS
HEAD COACH: TOM HERMAN 17-10 (3rd year at Texas; 39-14; career, 5 years)
LAST YEAR: 10-4
OU or UT? Which will take the other down this year in the Big Twelve? Both the Sooners and Longhorns have their sights set on the Championship game and both also have to consider something higher, a possible top spot to make the Final Four at the end of the season.
Offense:
OU: The Sooners bring in Jalen Hurts from Bama to run the show. He has the experience of winning the National Championship. An average arm in Tuscaloosa but a superior runner Hurts will be effective in Lincoln Riley’s offense. With two freshmen behind him with talent but little experience, the redshirt for Spencer Rattler will give him snaps in some blowout games. Tanner Mordecai will start the season as the backup and will also get game experience when available. OU’s three deep at quarterback could be significant if Hurts gets banged up. OU is deep in all skill positions and will be excellent on the offensive line once the new starters get playing time. Maybe OU will not be as explosive as last year and maybe they just reload and the same devastating offense just continues to roll. Grade: A
UT: Sam Ehlinger begins his third season and the junior is a big strong runner with an average arm. He is a winner and brings that edge to the field. If anything happens to him UT is in trouble. HIs backup, redshirt freshman Casey Thompson should be good in the future but 2019 is not yet his time. Ehlinger has had problems with concussions and that has to be on Tom Herman’s mind every time he throws his large frame into the action. The skilled players that will compliment Ehlinger are good but not great and lack the experience coming into a big game on Sept 7th with LSU. The offensive line has holes to fill. UT will be good at best on offense. Grade: B-
Defense:
OU: Bad was not the appropriate word for OU’s defense label in 2019. Atrocious would be more like it. Can new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch (from The Ohio State Univ.) make a difference managing this group over what has transpired in the recent past? They should be, given the opportunity to reset their defensive mindset. More reaction to the ball and less thinking. Still, the talent level is not up to snuff, and as last year, games could become shootouts. Start with Houston in game one in Norman. Given some pre-season injuries, the Sooners will not be deep and that will also be a worry. I will not mention names and lets see who actually stands out for OU in 2019. Grade: D
UT: The Horns will be very good. Caden Sterns will play on Sunday’s and is one of the best safeties in the country as a sophomore. Malcomb Roach (line) and Joseph Ossai (backer) are standouts and UT will be as good as last year on the defense. Grade: A
Special Teams:
OU: New punter and placement are worrisome for Riley. OU will not be as good in the kicking game. Grade: C
UT: Camerson Dicker is one of the better kickers in the country and the punter Ryan Bujcevski also returns. Grade: A
Outlook: Sooners
OU has the players to challenge for national honors. The names are known. The defense holds the key to a championship season. Points will be scored and point will be given up, in abundance.
Games OU will win: South Dakota (H); Kansas (A); West Virginia (H); Kansas State (A)
Games OU should win: Houston (H); UCLA (A); Texas Tech (H); Iowa State (H); Baylor (A); TCU (H); Oklahoma State (H)
Toss up Games: Texas (N)
Prediction: 11-1 8-1 in conference
Outlook: Longhorns
Games Texas will win: Louisiana Tech (H); Rice (A); Kansas (H); Kansas State (H); Texas Tech (H) West Virginia (A)
Games Texas should win: Oklahoma State (H); TCU (A)
Gamers that Texas will have a fight on their hands but should be favored: Iowa State (A); Baylor (A)
Tossup games: LSU (H); Oklahoma (N)
Prediction: 11-1 8-1 in conference
OU and Texas will play in the Big Twelve Championship game. Both will be in contention for a Final Four slot.
Headline Photo: John Hamilton
Secondary Photo: SBNATION
Yes, I did not pick the winner as of injuries and team improvement how can anyone really say? I think OU will lose a game in conference and that might well be the game in the Cotton Bowl. Texas has a much tougher slate and because their offense will not be as good as OU they might find themselves in more tight games. If given a truth serum, I think OU will win the Championship game but nothing is a given.
The Red River Shoot Out, as it was called for decades, will be another test of wills. I do not see improvement in OU’s offense over last years. Janen Hurts is no Kyler Murray, running or throwing. The OU sieve of a defense will take time to develop. Texas’s offense will be improved. Jordan Whittington (sp) will add a dimension Lil’ Jordan Humphrey couldn’t bring, despite his talent. The offensive line at UT has improved and is solidifying. Sam Ehlinger, will not have to be put in harms way as much. The Texas defense has filled some holes, and will be better than last years unit. All things saying… Texas will be better than last year and the outcome should be the same, without a last second field goal. Cameron Dicker, will make the opposing defenses for any mistakes they make. It will be a “shootout” however Texas should prevail. Ehlinger has the “it” factor.
good summation on the game in Oct. Dec. game, if happening, will be a different animal…
Thank you Fred. I believe the team with the fewest injuries going into the December game has the best chance of winning. Injuries, with teams so well matched always make a difference. Cheers!
OU SUCKS we want Olkahoma to lose
Nice comment Andrew. Did you attend school? You seem to have structural problems with sentences and your use of caps is all wrong too. And your spelling is off. And you missed the period at the end of the sentence. It goes like this: OU sucks. We want Oklahoma to lose.