Game of the Week
Top-ranked Oklahoma was already looking ahead, not even taking time to celebrate another lopsided victory over Baylor.
Finally, the much-anticipated annual matchup against Texas is next on the schedule.
“Everybody in the locker room is fired up about it and that week is here,” coach Bob Stoops said minutes after the Sooners’ 49-17 victory at Baylor. “You want an opportunity to win the (Big 12) South and continue to compete for a national championship. … We’ve handled our business up to this point.”
So have the fifth-ranked Longhorns, leading to another top-five showdown for their annual second-Saturday-in-October meeting in the middle of the Texas State Fair.
“You get a win, it sets you up down the road to keep chugging away,” linebacker Ryan Reynolds said.
Ranked No. 1 for the first time since 2003 and playing a team they’ve never lost against, the Sooners (5-0) made sure Saturday that there was no chance of another upset before the Red River shootout. They scored only 70 seconds into their Big 12 opener, and led Baylor 28-0 in the first quarter.
“I think everybody wanted us to look ahead to Texas, but we’ve seen plenty of No. 1 teams get beat by looking ahead to the next game,” said Manuel Johnson, who got wide open for a 53-yard touchdown catch on the Sooners’ third play – after Baylor had already punted.
The Sooners remained No. 1 in the new AP poll Sunday, their record 97th time at the top. They had 51 of a possible 65 first-place votes, eight more than a week earlier when they broke a tie with Notre Dame for 95 appearances at No. 1.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Oklahoma –7 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Saturday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 58% of bets for this game have been placed on Oklahoma -7 View College Football bet percentages).
Texas, also 5-0 after a 38-14 victory Saturday night at Colorado, stayed at No. 5 in the new poll.
The Sooners and Longhorns will be meeting for the 103rd time in their rivalry, and it will be the fourth time in eight seasons that both are ranked in the top five.
“We have to stay focused, stay on that edge, so we can play our best,” defensive end Jeremy Beal said.
Oklahoma and Texas both lost the week before last year’s matchup, the Sooners at Colorado and Longhorns against Kansas State. With their national championship hopes damaged beyond repair, the Sooners rebounded to avoid an 0-2 conference start, winning at the Cotton Bowl to start a run to their fifth Big 12 title.
“It’s always a big game and we’re looking forward to it. We’re going to prepare like every other week. We know it’s a big game, but we’ve got to keep our heads on and come out and be ready,” receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. “Whoever wins that game has a big jump on other people.”
Oklahoma has won the past three games when both were ranked in the top five, most recently 12-0 in 2004.
On Saturday against Baylor (2-3), Sam Bradford was 23-of-31 passing for 372 yards and two touchdowns, DeMarco Murray ran for two scores, and four other Sooners got into the end zone. Oklahoma has won all 18 games in the series.
“We knew we had to take care of business in order to be in a position going into next week,” Bradford said. “After getting this one behind us, we’re looking forward to next week.”
The Sooners got off to another big start against Baylor, and have now outscored their opponents 103-3 in the first quarter. Oklahoma scored on six of its first seven possessions and led 42-14 after Chris Brown’s 3-yard TD only 3 1/2 minutes into the second half.
“Obviously there’s going to be a lot more emotion and energy going into this game,” Bradford said. “You have to settle down and just treat it like any other game, you can’t get out of what you’re used to doing.
“We’ll stay with the things that we’ve done this year. They’ve been good to us, there’s no reason to change it now.”
Top Betting Trends:
All games in this series since 1992
OKLAHOMA is 8-8 against the spread versus TEXAS since 1992
OKLAHOMA is 8-7 straight up against TEXAS since 1992
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1992
Games over the last 3 seasons
TEXAS is 2-0 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA is 1-1 straight up against TEXAS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
Key Player Injuries:
TEXAS
[RB] Foswhitt Whittaker downgraded to doubtful – Kidney – 09/30/08
[FB] Luke Tiemann left last game, out for season – ACL – 09/29/08
[TE] Blaine Irby is expected to miss the rest of the season. – Knee – 09/2
[TE] Josh Marshall out indefinitely – Shoulder – 09/01/08
[DB] Ishie Oduegwu out indefinitely – Shoulder – 09/01/08
OKLAHOMA
[DB] Jonathan Nelson left last game, expected to miss 6 weeks – Knee – 09/
[OT] Branndon Braxton left last game, "?". – Leg – 09/28/08
[OL] Trent Williams left last game %27?%27 – Ankle – 09/28/08
[DT] DeMarcus Granger will be out at least 4 weeks and could miss the rest
[DE] John Williams is out indefinitely. – Personal – 09/02/08
[TE] Eric Mensik is expected to miss at least 4 weeks. – Ankle – 09/24/08
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