A Red River Runaway?

Published on 6-Oct-2018 by Sportbet Staff

Football - NCAA    NCAA Football Daily Stake

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A Red River Runaway?

Here they go for the 113th time.

The Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns will be getting together at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas for the latest rendition of the Red River Rivalry.

You wouldn't know it from recent results, but the 'Horns hold a commanding 61-45-6 record over the years. Still, this is one of those times where every cliché in the book is warranted.

So throw out all the records ...

 

OK. That's outta the way.

Bovada has the line at Sooners -7½ and the over/under at 61.

Why bet on Texas ...

The Longhorns are on a four-game winning streak after wetting the bed in its season-opener with a disastrous 34-29 road loss to the Maryland Terrapins as 12-point favorites.

Moreover, head-coach Tom Herman is a smart choice when his team is the betting underdog. Over his career, Herman is 9-1 ATS as an underdog. Plus Texas has covered the betting spread in five straight head-to-head tilts as an underdog.

 

Why bet on Oklahoma ...

The Sooners have only lost once in 29 games against Big 12 opponents dating back to the 2015 season. That includes winning the last ten straight. Some would argue, though, who have they played?

Their most recent loss was to Iowa State on 7 Oct 2017. Since then Oklahoma is 13-0 SU and 7-6 ATS over its last 13 regular season games.

 

Instant analysis ...

Not since 2012 have both the Sooners and Longhorns entered the Red River Showdown ranked in the top 20.

That makes this game too close to call. In rivalry games too close to call, I always love betting on the underdog.

If you need betting trends to back up my pick, Oklahoma is 6-2 SU record in their last eight games against the Longhorns. But the Sooners are 0-5 ATS in the previous five games of this head-to-head series.

ATS pick: Texas +7½

Bet at 5dimes

Result: Texas 48 Oklahoma 45 ... Longhorns cover

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Sportbet Columnist: Noah Williams

Noah lives and works with a simple philosophy of “Eat, Drink, Football.” This is embodied through a dedication to satellite TV, Indian delivery, Folgers in his cup, and Budweiser. He lives in a secret lair with his beautiful concubine.