There is a forum called “Texas Gun Talk” and Texans are known as being some of the most gun-crazed inhabitants in the world. However, after 105 years of the Red River Shootout, this Saturday the Lone Star States gives us the fifth year of the Red River Rivalry.

But no matter what those ignorant cowboys or the corporate fascists decide to label the Oklahoma-Texas game (they changed the name because they didn’t want anyone to think that the sponsors or fans promote gun violence) there is no denying that it is one of the biggest rivalries in sports and that it is one of the most anticipated events on the college football schedule.

This weekend No. 8 Oklahoma faces off with No. 16 Texas in this critical clash. The Sooners are small favorites in this game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Cotton Bowl. The winner of this game will establish itself as the Top Dog in the Big 12 and give itself the inside track to the conference championship game. Much like with the SEC, the Big 12 title game has been a virtual playoff game, with the victor rolling into the BCS National Championship.

Neither club enters this game with any significant momentum and both teams struggled last year in what were obvious look-ahead situations. Texas was stunned, 34-12, by an undermanned UCLA team while Oklahoma barely survived in Cincinnati against a Bearcats team that likely won’t be bowling this year.

It will obviously be more difficult for Texas to pick itself up off the mat after last week’s debacle in Austin. The Longhorns turned the ball over five times and were never really in the game in the second half. Coach Mack Brown apologized to his team’s fans after the game, but there was no denying that the Longhorns were suffering a letdown after a tight in-state rivalry win against Texas Tech the week before, while also looking ahead to this Saturday’s Big Game.

The Sooners are undefeated on the season, but they have actually been outgained in three of their four games. Besides blasting Florida State at home in Week 2 Oklahoma has beaten Utah State, Air Force and Cincinnati by an average of just four points. In fact, the Sooners have been underwhelming dating back to last season and they are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 times on the field.

Texas will again enjoy the major advantage of playing this game in its backyard. But one edge that Oklahoma carries into this contest is the fact that their starting quarterback, Landry Jones, is the only one with experience playing in this monster rivalry game. Jones came in after Sam Bradford was knocked out of the game last year. Jones played relatively well, given the circumstances, and kept the Sooners in it while throwing for 250 yards. But two late interceptions sunk any comeback hopes.

The situation with Jones in last year’s RRR is similar to what happened to Garrett Gilbert last year in the national title game. And with similar results.

Texas has been much better defensively, boasting the No. 2 stop unit in the country (No. 6 against the pass). Oklahoma, on the other hand, is ranked just No. 97 overall and was run over by Air Force’s option attack and ripped through by Utah State’s passing game. Conversely, OU has had less trouble putting the ball in the end zone (No. 36 in scoring) compared to Texas’ subpar attack (No. 68 in scoring).

A key stat in this contest is rushing yards. The team that has won the battle on the ground is a perfect 10-0 in the last 10 meetings.

Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners Football Betting Odds
Oklahoma is the favorite heading into this key rivalry game. They are currently listed at -3.5 or -4.0, depending on the book. That is a slight movement from an open of OU at -2.5. The total for this game is set at 45.0.

Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners Betting Trends
Longhorns are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
Underdog is 3-0-1 ATS in their last four meetings.
Sooners are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
Sooners are 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine games following a S.U. win.
Longhorns are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games following a S.U. loss.
Longhorns are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall.
Longhorns are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a SU loss of more than 20 points.
Longhorns are 0-4-1 ATS in their last five neutral site games.

Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners College Football Picks and Predictions
While both of these clubs are still among the college football elite, neither is as strong as they have been over the last several years when they were playing for national titles. Texas ruined is shot at a third title game in the last seven years last week by getting rocked by UCLA. But Oklahoma still has national title aspirations alive. But they need this game.

There has been no in-between with these clubs over the last decade, with Oklahoma covering the spread five straight times from 2000 to 2004 and then Texas taking the cash from 2005 to 2009. After losing four of the last five meetings I think that it is time for the Sooners to reclaim the crown.

Robert Ferringo is a writer and a professional NFL and college football handicapper for Doc’s Sports. So far this year he has banked $2,500 in profit for his football picks clients and has brought in nearly $4,000 in football profit while posting three straight winning football months. He has a College Football Game of the Month on the card this week and he’s looking for more today. You can sign up for his college football and NFL picks and get more information here.