It's hard for me to get a good read on this game because both teams are actually very similar. Texas has been lethargic in every game, with the UNC game being the only one where we showed any emotion or playbook.
I know we have the talent to win this game. We are loaded, but we have yet to put together a full game and gel as a team.This is probably the first game since I could actually remember where I really don't have a clue how Texas is going to do.
I'm convinced that we'll play a 3-3-5 for most of our snaps. We'll ditch a DT in favor of Cedric Griffin. Tubbs will be all by his lonesome inside and he'll be expected to control OU's interior OL. Redding and our DE opposite will be crashing inside a great deal to help him.
Our pass rush will come from our LB's and our secondary, not our DL -- unless it's third and long or if OU's OL just can't handle Tubbs' strength or Pickryl's recovery speed. We'll continue to zone blitz and look for a push inside from Tubbs and whatever LB we'll have blitzing off of his hip. Lee Jackson will also be coming outside. No doubt we'll bring DJ, but I expect he'll be used more often as a cleanup guy who runs free and makes plays in the running game and short passing game. The playmaker may well be whatever guy we bring from the secondary on CB blitzes (I hope these are rare) or late safety blitzes down the middle.
OU's natural temptation will be to go to their two back set and see if they can run inside or fake inside and run their little outside toss play. By formation, they should be able to do that. They'll have us outnumbered. However, I seriously question whether their personnel can pull it off. If they can, then that will open up a lot of things for them. Our basic gambit is that three DL can control the LOS, freeing up our little guys to mix coverages, zone blitz, and wreak havoc. If they can't exploit that, it'll be a long day for the Sooners.
All in all, this is a tough game to cap and taking a side is more of a crap shoot IMO. Like Gregg said above, it should be another low scoring affair and I'm anticipating the total as the under might be the best bet here.
Would like to hear Roger's opinion as well.
