Free College Football Picks Today: Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns 10/8/22

The No. 22 University of Texas Longhorns (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) face the University of Oklahoma Sooners (3-2, 0-2 Big 12) at Cotton Bowl on Saturday. The Longhorns are seven-point favorites, and the total is 65.5.Texas is coming off an impressive 38-20 win over West Virginia at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium/Jamail Field last Saturday. Hudson Card threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns. Bijan Robinson ran 21 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. He added two receptions for 34 yards. Xavier Worthy caught seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Oklahoma lost 55-24 to TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium last Saturday. Dillon Gabriel was 7 of 16 for 176 yards. Jovantae Barnes carried 18 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Brayden Willis had two receptions for 81 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Sooners won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 55-48 victory in October, their fourth straight win against Texas. Caleb Williams threw two touchdowns for Oklahoma, as Kennedy Brooks added two TDs and Marvin Mims scored twice. Casey Thompson tossed five touchdowns for Texas, as Xavier Worthy found the end zone twice.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Longhorns are averaging 36.8 points per game for the season, seventh in the Big 12, and they are facing a Sooners defense that has surrendered 25.2 PPG (8th). Meanwhile, Oklahoma has scored 37.0 points a game this season, sixth in the conference, and Texas is allowing 21.4 PPG (4th). The Longhorns rank 46th in the country in passing yards per game (263.0) and 69th in rushing (154.4). Look for them to exploit a matchup advantage on the ground, as the Sooners are 119th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (198.2). Against the pass, Oklahoma is 65th (224.8). Oklahoma has been one of the nation’s top rushing teams, averaging 220.8 yards per game (14th), while ranking 49th in passing yards (260.6). The Longhorns are allowing 246.6 passing yards (90th) and 120.2 rushing yards per game (42nd).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through five games, Hudson Card has thrown for six touchdowns (1 INT) and 184.6 yards per game to lead Texas in passing. In one previous game away from home this season, he had two TDs (1 INT) and 277 yards passing. Bijan Robinson leads the team in rushing with an average of 103.0 yards a game over five games. He’s also contributed to the aerial attack with 37.6 receiving yards a game. He has eight touchdowns on the ground. Xavier Worthy is the Longhorns’ leading receiver with 66.2 yards a game and three TDs. Dillon Gabriel has 11 passing touchdowns with 243.0 yards per game through five games to lead Oklahoma. Eric Gray has been the team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 92.0 yards a game through five games. He has three touchdowns. Marvin Mims has been a key target in the Sooners’ aerial attack. He has three touchdowns and an 87.6 yard per game average through five appearances.