Cheerleaders wave a Texas Longhorns flag during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma at … [+]
The big games in college football are becoming more meaningful as the 2024 season continues through October. Week 7 features four big Top 25 matchups including the annualy Red River Rivalry in Dallas between the No. 1 Texas Longhorns and No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners. Both teams are rested and ready off a bye week, and this SEC ‘Showdown’ is attracting big watch and wager action.
That’s despite sports fans and bettors in Texas and Oklahoma being unable to place wagers inside their state borders at U.S. Sportsbooks. But other options are available for those fans of their favorite college football teams or any NCAA games. Leading offshore betting sites like BetOnline in Panama and affiliate site SportsBetting.ag continue to take bets from sports fans in Texas, Oklahoma and also hugely populated California and Florida.
But just as wagering on this year’s polarizing political cycle and U.S. Presidential race has become most popular among Americans, so too is watching and wagering on the annual Red River Showdown. This year’s 120th edition of the Red River Rivalry has greater influence on the new 12-team playoff and SEC football standings with the Texas Longhorns curently ranked No. 1 in the nation.
“No matter what the state of either program is, the Red River Rivalry always attracts a very healthy handle from not just the die-hard fans and bettors in Texas and Oklahoma, but around the entire country,” SportsBetting.ag sportsbook manager said in an email. “It’s the third-most bet matchup at this point in Week 7.”
That’s behind the Big Ten battle in Eugene between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Oregon.
- No. 1 Texas (-14.5) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma (in Dallas, Texas) | 3:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+
College football odds from BetOnline and affiliate SportsBetting.ag refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. All times Eastern and betting favorites (-) listed.
Sports Betting Wagering Terms
BetOnline is also offering Texas -14 (-128 odds) looking for more wagering action on the Longhorns. That’s partly because BetOnline is reporting that the Oklahoma Sooners have taken the second most number of bets behind Ohio State (-3) in Saturday’s college football games. By kickoff on game day, the amount of money wagered on the Longhorns-Sooners contest should be among the most bet games this season, along with Ohio State-Oregon.
“We opened this line way back in May at Texas -9. Of course, the Longhorns have exceed expectations while the Sooners have been about status quo, so the number has moved in the favorite’s direction,” BetOnline affiliate SportsBetting.ag adds.
The Longhorns are in top 5 in the country in yards per play, yards per game and points per game margins. Texas features one of the best offensive lines in college football in front or returing QB Quinn Ewers (oblique injury Sept. 14). But Oklahoma counters with a defense that has registered 19 sacks (No. 5 in country) led by edge rusher R Mason Thomas (5.5).
Texas is the largest betting favorite (-14.5) in this series since 2005, which was the last time the Longhorns won the National Title (Vince Young was QB and Rose Bowl MVP and current North Carolina coach Mack Brown was Longhorns head coach). But 9 of the last 11 Longhorns-Sooners football games have been decided by 8 pts or less. Oklahoma has won four of the last five meetings including last season 34-30 as a 5-point underdog when the Sooners entered No. 12 and Texas ranked No. 3 in the country.
Sooners freshman QB Michael Hawkins Jr. is a Dallas native and plays in his fourth game while making his second start. He’s a duel-threat speedster, but will be without a number of OU leading receivers on the injured list. Hawkins will become the first Oklahoma quarterback to start the Red River Showdown as a true freshman. He’ll need time to pass and escapability with Longhorns fellow freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons leading Texas with 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. His 90.2 Pro Football Focus pass rushing grade ranks seventh nationally among all edge rushers who’ve played at least 20% of their team’s snaps.
Simmons plays alongside senior DT Vernon Broughton, PFF’s highest graded defensive tackle (87.7). The Texas Longhorns secondary rates No. 1 in the country by PFF, as they lead the nation in coverage grade and have only surrendered a 57.7 passer rating, the third-lowest in America.
Texas has a huge game next Saturday in Austin against the Georgia Bulldogs. But first things first, and the Longhorns will win and avoid any upset by the Sooners. The lean is still Oklahoma’s way if betting the spread, but a better play is under the game total of 49 points.
You can bet on it.
MORE FROM FORBES