One of the most historic feuds in college football will join the long list of SEC rivalries on Saturday when the No. 1 Texas Longhorns take on the No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas (3:30 p.m. on ABC/ ESPN+ ).

The Longhorns got some positive news on Monday when coach Steve Sarkisian announced that QB Quinn Ewers would be ready to start the game after missing the past two games with an oblique injury. Meanwhile, the Sooners enter Saturday afternoon with a new QB at the helm. Freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., who played against sophomore Jackson Arnold in Oklahoma’s Week 5 win over the Auburn Tigers, will start. The line opened at Texas -14.5 and has remained the same all week, with the total also holding steady at 50.5 on Sunday.

The Longhorns lead the series on Saturday 63-51-5.

Odds current as of publication time, courtesy of ESPN BET

The lines

Spread: Texas (-14.5)
Moneyline: Texas (-650), Oklahoma (+475)
Top/bottom: 50.5

Distribution over the first half: Texas -7.5 (-105), Oklahoma +7.5 (-115)
Moneyline first half: Texas (-475), Oklahoma (+320)
Total points first half: O/U 25.5 points (-115, -115)

Pamela Maldonado’s choice: Texas-Oklahoma UNDER 50.5 points

Oklahoma ranks 25th in total defense. This team is made up of players who excel at creating turnovers, pressuring quarterbacks and making crucial stops. R Mason Thomas leads a pass-rush unit rated seventh by PFF, which has generated 18 total sacks (tied for fifth) and 13 total turnovers (tied for third).

Quarterback Quinn Ewers returns from injury to start for Texas, where he may be dealing with rust after a month-long absence. This could prompt Oklahoma to drop more players into coverage and focus on confusing Ewers with different looks instead of relying heavily on blitzes. Ewers has thrown two interceptions in his three games played, so the Longhorns could adjust their game plan to rely more on the run game or quick, short passes to minimize risk. Both strategies could contribute to a slower pace and a methodical attacking style that favors the bottom side.

Oklahoma’s offense lacks explosiveness and ranks 123rd in offensive success rate. Quarterbacks Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins Jr. have combined for just two passes for 20 yards, while the seven running backs have generated just 22 explosive runs, with Jovantate Barnes responsible for seven of those.

I expect both defenses to play a key role in keeping the total under 49, similar to what we saw in Oklahoma’s game against Tennessee. If I had to pick a side, I’d lean or pass Texas -14. The Sooners’ offense simply lacks the playmakers to compete effectively.

Betting Trends

Courtesy of ESPN Research

• Texas enters Saturday as a double-digit favorite over Oklahoma for the third time since 1978 (-21 in 1996, -14 in 2005).

• Oklahoma is a 14-point underdog (+15 vs. No. 1 Alabama) for the first time since the 2018 CFP semifinals.

• A total of 49.5 points would be the lowest O/U in this matchup since 2014 (46.5). The over has occurred in three of the past four meetings.

More from ESPN