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Our Red River Rivalry picks collide in the Cotton Bowl
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Our Red River Rivalry picks collide in the Cotton Bowl

Red River Rivalry week is here.

No. No. 1 Texas (5-0) and No. 20 Oklahoma (4-1) will face each other for the 120th time in their history, but for the first time as SEC foes.

Although the Longhorns are the heavy favorite, Oklahoma has been in control of the series lately, winning four of the last five games in the Cotton Bowl.

Columnists, writers and editors of The Dallas Morning News make their choice for this weekend’s match. Check out their predictions below.

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Lia Assimakopoulos, college sports insider

Oklahoma may have been the underdog last year, but through five games this season, Texas has shown that it is playing at a level that few teams in the country have reached this year. With Quinn Ewers back under center, the Longhorns should have a big lead in this year’s rivalry game. Texas 45, Oklahoma 24

Colin Capece, sports trainee

It is not without reason that Texas regained the number 1 position in the AP poll this week. The Longhorns are the most talented team in the country, and they have targeted everyone they have played on both offense and defense. Anything can happen in a rivalry game, as last year’s game proved, but a disappointment from the team south of the Red River won’t happen. Texas38, Oklahoma20

Tim Cowlishaw, columnist

Oklahoma’s journey to the SEC was a tough one, losing at home to Tennessee and then edging past Auburn with four losses. It’s a good thing that Michael Hawkins Jr. of Frisco Emerson has shown promise as a freshman QB, but this is a tall order for him. Longhorns have far too much on both sides of the ball to stay close due to the rivalry nature of this game. Texas40, Oklahoma17

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Selby Lopez, college sports editor

It’s not unheard of for a freshman quarterback to lead his team to victory in the Red River Rivalry (just ask Caleb Williams). Still, it’s tough to pin down freshman QB Michael Hawkins Jr. to keep pace with Quinn Ewers and the high-powered Texas offense in his second career start. Texas takes this one, but Oklahoma will put up a better fight than expected. Texas 36, Oklahoma 24

Shawn McFarland, sportscaster

Oklahoma may be without a handful of receivers — including its statistical best, Deion Burks — and will start a true freshman quarterback against a defense that has allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game nationally. Michael Hawkins Jr. will make some plays, but it’s a tall order against a veteran-laden defense and a talented offense to boot. Texas38, Oklahoma17.

Kevin Sherrington, columnist

On paper this is a mismatch. Texas has at least two more NFL-caliber QBs on its roster than Oklahoma, and the Sooners have struggled thus far in their SEC debut. But facts, like diets, often mean little at the State Fair. The Longhorns win, but they will pay for it. Texas 31, Oklahoma 21.

Brad Townsend, sports business reporter

For one of the few times in the past two decades, Texas clearly has more talent than Oklahoma – on both sides of the ball. Quinn Ewers will likely enter the game rusty, but true freshman Michael Hawkins will likely be nervous and the Longhorns will pay for last year’s final-second loss. Texas31, Oklahoma20

    SEC and Big Ten say 12-team CFP needs to “go incredibly well” before any changes are considered
    In a shift from recent Red River history, Texas now has the upper hand at QB over Oklahoma

Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Find more Texas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.