Jonathan Lee    AccuScore Analyst
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(1) Oklahoma vs. (5) Texas

The annual game between Oklahoma and Texas has not been this important since 2004 when the No. 2 Sooners dismantled Vince Young and the No. 5 Longhorns 12-0. Sam Bradford threw three touchdown passes to lead the Sooners to a 28-21 win last season. This time around the stakes are much higher.

McCoy is having a terrific season, but will
need help to beat OU.

Both squads feature explosive offenses ranked in the top six in scoring in the nation. Oklahoma is led by ultra-efficient Bradford at quarterback. The junior has completed 72 percent of his passes for 1665 yards and a 6-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. One in every six passes he throws has gone for a score this season. Bradford shares the wealth too as four different receivers have caught at least three touchdowns and each has over 250 yards receiving. All four have also caught touchdowns of 42 yards or longer. The Sooners also have a devastating ground game with a trio of great backs. DeMarco Murray is the dynamic NFL talent and has piled up 413 yards and five scores. Chris Brown might not be as explosive as Murray, but he is simply a touchdown machine already finding the end zone six times. Mosis Madu has 186 yards and three touchdowns playing behind two of the best backs in the nation.

Texas is putting up 47.2 points and 472 yards per contest, but looking deeper it doesn’t quite add up. Quarterback Colt McCoy is a legitimate Heisman candidate posting numbers that look more impressive than Vince Young back in 2005. McCoy is completing a ludicrous 79 percent of his throws for 1280 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has virtually eliminated the turnover problems he had last season throwing just three interceptions so far. He is also the team’s leading rusher with 317 yards and another four scores. The main problem with the offense is the fact that McCoy is so vital to the ground game. Three different running backs, Vondrell McGee, Chris Ogbonnaya, and Cody Johnson, have started games in the backfield. The three have rushed for a combined 473 yards or just 60 more than Murray alone. The Longhorns have also lost tight end Blaine Irby, and have not been able to utilize the position as a weapon any longer. Replacements Greg Smith and Peter Ullman have just one catch between the two.

Oklahoma is a complete team with a balanced, explosive offense and terrific playmaking defense. The Sooners will also finally be healthy on Saturday welcoming back several players on the defensive line. That is bad news for the Longhorns who rely too much on McCoy to make plays and keep the offense moving. Texas absolutely needs a tailback to step up and have a big game to keep the chains moving. Freshman Fozzy Whitaker is the most explosive player, but he has battled injuries all season. Ogbonnaya is more of a weapon catching the ball. Either Johnson or McGee will have to step up their games. Also remember that Texas is starting two freshmen at safety. Bradford and Oklahoma will take plenty of shots deep to test the young players in the Longhorn secondary. In the end, the spread favoring the Sooners by 6.5 points is justified. Oklahoma is the best team in the Big 12, and possibly the nation.

MORE GAMES TO WATCH

(4) LSU at (11) Florida
Just like your typical SEC game, expect to see plenty of big plays made on the defensive side of the ball. If you want offense see the Big 12. Florida is the more explosive team on offense, but has not yet looked quite the same as the past two seasons. Current AccuScore projections have both teams under 30 points in what should be a tight affair. One big play, perhaps on special teams or on offense, could easily swing this pivotal conference showdown.

(17) Oklahoma State at (3) Missouri
Both Big 12 teams are undefeated and feature explosive offenses. Sound familiar? Missouri gets to host the Cowboys at home, and that should be a big advantage. Oklahoma State utilizes a more ground-based attack, but the Tigers are ranked 15^th in the nation in rush defense allowing under 100 yards a game. Add that to the fact that the Cowboys will need to pass to keep up on the scoreboard, and it could get a bit more difficult to stay true to their offense and stay on the ground.

(13) Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
The Commodores still sit all alone at the top of the SEC East at 5-0, 3-0 in conference. Being on top means they have to win games like this. No road game in the SEC is a given, but if Vandy wants to be taken seriously and reach a bowl game a win over the bottom-feeding Bulldogs is an absolute must. Chris Nickson is banged up so Mike McKenzie is likely to be the quarterback for another week.

The Cardinals could easily end the season
with a perfect record

(25) Ball State at Western Kentucky
The school best known for producing late-night host David Letterman is – surprise, surprise – unbeaten at 6-0 and ranked in the polls. Ball State is completely legitimate. The Cardinals have averaged 39.7 points and would be even better if their best player, wide receiver Dante Love, hadn’t suffered a career-ending injury. The loss of Love is not insignificant. He caught 100 passes last season for 1398 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had 25 catches and 433 yards through three games this year. Despite his absence, the offense has kept plugging along. Playing in the MAC, this is the most likely team in the nation to go undefeated. A trip to Central Michigan on 11/20 is the toughest game left on the slate.

QUICK-HITTERS
• Five of the top six and six of the top nine scoring offenses in the nation hail from the Big 12. Tulsa is tops averaging 56.4 points per game.

• Mitch Mustain is backing up Mark Sanchez at USC and may never get the chance to start full-time. He should have followed his high school coach Gus Malzahn who was also his offensive coordinator his freshman year at Arkansas. Malzahn moved to Tulsa and is leading the highest scoring offense in the country with an unknown senior quarterback named David Johnson. Johnson’s 2008 stats (his only season as a starter): 1682 yards, 23 touchdowns, 214.8 QB rating. Mustain’s USC totals: 2 games, 9 passes, 121 yards and 2 touchdowns.

• Oregon fans aren’t too fond of UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, and he didn’t endear himself to them in prior trips there with Colorado and Washington. Surely the Ducks will welcome him warmly on Saturday.

• Arizona State has fallen hard and fast. With Rudy Carpenter injured it is likely back-up Danny Sullivan will start at USC. The Trojans had their own injury scare, but it appears Mark Sanchez has sufficiently recovered and will start. Back-up bowl: USC vs. ASU

• North Carolina and Notre Dame square off in what should be a battle for respect. The Tar Heels are ranked and want to stay there. The Domers want to get into the polls and into the BCS. To accomplish either goal, both teams need a win.

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