"All odds by ESPN BET Pick: UNDER 43.5 This total is low for a reason. Both teams are built to win with defense, and Oklahoma's might be the best unit on the field. The Sooners show up where it matters most, top-tier against both the run and pass, allowing just three touchdowns all season. Even in the red zone, opponents are 2-for-7 finding the end zone."
"The pressure battle is also going to decide a lot here. Both fronts can get after the quarterback, but OU's is more disruptive and more consistent at collapsing pockets. That matters against Texas QB Arch Manning, who's been a different player once things break down. He's already taken nine sacks and he scrambled six times against Florida alone."
"In four of his five starts, he's held the ball for three seconds or more (3.32 average), which gives defenses plenty of time to get home and that's a problem against a front like this. That's where drives start stalling out and explosive options disappear. If Texas is going to win, it's probably by leaning on the run, slowing this game down, piecing together 10-, 12- and 14-play drives, which only helps an under ticket."
Oklahoma and Texas are set for a game that favors defenses and a low total. Oklahoma's unit has been dominant against both the run and pass, allowing just three touchdowns and holding opponents to 2-for-7 in the red zone. Pressure from Oklahoma's defensive front consistently collapses pockets and has troubled Texas QB Arch Manning, who has taken nine sacks and scrambled multiple times. Manning's tendency to hold the ball gives defenses more time to get home, leading to stalled drives and fewer explosive plays. Texas will likely need long, grinding drives and a stronger run emphasis to counteract the defensive mismatch, which supports an under ticket.
Read at ESPN.com
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