Oklahoma and Texas meet again for the 116th rendition of this historic rivalry.

The stakes aren’t up to their normal self. The Sooners are playing to keep their Big 12 Championship streak alive. Any loss would virtually knockout their chance of making it the championship game as the No. 2 team in this conference.

Tom Herman desperately needs a win and Texas could stay alive in the Big 12 race. Sam Ehlinger and Herman are 1-3 together against Lincoln Riley and four different Oklahoma quarterbacks.

The Sooners head into Saturday’s game as 2.5-point favorites. They have been favorites in this game every year since 2009 and are 7-3 in the last matchups at the Cotton Bowl.

Here are score predictions from Sooners Wire writers Josh Callaway, Steven Plaisance and Kegan Reneau.

Josh Callaway

It’s honestly hard to know what to make of this game with both teams looking so sloppy through the first couple of Big 12 contests. Despite both of their struggles, I still tend to think that neither is really as bad as it may seem at this point.

The turnover battle is something that really interests me here because it seems like if OU can’t get turnovers it’s going to be tough for them to get stops against Sam Ehlinger and the ‘Horns offense. But, Oklahoma is almost impossibly bad at forcing takeaways and Texas has only turned it over four times total (two fumbles, two interceptions) in their first three games – which is good enough for the top half of teams in the country at this point.

I don’t really care much about Ehlinger having the “experience” advantage over Spencer Rattler, and frankly think it could be used to the young Rattler’s advantage being able to be much looser knowing the pressure is far more on the Longhorn quarterback to have a big day.

Both defenses have had their obvious struggles, and this game has the looks of another classic shootout at the Cotton Bowl.

It’s a 50/50 game, so I’ll go with Oklahoma mostly because they have Lincoln Riley and I can’t wrap my brain around the Sooners losing three straight games for the first time since the pre-Bob Stoops era.

Oklahoma 45, Texas 41

Steven Plaisance

If there’s one area of the team that can cancel out all of the surrounding offensive talent, it’s the offensive line. After seemingly stagnating or potentially taking a step back against Iowa State, the outlook is not bright for this unit in the face of Longhorns defensive end Joseph Ossai.

A strong defensive performance might not even make a difference if Oklahoma fails to establish the run-game for the third straight week. That being said, strong defensive performance isn’t exactly on my bingo card for either team.

This will be an entertaining game, lots of offensive fireworks, lots of missed tackles, maybe some unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Flip a coin to decide which team ends up on top, but I’m favoring the one with a winning record.

Texas 37, Oklahoma 36

Kegan Reneau

You are fooling yourself if you think you know what’s going to happen in this game.

There aren’t a ton of advantages for either team. Sam Ehlinger’s experience should loom large. Spencer Rattler is really good. Both defenses leave a lot to be desired at times.

Oklahoma is 1-2 against Missouri State and the Sun Belt (I kid, I kid), while Texas is coming off its annual loss to Gary Patterson.

The Sooners are 2.5-point favorites.

Get the picture?

That’s why this game is awesome. Who knows what’s going to happen. Definitely means true this year.

The over is up from 70 to 72.5. Suspiciously I want to take the under, too. Both defensive lines are better than average against offensive lines that are struggling.

I think if we go under, Oklahoma wins. Not nine sacks good, but Texas runs a bunch of long developing routes in the passing game and I’d imagine this defense will be up to that challenge. I think Oklahoma will be able to run the football.

Also, Herman going to Herman.

Oklahoma 38 Texas 31