Our Red River Rivalry picks meet in the Cotton Bowl

Red River Rivalry week is here.

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

While the Longhorns are the clear favorite, Oklahoma has controlled the series of late, winning four of the last five matchups in the Cotton Bowl.

Columnists, authors and editors from The Dallas Morning News make their selections for this weekend's game. Check out their predictions below.

Lia Assimakopoulos, college sports insider

Oklahoma may have pulled off the upset as an 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 achieved this year. With Quinn Ewers back under center, the Longhorns should have a big advantage in this year's rivalry game. Texas 45, Oklahoma 24

Colin Capece, sports intern

Texas reclaimed the top spot in the AP poll this week for good reason. The Longhorns are the most talented team in the country and have defeated everyone they have played on offense and defense. Anything can happen in a rivalry game, as last year's game showed, but disappointment from the team south of the Red River isn't going to happen. Texas 38, Oklahoma 20

Tim Cowlishaw, columnist

Oklahoma's road to the SEC was difficult as they lost at home to Tennessee and then fell to Auburn, which suffered four losses. It's good that Frisco Emerson's Michael Hawkins Jr. showed promise as a freshman QB, but this is a tall order for him. The Longhorns have far too much on both sides of the ball for the rivalry nature of this game to allow them to stay close. Texas 40, Oklahoma 17

Selby Lopez, college sports editor

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

Shawn McFarland, sports reporter

Oklahoma could be without a handful of receivers — including its statistical best, Deion Burks — and will use a true freshman quarterback against a defense that allows the second-fewest passing yards per game in the nation. Michael Hawkins Jr. will make some plays, but it's a tall order against an experienced defense and a talented offense to boot. Texas 38, Oklahoma 17.

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 so 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 reporter

For one thing, for the few times in the last two decades, Texas clearly has more talent than Oklahoma – on both sides of the ball. Quinn Ewers will likely start the game rusty, but OU freshman Michael Hawkins will likely be nervous and Longhorns will make up for last year's loss in the final seconds. Texas 31, Oklahoma 20

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