Drubbings will displace drama

By Barker Davis (Contact)

Originally published 04:45 a.m., October 11, 2008, updated 10:45 a.m., October 11, 2008

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There are a few warts on this weekend's massive college football matchups.

Three games featuring five unbeaten teams and the nation's top four Heisman candidates dominate Saturday's college football docket. On the surface, it looks like a day to cash in some honey-do chits and cozy up on the couch to enjoy some high drama, high stakes and a few more strokes of BCS and Heisman clarity.

Look a little closer, however, and two of the three games seem more likely to yield walkovers than nail-biters.

No. 1 Oklahoma (5-0) vs. No. 5 Texas (5-0), Noon (Chs. 7, 2): At first blush, this edition of the Red River Rivalry looks like a potential classic. For the first time since 2004, both the Sooners and Longhorns enter the game unbeaten and ranked in the top five. Heisman Trophy contenders lead both offenses at quarterback. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Texas' Colt McCoy have combined to throw 34 touchdown passes against only six interceptions this season.

Defensively, the Sooners remain stout under coach Bob Stoops. And after a pedestrian performance in 2007, the Longhorns' defense has thrived under first-year coordinator Will Muschamp. Thanks in large part to Muschamp's fire and scheme, Texas leads the nation in sacks (3.8 a game) and ranks first in the Big 12 in rushing defense (51.8 yards).

"He's really intense - that's obvious to anyone who watches us," Texas coach Mack Brown said of Muschamp. "He doesn't allow anyone to take a lazy step."

Unfortunately for the Longhorns, close scrutiny of the matchup reveals a few major advantages for the Sooners.

First, the Longhorns have an average secondary (ranked 96th in the nation against the pass). Pressuring Bradford to protect that secondary is a must, but that will prove difficult against arguably the nation's best offensive line.

The five starters along the Sooners starting offensive line average 6-foot-5, 310 pounds. Five of Oklahoma's six regulars up front are seniors who have combined to make 150 career starts.

There's also a lead lining to the Longhorns' success on offense. While McCoy directs the nation's sixth-highest scoring offense (47.2 points), Texas has yet to locate a legitimate threat at tailback. McCoy leads the Longhorns in rushing (317 yards) by a comfortable margin, a disconcerting statistic given his solid though unspectacular skills as a runner.

"Nobody has really stepped up for them at tailback," Oklahoma defensive end Auston English said. "Colt McCoy is their leading rusher, so I guess that's where they're at right now."

Chances are, the Longhorns won't like where they're at on the scoreboard late Saturday afternoon.

No. 17 Oklahoma State (5-0) at No. 3 Missouri (5-0), 8 p.m. (ESPN2): The Big 12's second marquee matchup also screams potential bust. Oklahoma State's five victories have come against teams with a combined 6-13 record against Football Bowl Subdivision squads.

Facing Missouri at night in Columbia is likely to shock the Cowboys. The Tigers pounded Illinois at a neutral site and handed Nebraska its most lopsided loss in Lincoln (52-17) since 1955. At the helm of the nation's No. 2 scoring offense (53.4 points), Missouri senior quarterback Chase Daniel has thrown 15 touchdown passes and one interception.

"We want seven points every time we step on the field and touch the football," Daniel said.

No. 4 LSU (4-0) at No. 11 Florida (4-1), 8 p.m. (Chs. 9, 13): Saturday's featured SEC clash has all the ingredients of a donnybrook. The Tigers boast the nation's best defensive line and have played better football this season than the Gators, who have a nonexistent rushing game and dropped their last game in the Swamp to Ole Miss.

LSU junior defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois told reporters Monday his Tigers would attempt to knock out Florida's Tim Tebow.

"If we get a good shot on [Tebow], we're going to try our best to take him out of the game," Jean-Francois said. "I think every lineman wants to get a good hit on a Heisman Trophy winner."

After a visiting opponent threatened their leader, expect the Gators to have enough energy to light up the entire Eastern seaboard.

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