Ball control.  Grind it out on the ground. Play keep away from Oklahoma’s explosive offense and rollup a significant time of possession advantage. That’s the key to victory over Oklahoma right? Maybe.

Last year’s game in the Cotton Bowl, Texas had a significant 33:10 to 26:10 advantage in time of possession but it wasn’t the decisive factor in the game. Oklahoma scored six touchdowns on drives lasting, 2:40, 4:44, 1:11, 2:00, 0:11, and 1:05. That’s an average of 1:59 per touchdown drive. Oklahoma didn’t need much time to score last year and they don’t this year either.

Since 2007, the average number of possessions per team in college football is 13. Oklahoma had 12 possessions (not counting their final possession that came with: 09 left in the game) in last year’s game. They scored on seven of them. 

It would be nice on Saturday if the Texas defense could hold Oklahoma to scoring on less than 50% of their possessions.

Oh yeah, so what was the decisive factor last year?  Turnovers, Oklahoma had three, Texas didn’t turn it over.

See you again tomorrow.

Hook ‘Em,

W.E.