The Red River Showdown between the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns always means something extra for these storied, bitter rivals. But the 117th meeting, which takes place Saturday at 11 a.m. local time (noon ET), carries even more importance.

No. 6 Oklahoma has been the favorite in each of the past 10 matchups with No. 21 Texas. This time, the unbeaten Sooners sit as 3.5-point favorites on the current college football odds table. That’s a sign of how positively both teams are perceived, considering eight of the past 10 spreads in the Red River Showdown have been a touchdown or greater.

The Longhorns have lost three in a row and five of six in this rivalry, including a quadruple-overtime defeat last season. If Texas is truly “back,” as college football fans often ponder, this is a game they need to win. Check out our college football picks for this matchup.

All college football odds are current as of publication. Betting sites may indicate odds changes closer to kickoff.

5 Keys to Oklahoma vs Texas

Thompson’s time: After starting the season on the wrong end of a quarterback timeshare, Texas junior Casey Thompson has risen to claim the job as his own. Over the past three weeks, Thompson has a 71.4% completion rate and eight passing touchdowns versus three interceptions, helping guide the Longhorns to a three-game win streak.

Unconvincing victories: Aside from a 76-point drubbing of FCS Western Carolina in Week 2, Oklahoma has failed to secure a comfortable win against FBS foes. In four games against FBS opponents — all of whom were double-digit underdogs — the Sooners’ largest margin of victory has been seven points.

Top 10 vs. Top 10: Texas has the fifth-ranked rushing offense (268.8 yards/game), and Oklahoma has the seventh-ranked rushing defense (83.6 yards/game). Most of the Longhorns’ rush attack comes courtesy of Bijan Robinson, whose 652 yards on the ground are second in the country. Something’s gotta give.

Turning over a new leaf: Oklahoma might be less of a run-and-gun offense than we’re used to, but they also boast a more turnover-conscious unit. The Sooners have committed four turnovers (just two in their past four games) so far. At this point last season, they’d committed nine.

Precision passer: Spencer Rattler’s Heisman-hopeful campaign could be going better, but the redshirt sophomore is a model of efficiency that has helped the Sooners’ offense bend, not break. He’s completing 76.3% of his passes this year, and last week Pro Football Focus graded him as the highest-rated quarterback under pressure.

Oklahoma vs. Texas Weather Forecast

Saturday in Dallas will feel like a summer day almost anywhere else. It’ll be mainly sunny with temperatures reaching the low-90s and a scarce chance of precipitation.

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Oklahoma vs Texas Moneyline

Texas’s moneyline results against Oklahoma haven’t been encouraging in recent seasons, and once again they’re underdogs at sportsbooks. The line is so close (Oklahoma is a -170 favorite) because the Sooners’ 5-0 start is mired with nail-biting wins. We think this is the year Texas gets back on top in the rivalry, putting themselves in the heart of College Football Playoff conversation in the process. Grab the underdogs at BetMGM.

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Oklahoma vs Texas Point Spread

If we’re taking underdog Texas on the moneyline, of course we’ll be happy to collect the 3.5 points on its college football betting spread, too.

Remember that Oklahoma is 0-4 against the spread when facing FBS opponents this year, and in three of those games they were more than two touchdowns away from covering. The spread you’ll find for this game on betting apps is much smaller, but still ... We’re happy with the cushion the Longhorns are receiving at DraftKings.

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Oklahoma vs Texas Totals

For most of its history, this game was called the Red River Shootout. Even the name inspires hope that a boatload of points will be scored.

Oklahoma’s defense might ruin that thought, given that the Sooners are best at stopping the run. But the Over on a 63.5-point total should still be well within reason. Three of the past four Red River meetings have cleared that mark, and we think this one will as well. Bet on it at WynnBET.