FanHouse

The Texas offensive line was one of the best in the country last year and despite losing two members of that group this year's line is performing at just as high of a level. The Texas quarterback duo of Colt McCoy and Jevan Snead have only been sacked four times on the year and the running backs are averaging a robust 205 yards per game on the ground. Even in the Ohio State loss the Horns were running all over the Buckeyes (5.5 yards per carry) before the score of the game forced them away from it.

The line is anchored by All-American right tackle Justin Blalock. Blalock's decision to return to Texas for his senior season is one of the main reasons for the team's success this year. The other veterans up front are center Lyle Sendlein and left guard Kasey Studdard are both talented and a little nasty. Studdard in particular brings a mean streak and attitude when he plays that is something past Longhorn offensive lines have lacked. The two young guys have also stepped up their play to match. Left tackle Tony Hills (or Beetlejuice as his teammates call him) could be a future top ten NFL draft pick and right guard Cedric Dockery has improved every game.

The Oklahoma defensive line has been a disappointment early in the season. Through four games they have only provided a single sack and as a team the Sooners have allowed opponents to run the ball as well. Teams not named Middle Tennessee State have averaged 166 yards per game on the ground against a defense that was expected to be one of the Big 12's best. Defensive end Larry Birdine is the leader of the group. Through four games he's tallied fourteen tackles, including five stops for loss and the group's lone sack. Coming into the season I had a lot of respect for end CJ Ah You but he's made virtually no impact when he's on the field. The Sooners have rotated several defensive tackles including Carl Pendleton, Steven Coleman, and former Texan Demarcus Granger. Granger is just a redshirt freshman but he's a big time talent.

This turns out to be oOne of Texas' biggest strengths versus what has become a weakness for the Sooners. If it's true that big games are won in the trenches, than this matchup bodes very well for the Longhorns on Saturday afternoon.

EDGE: Texas