Oklahoma State-Oklahoma Betting Guide: Have Sooners Fixed Their Defensive Issues?

Oklahoma-Oklahoma State Betting Odds, Pick

• Spread: Oklahoma -21
• Over/Under: 80
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC

This rivalry is called Bedlam for a reason.

Oklahoma is 30-7-1 against Oklahoma State since 1980, but four of those losses have come as a favorite of at least 15 points. Weird things happen when these two teams meet.
Saturday, the Sooners are as big a favorite in this game as they've been since 2001, when they lost outright as 27-point favorites.

Do the Cowboys have an upset in them, or will Oklahoma roll and keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive?

Market Moves for Oklahoma-Oklahoma State

By Danny Donahue

After opening as 17.5-point favorites, the Sooners are now favored by three touchdowns. They’ve drawn 58% of bettors and 54% of dollars in the game thus far.

The total has been the more interesting story, as it’s already one of the highest numbers of the year, and rising.

After opening at 76.5, it’s up to 79 at Pinnacle and 80 behind 72% of bets and 85% of dollars. The highest total of the year to this point belongs to Oregon’s meeting with Portland State back in September, which closed at 81.

Oklahoma Can Finish Drives

By Steve Petrella

One of the biggest potential mismatches is Oklahoma's finishing ability. The Sooners scored an average of 6.19 points every time they cross the 40-yard line, which is tops in the country.

Oklahoma State ranks 92nd on defense by the same measure, which could be a mismatch in this game.

Oklahoma's Austin Seibert is a capable kicker — 9-of-11 on the season — but the Sooners just don't need him.

Sooners Still Haven't Fixed Their Defense

By Steve Petrella

Oklahoma fired Mike Stoops after the debacle against Texas, and it looked like the Sooners made improvements in the following two games. But those came against TCU and Kansas State, which both rank outside the top 90 in offensive S&P+.

One week later, Oklahoma gave up 473 total yards (6.7 per play) and 46 points to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders do that to a lot of Big 12 defenses, but against Oklahoma State, expect the Sooners to give up points as well.

Barkley: Why I'm Betting Oklahoma State

By Ken Barkley

Sometimes I really have no idea what to make of Oklahoma. The Sooners are 8-1 and, by all accounts, squarely in the mix for a playoff spot. Should one unpredictable loss to happen to a contender, and the Sooners win out, they’ll have an excellent case to return to the College Football Playoff.

I think they’re good , but it’s easy to argue the opposite case.

The Sooners schedule is just an incredible mix of teams that aren’t what we thought or hoped. Florida Atlantic has disappointed greatly. UCLA still hasn’t come together under Chip Kelly.

TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson’s confidence started plummeting just as the Horned Frogs came into their game with Oklahoma, and he got benched mid-game. Oklahoma rolled.

Alan Bowman couldn’t finish the Texas Tech game that the Red Raiders absolutely could have won, and the Sooners held on. Oklahoma has a knack for catching these teams at opportune times and advancing.

With that analysis in mind, it is possible that this Oklahoma State squad is the best team (other than Texas) that the Sooners will face this season. Oklahoma State doesn’t have crazy injury concerns, and they have the best offense that the newly-reformed Sooners defense will face.

Now, Oklahoma State will have to score to stay in the game, because there’s no evidence their defense (or any Big 12 defense really) can stop Kyler Murray, but a high-scoring back-and-forth is a completely reasonable expectation.

Given how fortunate the Sooners have been, and how you’re getting an Oklahoma State team off a bad loss where they failed to cover, I think there’s a little line value in the Cowboys at three touchdowns.

I was on Texas Tech against Oklahoma last week, and I will be betting Oklahoma State.

Trends to Know for Oklahoma State-Oklahoma

By John Ewing

The Bedlam Series hasn’t been much of a rivalry of late. Oklahoma has won 11 of the past 13 games and is 10-3 ATS, covering on average by 5.9 points per game.

By Evan Abrams

Oklahoma has not closed as a 20-point favorite or higher against their rival Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Series since November 24, 2001.

Oklahoma was 10-1, with only their bowl game on deck, facing a 3-7 Oklahoma State, which had lost five of its past six games. No. 4 Oklahoma, as 27-point favorites, lost outright 16-13 to unranked Oklahoma State that day.

Historically, you are looking at the money spot for Oklahoma.

Since 2005, when the Sooners are ranked inside the top 10 in November or later, but not undefeated, they are 18-7 ATS (72%), profiting bettors a full 10 units and covering the spread by more than a touchdown per game (7.4 PPG).

The Sooners are the most profitable team in the country in that spot, four units ahead of Wisconsin.