The Oklahoma Sooners are coming off an upset, 31-38, SU and ATS loss to Iowa State on Saturday, but when it comes to such a rivalry as the Red River Classic, all college football wagering bets are off (figuratively speaking, that is; you can still go ahead and place your best college football bets). Case in point, the Texas Longhorns have won two and covered in all of their last four meetings, even as double-digit underdogs.
Deep in the heart of Texas, @baker_mayfield6's bedroom was drenched in crimson and cream.
STORY ??➡️ https://t.co/AtSCaVVdqw pic.twitter.com/VAt25Ht8D2
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 12, 2017
- Date: October 14
- Time: 3:35 PM
- Venue: Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, Texas
- Sportsbook Odds:
Oklahoma -7 (-115) 65 (-110) -290
Texas +7 (-105) 65 (-110) +245
Us vs. the World
The Sooners saw a 14-game winning streak – as well as an 18-game winning streak against Iowa State – come to an end on Saturday, and while head coach Lincoln Riley admitted that “it sucked,” he also said the loss has the potential of being “bonding experience” allowing his players to embrace an “us against the world mentality.” Oklahoma is, as a matter of fact, no stranger to bouncing back from one of their rare losses; the Sooners are 24-2 SU in its last 26 games following a loss as a favorite. In spite of last weekend’s loss, QB Baker Mayfield has not let up on his quest leading OU to the CFP and winning the Heisman trophy along the way; Mayfield threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and ran for another TD against Iowa State, and has 601 yards and four TDs in two starts versus the Longhorns alone. Almost 400 of those yards came in last year’s Red River Shootout, which was exactly that; both schools combined for 85 point, 1,097 yards and 51 first downs. The Sooners got the 45-40 SU win but didn’t cover the spread. Oklahoma is 1-6 ATS in their last seven games at neutral sites, 7-0 ATS playing a team with a winning record, and 7-2 against the college football wagering spread in their last nine overall, though they have failed to cover twice in the last two weeks.
Collin Johnson vs. Oklahoma’s Secondary
According to Barton Simmons, one of the matchups that will determine the outcome of this game is going to be the Sooners’ secondary versus Texas wide receiver Collin Johnson, “the biggest and most physical receiver [Oklahoma cornerback Jordan Thomas]’s faced yet.” Johnson had 191 yards against USC and 125 against Maryland, but “if Texas is going to beat OU on Saturday, he will need his biggest game yet.” Whether or not, however, Texas gets the SU win, they seem better positioned for their fifth-straight ATS win of the season. The Longhorns are 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2012, and quarterback Sam Ehlinger staked his claim to the starting spot with 487 yards and two touchdowns in a double OT win over Kansas State on Saturday, in which the total went over in a Texas game since their season opener. The college football w total has gone under in 10 of UT’s last 12 games.