Correlate that the Oklahoma Sooners will begin their first season as members of the SEC with a nonconference matchup against the Temple Owls. Oklahoma is a mystery team in the eyes of many College Football Betting analysts. The Sooners are a mega brand with plenty of talent. However, they have an inexperienced starting quarterback in Dillon Gabriel. Certainly, Gabriel is talented and capable. But he has never been the QB of a power program under a microscope. Oklahoma is being written off for a serious SEC run this year. But the Sooners may prove most dangerous when underestimated.
Temple Owls vs. Oklahoma Sooners NCAAF Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Friday, August 30, 2024, 7 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Gaylord Family OK Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temple | +42½ -110 | 59 -110 | – |  |
| Oklahoma | -42½ -110 | 59 -110 | – | |
| ||||
Temple Owls Team Overview
Temple head coach Stan Drayton has completely flipped the culture of the program for the better in the last few years. However, the online betting wins just aren’t coming, after a third consecutive 3-9 season for the program. Temple hasn’t won a road game since September 2021. Also, the transfer portal losses are going to make things even tougher. Figuring out a starting quarterback should be the immediate priority. Following that is the shock to the system on defense. To show, there are new faces that will hopefully spur along with impact opportunities in the secondary.
Oklahoma Sooners Team Overview
Retired Oklahoma coaching legend Barry Switzer used to say that coaching at Oklahoma was like feeding a beast. Oklahoma had better be a beast starting immediately. Cause by the SEC being the best league in college football for two decades. No other league can match the SEC for dedication to cause, recruiting, financing, fan passion, and prospect footprint.
Concurrently, head coach Brent Venables arrived at Oklahoma on December 5, 2021. Following Lincoln Riley’s departure to USC in the middle of the night, Riley took key star players and coaches with him to La-La Land. Thus, Venables inherited a firestorm and a demoralized fan base. After winning his first three games, the roof caved in with a final record of 6-7 for 2022.
There was indeed an improvement in 2023. Oklahoma started 7-0 but faded down the stretch to finish 10-3. Losses to Kansas, Oklahoma State, and in the Alamo Bowl to Arizona stunned Sooner fans.
Of major concern is that OU hasn’t produced a first-team All-American since 2019. That hardly represents positive momentum for a shift into the SEC. Of course, the SEC is the country’s dominant conference. However, coach Brent Venables’ squad has a reason for optimism in ’24. The defense is trending up after showing solid improvement last fall.
Accordingly, quarterback Jackson Arnold is a rising star. The former 5-star recruit takes over for Dillon Gabriel. Previously, Gabriel left for Oregon through the transfer portal. Now, Arnold stands firmly in charge, taking a role he didn’t always thrive in a year ago in spot duty and the bowl game.
The Sooners look to rally around a fully prepped Arnold with a new offensive coordinator in Seth Littrell. In addition, there is more newness as only four players who started as many as six games return on offense.
Temple at Oklahoma SBG Free Picks
In this situation, Oklahoma has too much College Football Betting firepower and wants a strong start.
Temple at Oklahoma SBG Best Bet: Oklahoma Sooners.