Head Coach Lincoln Riley and the No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners (-8) are coming into the Big 12 Championship Game as considerable favorites as they prepare to battle Coach Tom Herman and the No. 9 Texas Longhorns. The afternoon game kicks off at 12:00 p.m. ET and ABC is scheduled to televise the action. When these two schools faced each other last year, Oklahoma earned the win 29-24.
Betting Preview: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns
In this Saturday Big 12 game, Oklahoma is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 8 points. The Longhorns are also receiving +250 moneyline odds while the Sooners are -330. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) pretty highly at 78 points. If the favorite gives up points early, it’ll probably create a nice in-game betting opportunity.
Both of these teams have been profitable this year as the Longhorns have gained 2.0 units and the Sooners are up 2.0 units.
The Longhorns have gone 9-3 straight up (SU), including 7-2 SU against conference opponents. The Sooners are 11-1 SU overall and are also 8-1 SU in conference play.
The Longhorns just got a 24-17 win over Kansas last weekTheir defense allowed the Jayhawks to rush for 137 yards on 33 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Pooka Williams Jr. had a productive day for the Jayhawks in that one with 103 rushing yards and a score on 16 attempts. On the offense, Sam Ehlinger completed 16 passes for just 154 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Tre Watson (79 rushing yards on 14 attempts) and Keaontay Ingram (51 yards on 13 carries) led the running attack while Collin Johnson (four receptions, 38 yards, one TD) and Devin Duvernay (three catches, 47 yards) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Oklahoma is coming off of a 59-56 win over West Virginia. The defense allowed the Mountaineers to pass for 539 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 165 yards and four scores. Gary Jennings Jr. was on a different level for West Virginia, recording 225 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. For Oklahoma, Kyler Murray completed 20-of-27 passes for 364 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Kennedy Brooks (182 rushing yards on 21 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Murray (114 yards on nine carries, one TD) mounted the running attack while Marquise Brown (11 receptions, 243 yards, two TDs) and CeeDee Lamb (five catches, 53 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Texas has run the ball on 54.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Oklahoma has a rush percentage of 58.0 percent. The Longhorns have run for 156.4 yards/game (including 148.2 per game versus Big 12 opponents) and have 19 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Sooners are putting up 264.3 rush yards per game (276.3 in conference) and have 39 total rushing TDs.
The Longhorns offense has logged 257.4 yards/contest through the air overall (261.7 per game against conference opposition) and has 26 passing scores so far. The Sooners have put up 319.4 pass yards per outing (336 against Big 12 foes) and have 38 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Texas seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 136.5 rush yards and 255.8 pass yards per game. The Oklahoma D has allowed 286.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 162.4 yards per game on the ground. The Longhorns are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.11 to opponents, while the Sooners have allowed a 7.81 ANY/A.
Offensively, Ehlinger is up to 2,637 passing yards this year. He’s completed 221-of-347 attempts with 22 passing scores and only four interceptions. He’s got a 7.55 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 4.79 over the past two games.
On the other sideline, Kyler Murray has completed 195-of-274 passes for 3,402 yards, 35 TDs and six INTs. Murray’s ANY/A stands at 13.11 for the year and 10.72 across his last two games.
Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners Free Pick
SU Winner: Oklahoma, ATS Winner: Oklahoma, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The O/U for Texas’ last game was 51. The under cashed in the team’s 24-17 win over Kansas.
- As a team, Texas has rushed for 3.5 yards per attempt over its past three games and 3.7 over its last two.
- Oklahoma has averaged 7.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 7.7 over its last two.
- Both teams have lost five fumbles this year.
- In its last three games, Texas is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Oklahoma’s last outing was set at 87. The over cashed in the team’s 59-56 victory over West Virginia.
- Over its last three contests, Oklahoma is 0-2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The Longhorns offense has created six pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Sooners have accounted for 20 such plays.
- The Texas defense has allowed 13 pass plays of 40+ yards, while Oklahoma has given up 15 such plays.
- The Texas offense has created eight rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Oklahoma has created 35 such runs.
- The Longhorns defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Sooners have given up 14 such runs.
- The Texas defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 28 times this year. Oklahoma has recorded 25 sacks.
