Oklahoma vs BYU Betting Odds: Sooners Massive Favorite
Losing Skid Has Cougars in Danger of Missing Bowl Game
Oklahoma vs BYU might have been a great game a few years ago. But this NCAA Football season, it looks to be another blowout victory for the Sooners. The Oklahoma vs BYU betting odds have the Sooners favored by 24 points, and the total on the game is at 57. The Sooners still have an eye on making the Big 12 Conference Championship Game, while the Cougars will have to pull off a massive upset to make a bowl game.
Oklahoma Sooners at BYU Cougars 
Day/Time: Saturday, November 18, Noon ET
Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
Line: Oklahoma -24 | Total: 57
Streaming: ESPN
Sooners Return to Winning Ways
Oklahoma rebounded from its first two losses of the season with a 59-20 thumping of West Virginia last week. It was a game the Sooners needed, for morale reasons, if nothing else. But the Sooners have dropped all the way down to No. 17 in the latest NCAAF rankings. But more importantly, Oklahoma is now tied for second place in the Big 12 Conference standings with four other teams. The Sooners have a favorable NCAA football schedule, with BYU and TCU remaining, but will need a bit of help along the way.
Oklahoma is averaging 41.8 points per game against teams allowing 25.4 points. The Sooners aren’t a bad rushing team, gaining 182.6 yards per game. But Oklahoma thrives in the passing department, throwing for 323.8 yards per college football game, which is 91 more yards than their opponents allow. The Sooners average 506.4 total yards per game against teams allowing 381.1 yards.
Defensively, the Sooners are solid, allowing 19.8 points to teams averaging 29.6 points. Oklahoma can stop the run pretty well, allowing 3.8 yards per carry to teams averaging 4.8 yards. But the Sooners are especially tough against the pass, allowing 56.3% completions and holding teams to 6.8 yards per pass.
BYU Fading Fast After Strong Start
The Cougars began the season 4-1, although part of that has to do with playing Southern Utah and Sam Houston State to open the NCAAF season. But after losing four of its last five, including three straight, the Cougars need to beat one of the two Oklahoma teams to get that sixth win. It won’t be easy.
BYU is averaging 21.9 points per game against teams allowing 25.4 points. The Cougars have no rushing game to speak of, gaining just 3.3 yards per carry, and the passing game isn’t all that good. BYU is gaining just 301.9 total yards per game against teams, allowing 371.3 yards.
BYU’s defense isn’t bad. But it’s not that good, either. The Cougars are pretty close to an average team, allowing 28.7 points to teams scoring 27 points. BYU isn’t very good against the run and does a better job defending the pass.
The Cougars have lost their last three games by 29 to 32 points, so they’re definitely heading the wrong direction. It’s probably too late to get things turned around this season.
What to Expect
Oklahoma is clearly the better team. There isn’t anything it doesn’t do better than BYU. Oklahoma will come out and throw the ball. That’s what the Sooners do best. Oklahoma is going to mix in some running plays to keep the defense honest. But the Sooners should be able to dictate how they want to move the football. And it’s hard to see BYU having much success slowing down the Oklahoma offensive attack.
The Cougars have made an effort to run the ball, although it’s not something they do very well. The Cougars don’t throw the ball that well, but the passing game is a little better than the ground game. If BYU tries to run too much, it will find itself in a lot of 2nd-and-8s. The Cougars need to throw more high-percentage pass plays to make up for the lack of a ground attack.
Who to Bet On?
The Oklahoma vs BYU betting odds of Sooners -24 are certainly justified. BYU hasn’t been a home underdog of more than 20 points since 2004. But it’s warranted in this case. This is far from being one of the better NCAAF teams the Cougars have fielded and Oklahoma is a solid team all the way around. The Sooners will be a popular play in the free college football picks.
The Oklahoma vs BYU betting odds on the total might be a shade high. The Cougars have scored 26 points in their last three games. The Sooners are coming off a 59-point effort against West Virginia. But Oklahoma is averaging just 27.3 points this season the week after scoring 50 or more points, going 1-2 in totals. With BYU struggling to score and the Sooners due to come down a bit, will take the under 57 in this one.
For NCAAF betting news and college football spread analysis on NCAAF, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
