SMU vs Oklahoma Odds
| SMU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+16.5 -110 | 69 -110o / -110u | +475 |
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-16.5 -110 | 69 -110o / -110u | -700 |
The Southern Methodist Mustangs hit the road for a big Week 2 matchup against the No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners.
Week 1 treated both of these teams well. Oklahoma walloped Arkansas State 73-0, while SMU beat Louisiana Tech 38-14.
After cakewalk wins to open the season, this game will be the first real test for each team, and it will be interesting to see how they stack up against better competition.
Let's dive into the SMU vs. Oklahoma odds and settle on a betting pick.
SMU Mustangs
The Mustangs didn't skip a beat without Tanner Mordecai. SMU raced to a 31-0 halftime lead over Louisiana Tech, then coasted to start Rhett Lashlee's second season with a victory.
Preston Stone looked solid with 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. Even though he threw 14 incomplete passes, the Mustangs were able to supplement him with 209 rushing yards.
Under Lashlee's spread scheme, SMU's offense has been amazing at best and competent at worst.
However, the defense is full of questions. A season ago, SMU had four games in which it gave up 40 or more points. Unsurprisingly, SMU ranked in the bottom 10 in points per game allowed (34.7) and defensive EPA.
That's not going to cut it against Oklahoma. Of course, this isn't the exact same defense, but only so much can change in one offseason, and the Sooners have the talent to pounce on a bad defense.
If SMU wants to pull off the road upset, it will need its defense to step up.
Oklahoma Sooners
Any time a team scores 45 points in a game, the offense had a good day. But when a team scored 45 points in the first half, they're cooking with gas, and that's exactly what the Sooners did last week.
Yes, I understand Oklahoma did that against Arkansas State, but it was impressive nonetheless.
After a disappointing first season in Norman, Brent Venables' squad started the 2023 campaign on fire.
Dillon Gabriel looked to have a full grasp of Jeff Lebby's offense, as he completed 19-of-22 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a score.
In fact, Gabriel played so well that he got to rest for the whole second half while freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold got some action. The five-star freshman completed all 11 of his passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
The Sooners' defense held the Red Wolves to just 208 total yards and 10 first downs. Again, I get that it was Arkansas State, but Oklahoma never gave the Red Wolves any hope, and that should be commended.
The Sooners are the 16th-best team in the country, according to Action Analytics, and looked the part in Week 1.
SMU vs. Oklahoma
Betting Pick & Prediction
Oklahoma is favored by 15.5 points, and I love that number. I don't see SMU's defense containing Oklahoma over the course of this game.
The Mustangs' defense was just so bad last year, and the Sooners have the offensive scheme and talent to light up the scoreboard.
SMU may try to score with Oklahoma early, but it's asking too much to expect Stone to go blow for blow with Gabriel in a shootout.
This will easily be the toughest road environment Stone has played in in his college career, and it'll only take a few mistakes for this one to get ugly quick.
Action Analytics has Oklahoma favored by 17.7 points, which feels about right. Take the Sooners to cover against SMU, even if you can't expect another 70-burger.
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