NCAA football betting – Nebraska vs Oklahoma betting
Posted on 10/27/2008 3:50:55 PM
By Blake Frazier
Nebraska vs Oklahoma betting: Oklahoma still in BCS hunt
-
WHO: Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners (-21.5)
-
WHAT: NCAA football betting
-
WHEN: Saturday, November 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET
-
WHERE: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Oklahoma
-
KEY STATS: Oklahoma is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games at home
-
PICK: Oklahoma
After years of being denied a meeting, NCAA football betting sharps were finally granted a Nebraska vs Oklahoma betting match-up in the Big 12 championship game in 2006.
However, following decades of conference dominance as both teams utilized a Wishbone offense, the bitter rivals have each switched to a passing-oriented game and have both faltered in Big 12 play this season. What can online betting fans expect?
Bob Stoops and his Oklahoma Sooners dominated the Big 12 last season with an extraordinary backfield of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. After taking the conference crown, the Sooners were expected to roll over West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl and break their streak of four straight BCS losses.
However the curse remained intact as the Mountaineers covered their NCAA football spreads in a 48-28 victory. Oklahoma looked primed to bounce back, even vaulting into the No. 1 ranking earlier this year, but a loss to Texas shot it down in the conference standings and threw a wrench into their BCS bowl route.
Nebraska was a huge underdog on preseason NCAA football odds this summer, coming into 2008 with considerably lower expectations than their rivals. Head coach Bo Pelini has shed the low-scoring, methodical style that has characterized Cornhusker football for years and installed a free-wheeling offense that’s been clicking all season long.
Quarterback Joe Ganz has posted incredible numbers this season, including a quarterback rating of 155.2 and fifteen touchdowns. In fact, the Huskers have only put up less than 30 points in one game this season, making the over for Nebraska vs Oklahoma betting a great option.
The “Red Rivalry” will resume at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where the Sooners have won 22 of their last 25 contests. The BetOnline.com Sportsbook has the Nebraska vs Oklahoma line set at 21.5 points in favor of the home team after the Sooners beat Kansas State, a team comparable to Nebraska, by 23 points.
Oklahoma showed its true colors against KSU last week—while it put up 58 points, it allowed 550 yards of offense, including 21 unanswered points in the second half.
When evaluating Nebraska vs Oklahoma odds, online sports betting fans can expect a shootout. While Joe Ganz has been excellent, Oklahoma pivot Sam Bradford has been outstanding, with a mind-blowing 29 touchdown passes. The Cornhuskers will also be without the services of talented blocker Andy Christensen, which would result in much more pressure on Ganz than he’s used to.
BLAKE’S PICK: The Nebraska vs Oklahoma pick is the Sooners, who will continue their streak of putting up 35-plus points. Nebraska has made it interesting against Texas Tech and Missouri, however neither have an offense the caliber of the Sooners.
Ganz may have another big day but won’t be able to keep pace with Oklahoma’s plethora of offensive options. The Sooners need this game to stay in BCS contention and they won’t lose a game of this magnitude at home—if you’re betting online, bet on Oklahoma.
For more NCAA football games to bet on, check out the BetOnline.com Sportsbook. The Betting Edge regularly features entirely free content to help you bet online.
Blake walked onto his college football team and had a
brief stint as an assistant coach after he graduated. He brings a sharp mind to
the world of sports handicapping. Blake understands the nuances of the game
that only someone who has played would understand. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
