While there is plenty of time before football season arrives, betting odds for some marquee college football matchups have begun getting released. With the Oklahoma Sooners heading into the SEC, more of their matchup have more at steak and more come against stout programs.
Eight of the Sooners’ games on schedules already have odds released, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Oklahoma (-39.5) vs. Temple
The Sooners are steep favorites in their season opener, which also happens to mark their first ever game as members of the SEC. They’ll be looking to prove themselves in the sport’s toughest league all season, but even more so in the season opener. The Friday night matchup shouldn’t be a close contest, as the odds suggest.
Oklahoma (-5) vs. Tennessee
The Sooners’ first in-conference SEC matchup favors them on their home field as they host the Volunteers. With four straight home games, it’s very easy to suggest the Sooners will be favorites in each of the four games, starting their season 4-0. A victory over Tennessee, even if by less than a touchdown, would be a great start to SEC play.
Oklahoma (-3) at Auburn
With two new teams coming to the SEC, it’ll be a big season for Hugh Freeze and his Auburn team. For Oklahoma, their fifth contest happen to be their first road game, coming against Auburn. It’ll be a tough battle and first taste of being on the road in the SEC, though they remain short favorites.
Oklahoma vs. Texas (-8.5)
The Sooners were on the come up this season in the Big 12, and, though they defeated Texas, didn’t make the College Football Playoffs like the Longhorns. Oddsmakers predict Texas will have an easier time transitioning and improving as a program compared to Oklahoma, making them over a touchdown favorite for the contest.
Oklahoma at Ole Miss (-6)
Ole Miss was very solid in the SEC a season ago, and they did well at reloading talent this offseason. Still, to have them as a near-touchdown favorite over Oklahoma is quite shocking. It feels like people are underestimating the Sooners as they head into the SEC, though it’ll allow them to turn heads in their first year in the league.
Oklahoma at Missouri (-4)
This matchup could turn into a fun rivalry, and even more so if Missouri steals the victory in the first matchup. Tigers fans will hold onto it all year, building anticipation for the second matchup. With Missouri hosting the first game — they can use their newly acquired talent via their NIL pool to give the Sooners a run for their money.
Oklahoma vs. Alabama (-1.5)
Alabama is a questionable team heading into the season. They’re going to be the Crimson Tide, as Nick Saban had that program built up to the pinnacle of college football before retiring, but it’ll be interesting to see whether they take an initial step back or not. Still, heading to Norman will be no easy task for the Crimson Tide, and they’re short favorites over Oklahoma for the initial battle.
Oklahoma at LSU (-5)
Closing out their season in Baton Rouge won’t be easy for Oklahoma. Depending on how the rest of their season goes, the contest could be very defining for the Sooners, too. It’s the fifth and final game currently with odds posted where they’re underdogs, which is unfamiliar territory for Oklahoma.
Overall, it’s weird seeing Oklahoma being an underdog in so many games throughout a season, but it’s not a shock as they head into the SEC. Watching how they determine their ceiling in the conference in year one will be quite entertaining.
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