2014
Oklahoma Sooners
College Football
Betting Preview
Odds and Schedule
After beating Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl, Oklahoma fans began immediately thinking of the possibilities next season. The Sooners have their eyes set on the college football playoff and a national championship with 14 starters back.
Sportsbook.ag, the world largest online sportsbook, lists the Sooners at odds of 14 to 1 to win the National Championship.
One of those returnees doesn’t include quarterback Trevor Knight, who came alive (348 yards, Four TDs) in the 45-31 win over the Crimson Tide. Knight started the season for Oklahoma, eventually lost that spot to Blake Bell, but then won it back before the bowl Game. While Knight only has five career starts, the outlook is extremely positive for him after really only one good Game last year. In addition, his group of receivers won’t be great. Sterling Shepard (603 yards, 7 TDs) is the best one returning, but the rest are vastly inexperienced including former QB Blake Bell, who moved over to tight end.
On the positive end, the offensive line looks to be stocked with multiple starters returning and All-Conference players in the fold. They should help Knight and the running Game figure things out early in the year. The running backs are inexperienced, but they have plenty of potential with Keith Ford being the likely starter followed by one of the top RB recruits in the nation, Joe Mixon.
Oklahoma’s defense is also stocked to be one of the nation’s best after being a question mark going into last season. Running a 3-4 defense, the Sooners were the best in the Big 12 last season and now return nine starters if that says anything.
The front seven can be dominant with ends Charles Tapper and Chuka NDulue. The linebacker core is filled with playmakers including Geneo Grissom, who is now a starter after breaking out in the Sugar Bowl. The secondary is also tops and has some of the conference’s best in Zack Sanchez and Quentin Hayes.
To make matters better, the Sooners have a nicer non-Conference Schedule without Notre Dame on the slate. Instead, their toughest Game will be home to Tennessee. And even better for them, all of their toughest tasks in the Big 12 come at home against Kansas State, Baylor and Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma will look to get revenge on Texas in Dallas after the Longhorns won last year’s meeting. Their toughest road Game of the year will come at Texas Tech. If this team lives up to the hype, an undefeated season could be in the making, if not a berth in the college football playoff.
A lot of that depends on what Knight can bring to the table though. Can he follow up his Sugar Bowl success with more throughout 2014? He’s still young and playing with a lot of inexperienced receivers. If he struggles, the running Game will have to takeover, which isn’t out of the question with their stocked offensive line.
2014 Oklahoma Sooners Football Schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Louisiana Tech
Sept. 6 at Tulsa
Sept. 13 at Tennessee
Sept. 20 at West Virginia
Oct. 4 at TCU
Oct. 11 vs. Texas (in Dallas)
Oct. 18 vs. Kansas State
Nov. 1 at Iowa State
Nov. 8 vs. Baylor
Nov. 15 at Texas Tech
Nov. 22 vs. Kansas
Dec. 6 vs. Oklahoma State