NCAAF: SOONERS BIG CHALK IN BIG 12
The Big 12 title game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Missouri Tigers feels like there is almost a third team involved, the Texas Longhorns.
The Tigers are the opponent that will take the field, but the Longhorns have just as much vested interest in the outcome. You see, it is assumed that if the Sooners fall, Texas will slip into the other spot in the national title game in January.
Chances aren’t good though, as OU is a 17-point favorite, and backed by 91% of Sportsbook.com bettors. ABC will have the game at 8 pm ET.
Missouri had won its last 13 games against the Big 12 North before being shocked by Kansas 40-37 last week. It was obvious from the outset; the Tigers were looking ahead to the Big 12 championship, falling behind 26-9 before becoming emotionally involved and coming back to take the lead.
However, by then it was too late, as Kansas knew they had a chance to win and did. Missouri lost the Big 12 championship last season to Oklahoma as three-point underdogs and are a much bigger dog this time around.
Chase Daniel and the Tigers can really make a huge mess out of the BCS with an upset win. The question becomes how does Coach Gary Pinkel and his veteran signal caller score enough to hang with Oklahoma?
The defense will be more fired up to play better than last week, but if they couldn’t stop Kansas, what chance do they have of curtailing the Sooner Express? Missouri appears tailor-made to be beaten by Bob Stoops juggernaut, in part because they only possess the ball just over 25 minutes a game. That won’t work against Oklahoma.
The Sooners are the leading scoring team in the country at 53.3 points per game, led by quarterback Sam Bradford, averaging a video game-like 62.4 points per game in the last five outings.
Oklahoma has also been a covering machine despite their lofty status with a 9-2 spread record. As was the case with Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, the defense just has to make a few stops of the opposition and the offense can do the rest. The Sooners are 10-2 ATS after out-gaining opposing teams by 125 or more total yards in two straight games since 2006.
Sportsbook.com has the Total at 78 and there is little reason to believe it won’t go Over unless weather is a factor in Kansas City. Oklahoma is 7-0 Over after playing a game where 70 total points or more were scored and Missouri is 6-0 Over in road games after gaining 450 or more total yards in two consecutive games.
One final note, Oklahoma has beaten Missouri six straight times (3-3 ATS).
