The rest of the 2023 season kicks off on Saturday for No. 6-ranked Oklahoma football and the visitors from the University of Central Florida (UCF).
It’s homecoming weekend at OU as the Sooners seek to collect their seventh straight win to start the season for just the third time in the last 18 years. Oklahoma comes into the game after a bye week with a 6-0 record and 3-0 atop the Big 12 standings. UCF is 3-3 overall but 0-3 in its inaugural Big 12 season.
A win would also mark a seventh consecutive victory for head coach Brent Venables and Oklahoma, which would tie them with Alabama for the most seasons (seven) with a seven-plus game winning streak over the previous eight season.
Oklahoma has allowed 84 points to its opponents this season, the fewest the Sooners have given up over the first six games since 2009. Meanwhile, OU the OU offense is averaging 45.2 points per game with an average victory margin of 31.2 points.
The Sooners have scored 35 touchdowns to lead the Big 12. That is two more than the next best team, Kansas, which has 33 touchdowns in one more game.
Here is some more important information to get you ready for Saturday’s game between Oklahoma and UCF, which is expected to be the 150th consecutive sellout at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
How to watch
The game will be televised by ABC beginning at 11 a.m. CT. Doing the announcing will be Dave Pasch along with former Sooner player Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill. The game will also be streamed on Fubo TV.
Weather conditions
Mostly cloudy, 71 degrees at kickoff; winds SSW at 8 miles an hour; 0 % chance of rain.
Betting information
The line has gone down a little since the beginning of the week, but the spread is still three scores, at 17.5, according to BetSided, the FanSided college betting site. The over/under is 66.5, so a high-scoring offensive game is anticipated.
Injury report
Oklahoma
McKade Mettauer, OL — Questionable
Kaden Helms, TE — Questionable
Jovantae Barnes, RB — Out
D.J. Graham, WR — Out
Andrel Anthony, WR — Out for season
Justin Harrington, Cheetah — Out for season
Phil Picciotti, LB — Out for season
Jayden Rowe, DB — Out for season
UCF
John Rhys Plumlee, QB — Probable (knee)
Jordan Davis, TE — Out indefinitely
Players to watch
As QB Dillon Gabriel goes, so go the Sooners. Gabriel leads the Big 12 and is ranked in the top-10 nationally in six major offensive categories. This could be a big opportunity for RB Tawee Walker. He is going up against a rushing defense ranked 121st out of 131 FBS teams. On defense LB Danny Stutsman and DL Ethan Downs will be keys to stopping UCF’s powerful run game.
Starting QB John Rhys Plumlee is expected to return after missing several games with a knee injury. He is a dual-threat quarterback who can beat you with his arm and his legs. Running backs RJ Harvey and Johnny Richardson have rushed for nearly 1,000 yards between them. On defense, edge rusher Tre’Mon Morris-Brash has 12 tackles for loss and five sacks in six games.
Prediction
Oklahoma 49, UCF 31