Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables might have made a massive change this week, but he made it clear that his desires for the season were not modified. His job is still to win football games, and there is hope his recent move will have the Sooners winning more than losing.
Venables fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle on Monday after OU's dormant offense has been the biggest factor in the Sooners sitting at 4-4 heading into the final month of the season.
He then promoted tight ends coach Jason Witten to take over play-calling duties, less than a year after Venables plucked Witten from the high school ranks to join his staff. There could also eventually be a change at quarterback.
The moves had the spotlight all week, but they were ultimately made to give the Sooners a better chance of winning on the field. After all the chaos, the new-look Sooners travel to Gainesville to play No. 24 Florida for the third time ever, and the first time on a campus, or in the regular season.
Even the Gators do not know what to expect from Witten's offense, and neither does Vegas. Florida was as large as a 6.5-point favorite as late as Friday, but it's shifted two points since then, including another point on Saturday morning before kickoff.
Final odds for Oklahoma vs. Florida
Spread
-4.5 Florida
+4.5 Oklahoma
Moneyline
-188 Florida
+158 Oklahoma
Total (over/under)
+/- 44.5 points
Record against the spread
Oklahoma 3-5
Florida 4-4
Odds are courtesy of FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
How to watch Oklahoma vs. Florida
When: 6:45 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida
Watch: SEC Network (watch using fuboTV free trial)
OU radio: 107.7 FM KRXO in Oklahoma City and 97.5 FM KMOD in Tulsa or stream anywhere on Varsity Network App
Predicting Oklahoma vs. Florida
That was a MASSIVE change this week, but it might not actually make a massive difference.
Witten has the element of surprise he can use to his advantage, but there is also only so much he can transform within five days with the same roster. Quarterback John Mateer is inconsistent, and even if Witten replaces him, the backup options are inexperienced and will be in a tough environment. The offensive line is also still leaky and surrounded by unimpressive wide receivers and running backs.
We could see a much more conservative Sooners team because Witten's tight end group was vocal over the offseason that they were each brought in to run the dang ball. Draining the clock with no turnovers can give the Sooners a chance against anybody in the country with their elite defense.
But only so much can change in five days, especially when a complete overhaul is eventually needed. Witten can at least give OU a chance in this one, but Florida is a top-25 football team for a reason, with a spectacular running game and home-field advantage.
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