Vegas oddsmakers opened the Oklahoma Sooners as 3.5-point favorites over Mississippi State, per FanDuel, but that could change by Saturday afternoon with just one positive Kamario Taylor update.
Coming off a 21-13 home loss to Kentucky, which they were favored to win, the Sooners now head to Mississippi State to play at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday in Starkville.
The Sooners' status as favorites in this matchup is a hint that the oddsmakers are likely expecting Mississippi State to be without its starting quarterback for the second game in a row. There’s no denying this is the most that the outcome of a game has relied on the status of just one player for OU this season.
Considering the Bulldogs are 4-2, just fell from the top 25, and will also be at home with cowbells clanking, they would probably be favored over OU if their best player was healthy. Vegas, however, may really like the Sooners’ defense that much.
Kamario Taylor getting a positive update could instantly swing Oklahoma-Missisippi State odds
Taylor is in the midst of a breakout season and was a Heisman Trophy contender before suffering turf toe and missing the Bulldogs’ last game against LSU. Through five games, he had completed 66.2% of his passes for 1,450 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He’s also rushed for 159 yards and another score.
The Bulldogs are obviously a different team without Taylor slinging the rock. After averaging 39 points per game with the talented sophomore at QB, Mississippi State was shut out in a 31-0 loss to LSU, which hadn't held an opponent scoreless since 2007.
Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby's comments during Monday’s press conference still left the door open for Taylor to return this week, but he also didn’t exactly sound optimistic. Just like when dealing with OU head coach Brent Venables, we won’t really know Taylor’s status until the initial availability report is released on Wednesday evening.
“The injury report will continue to speak to that,” Lebby said of Taylor’s status. “I talked about it postgame; he didn’t wake up yesterday morning healed. It’s going to be day to day. He’s got a lot of work to do. But we’ll see where we end up.”
Freshman Parker Puckett made his first career start in place of Taylor against LSU. He was 24-of-40 for 210 yards and an interception. If Puckett has the reins again, OU will have a much tougher secondary and pass rush for him to deal with.
The Sooners will, as always, also have a lengthy list of injured players to keep tabs on throughout the week, including five offensive linemen who could be in the starting lineup if healthy. However, unless a new star player pops up on the injured list because of another practice injury, none will have an impact on the spread and the outcome like Taylor will.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Add us as a preferred source on Google