Oklahoma has already proven this season that it's meaningless to the outcome of the game, but one Vegas oddsmaker finally likes the No. 8 Sooners in their rematch against No. 9 Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday, Dec. 19, at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman.
BetMGM on Thursday moved the Sooners as 1.5-point favorites over Bama after all of Vegas has had OU as an underdog since the playoff bracket and matchup were revealed on Sunday.
Betting platform favors Sooners over Bama
FanDuel opened on Sunday with Alabama as a 1.5-point favorite over OU and nearly every betting platform has held steady there since with the game still over a week away. It was at least, for the sake of respect, the closest spread of all first-round matchups and still is. However, it is the 8-vs-9 matchup, so that should be the case, especially since No. 5 Oregon and No. 6 Ole Miss are playing Group of Five teams at home.
The disrepect comes, though, with the fact that the Sooners already beat Bama this season and it was in Tuscaloosa. That outcome and the Sooners being at home for Round 2 didn't instill any belief in the Vegas oddsmakers. However, OU was a 6.5-point underdog before its trip to Alabama.
Vegas also immediately hated the Sooners' chances to win it all, not just against the Crimson Tide. OU opened with some of the worst odds among the 12 playoff teams to get through the bracket and win a national championship. Only Group of Five participants Tulane and James Madison had worse odds than the Sooners, giving OU the worst chances among Power Four teams.
All these odds only seem to be only a blessing for Sooner Nation, though. It could be easy money for OU fans who believe enough to put something down on the Sooners. It's also created bulletin board material for the Sooners, and head coach Brent Venables is well aware and has been all season.
"Again, the same thing: We'll go into this with very slim odds, whatever that means," Venables said on Sunday "We're just thankful to have the opportunity that's sitting in front of us. I know our guys are looking forward to the challenge."
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.