The Oklahoma Sooners have made believers out of Vegas oddsmakers once again, and maybe even college football bettors, depending on where they put their money this week.
Despite being unranked and taking on a top-15 opponent, FanDuel opened the Sooners as 6.5-point favorites over No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday in Norman. As of Tuesday, the point total was also set at 43.5.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
OU is riding high after upsetting then-No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry 27-24 on Saturday, and also has the benefit of a home crowd behind it at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Those two factors alone were enough for oddsmakers to ignore the Sooners' still-dormant offense and not only predict them to pull off another upset, but also be pretty confident in the outcome.
Oklahoma as a favorite is no guarantee, but Vegas usually knows
Some might argue this spread is a result of an overreaction from a rivalry win and based on brand recognition, but oddsmakers, unlike the CFP selection committee, doesn’t really care about the logos on helmets. Vegas has already used an OU matchup to prove it doesn’t overreact from one outcome.
It seemed like easy money in Week 2, when OU was what seemed like an undervalued favorite over Michigan at 4.5 points. It had bettors throwing money at the Sooners’ side based on what they just saw from both teams the week before.
The Sooners slaughtered UTEP 51-0 in their season opener. The defense looked as dominant as expected, but OU’s offense also looked completely revamped.
Michigan, meanwhile, needed a phantom second and miracle Hail Mary pass to survive Western Michigan with a 13-12 win, which many argued shouldn’t have counted as a win because of the controversial extra second. The Wolverines were treated as if they were beaten, with voters dropping them from national rankings and bettors viewing them as an easy win for OU.
Vegas oddsmakers, though, obviously didn’t put too much stock into that result, and rightfully so. They weren’t completely correct since Michigan beat the Sooners 17-10, but their small spread certainly pointed to that outcome, despite the overarching narrative.
The odds ahead of the Red River Rivalry also foreshadowed the close game we watched unfold, even if common sense seemed to say a blowout was more likely. The Sooners were about to hit rock bottom, while the Longhorns were at the top of college football as the No. 1 team in national rankings.
Yet, the spread was set at 7.5 points, which seemed small for two teams headed in opposite directions and a matchup between the No. 1 team and an unranked squad. Obviously, though, it was a one-game possession throughout.
Once again, Vegas didn't outright predict the upset, but definitely hinted at it, just like OU's trip to Michigan. Here in Week 7, though, oddsmakers are all in on the upset happening at Memorial Stadium.
This isn't to say that whatever Vegas puts out there is gospel truth, but if oddsmakers are showing belief in the Sooners, then they're probably worth actually believing in, even if just for another Saturday.
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