The Oklahoma Sooners are the NCAA football betting favorites to win a 10th Big 12 Conference championship – and second in a row – in 2016. The Sooners finished the 2015 season with an 11-2 record, winning the conference title but losing the Orange Bowl 37-17 to the Clemson Tigers. Oklahoma’s only other loss came in the 110th Red River Showdown versus the Texas Longhorns. This upcoming season will be the team’s 18th under two-time Walter Camp Coach of the Year Bob Stoops. Oklahoma will open the season on September 3rd versus the Houston Cougars at NRG Stadium, while conference play will commence against TCU on October 1st in Fort Worth, Texas.
Oklahoma Sooners
• Odds to win Big 12 conference: -115
• Odds to win NCAA football national championship: +1225
The Sooners lost a few players in the NFL draft. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard was picked by the New York Giants. The Dallas Cowboys selected defensive end Charles Tapper. CB Zack Sanchez ended up with the Carolina Panthers via the Cleveland Browns. Outside linebacker Devante Bond is now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. QB Trevor Knight transferred to Texas A&M and will play for the Aggies. And offensive tackle Josiah St. John was selected as the first overall selection in the 2016 CFL Draft by the Roughriders. Additionally, WR Durron Neal signed with the Denver Broncos as a an undrafted free agent, as did Nila Kasitati with the Washington Redskins, Eric Striker with the Buffalo Bills, and LB Dominique Alexander with the Browns.
In other words, Oklahoma lost the core of its defense. Striker, Tapper, Alexander, and Sanchez were all All Big 12 selections and combined for 265 tackles, 16.5 sacks, and 9 interceptions. Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops – Bob’s little brother – will have his work cut out for him, and not for lack of alternatives, either. End Charles Walker, LB Jordan Evans, safety Ahmad Thomas, and CB Jordan Thomas were named to the second team All Big 12 last year and might now have a chance to take their game to the next level.
On the other hand, Sooners NCAA football betting fans who put their money on the Sooners at football betting sites can take comfort in the fact that 12 starters are returning from 2015, including senior QB Baker Mayfield, junior running back Samaje Perine, and sophomore RB Joe Mixon. Mayfield was 4th in the Heisman Trophy voting last year, but won the Burlsworth Trophy to most outstanding FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on. And the Montgomery Burns Award for Achievement in the Field of Excellence. Ok, maybe not that one. But Mayfield was name first team All American, first team all Big 12, Sporting News Player of the Year, and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, all in 2015. Moreover, he finished last season with 3,700 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Perine is a former Big 12 Rookie of the Year and holds the FBS record for rushing yards in a single game with 427. And Mixon had run for 749 yards on 110 carries averaging 6.8 yards at the end of the 2015 regular season. He rushed for 7 TDS and set his career long carry at 66 yards. Mixon also played as a receiver giving him 25 receptions for 345 yards, averaging 13.8 yards per reception and 4 TDs. Oklahoma’s scoring prowess will have no trouble at all covering spreads in NCAA football betting action.
