The Oklahoma Sooners got a lot of attention with their 45-31 upset win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl. It was a great victory for the program and now they’re looking forward to build upon it.
The challenge for the Sooners will be keeping a team that has been praised all offseason hungry. Oklahoma’s win total for the season, according to America’s Bookie, stands at 10½ games.
Oklahoma appears to be in position to contend for a national title, with significant experience returning and a strong freshman class.
This team will be especially strong on defense, where 11 players with at least five career starts return from a unit that led the Big 12 in total defense and pass defense and ranked second in scoring defense and rushing defense.
Last year, the team switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and adjusted on the fly. Now there is a greater sense of comfort for coaches and players that should allow Oklahoma’s improved athletic ability to shine.
Second-team All-Big 12 defensive end Charles Tapper will return. Tapper was second on the team in tackles for loss (9) and sacks (5 1/2) last season. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who missed nine games last season with a back injury, is also back, and he can be a difference maker, as well as linebackers Frank Shannon, Dominique Alexander and Eric Striker, who combined for 222 tackles last year.
Below are the win totals for the most important colleges at America’s Bookie:
Alabama Over 11 (+160) / Under 11 (-200)
Arizona Over 7 (-115) / Under 7 (-115)
Arizona State Over 7½ (-115) / Under 7½ (-115)
Auburn Over 9 (-115) / Under 9 (-115)
Baylor Over 9 (-130) / Under 9 (Even)
Boise State Over 9 (-115) / Under 9 (-115)
Clemson Over 8½ (Even) / Under 8½ (-130)
Florida State Over 11 (-240) / Under 11 (+190)
Georgia Over 9½ (Even) / Under 9½ (-130)
Georgia Tech Over 7 (Even) / Under 7 (-130)
Iowa Over 8½ (Even) / Under 8½ (-130)
LSU Over 9 (-115) / Under 9 (-115)
Michigan Over 8 (-115) / Under 8 (-115)
Michigan State Over 9 (-120) / Under 9 (-110)
Missouri Over 7½ (-115) / Under 7½ (-115)
Mississippi Over 8½ (Even) / Under 8½ (-130)
Nebraska Over 8 (-115) / Under 8 (-115)
North Carolina Over 8½ (+105) / Under 8½ (-135)
Notre Dame Over 8 (-115) / Under 8 (-115)
Ohio State Over 10½ (-115) / Under 10½ (-115)
Oklahoma Over 10½ (-115) / Under 10½ (-115)
Oklahoma State Over 8 (-115) / Under 8 (-115)
Oregon Over 11 (+110) / Under 11 (-140)
South Carolina Over 9½ (+105) Under 9½ (-135)
Stanford Over 8½ (-115) / Under 8½ (-115)
Tennessee Over 6 (-115) / Under 6 (-115)
Texas Over 7½ (-115) / Under 7½ (-115)
Texas A&M Over 7 (-150) / Under 7 (+120)
UCLA Over 9½ (-115) / Under 9½ (-115)
USC Over 9 (+105) / Under 9 (-135)
Virginia Tech Over 8 (-115) / Under 8 (-115)
Wisconsin Over 9½ (-115) / Under 9½ (-115)
Louisville Over 8 (-130) / Under 8 (Even)
Miami Over 8½ (+105) / Under 8½ (-135)
