Oklahoma Gunning For 5th Consecutive Big 12 Title vs Baylor

After a shocking 34-31 game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Baylor Bears in Week 10, the two teams will do battle again for the Big 12 championship. The Sooners have won four straight Big 12 titles and are hoping a convincing win on Saturday will boost their chances to make the College Football Playoff.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Odds Shark has seen drops in both the spread and total since the matchup was determined, with the Oklahoma spread hovering around -8 while the total has dropped from 62.5 to 61.

A lot of early-action bettors are likely looking at the previous matchup in Week 10 that saw the Bears squander a 21-point lead and the Sooners eventually come back to win on a last-second field goal.

Baylor News & Notes

The No. 8-ranked Baylor Bears have done nearly everything right this season. They’re 11-1 SU and 8-4 ATS for their best record since Robert Griffin III was their quarterback. Their lone blemish is the loss to Oklahoma in Week 10 that saw them blow a 21-point second-half lead at home. Blemish may be too light a word.

Bears QB Charlie Brewer has been solid this season with a 20-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio but it’s his running ability that makes him dangerous. He has 10 scores on the ground this season, including two vs the Sooners in the last matchup.

Since that loss to the Sooners, the Bears have taken care of business with a 24-10 beatdown of the Texas Longhorns and a 61-6 romp over the Kansas Jayhawks to round out their season.

Oklahoma News & Notes

On paper, there’s no team in college football that can contain the Oklahoma Sooners offense. They rank fifth in points per game (44.3) and first in the country in yards per play (8.31) under the watchful eye of head coach and quarterback whisperer Lincoln Riley. But as great as the offense is, the Oklahoma defense is on the other side of the spectrum.

The Sooners may rank 52nd in the country in scoring defense (24.6 points per game) but when you look at their opponents and see that teams like Iowa State, Kansas State and Houston all scored 40 or more points on them, you realize the defense is a big issue. The Sooners have the ability to outscore anyone and WR CeeDee Lamb is expected to be back on the field after he missed the matchup in Week 10.

Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts is having a Heisman Trophy-like season with 31 touchdown passes and only six interceptions to go with 18 rushing touchdowns. He had to throw 42 times vs Baylor in Week 10 and tossed four touchdowns. Even if the Bears come out hot and get an early lead on the Sooners, Oklahoma can’t be counted out until the final whistle.

Betting Pick: OVER 61

I almost went with Oklahoma -8 as I think they win the Big 12 championship by double digits but I would rather bank on the Sooners and Bears combining for 62 or more points. The average combined score for Oklahoma games this season is 68.6 and only three of their games had fewer than 62 combined points.