SMU vs. Oklahoma Prediction, Pick, Odds: Will Dillon Gabriel, the Sooners Cover?
Oklahoma vs, SMU prediction and pick for this Week 2 matchup. Can Brent Venables' squad take down a hungry SMU team? Handicapper Matt MacKay gives us his best bet from this college football showdown.
Matt MacKay - September 4, 2023, 11:30 AM EDT
3 minSMU vs. Oklahoma Prediction, Pick, Odds: Will Dillon Gabriel, the Sooners Cover?
Southern Methodist University will travel to Norman, Oklahoma to face the No. 20 ranked Oklahoma Sooners during Week 2 of the 2023 college football season. The Sooners and Mustangs are both 1-0 following decisive Week 1 victories, with Oklahoma routing Arkansas State 73-0 under second-year head coach Brent Venables.
SMU's head coach, Rhett Lashlee, also just began his second year with SMU, leading them to a 7-6 record in 2022 with a one-point loss to BYU in the New Mexico Bowl. The Mustangs handled Conference USA opponent Louisiana Tech without much difficulty in Week 1, winning 38-14, going up 31-0 at halftime, and putting it on cruise control for the entire second half.
After an underwhelming and disappointing first year at Oklahoma, it appears that Venables has the Sooners' offense and defense humming. Let's find out how the Sooners match up against the Mustangs ahead of Saturday night's matchup in Norman in order to find the best bet to place in this game.
SMU vs. Oklahoma Start Time, Where To Watch, Odds
- Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
- Game Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN+
Click here for the latest SMU vs. Oklahoma odds
SMU vs. Oklahoma Injury Report
SMU
Questionable: N/A
Out: N/A
OKLAHOMA
Day-to-Day: TE Kaden Helms, WR J.J. Hester, QB Davis Beville, WR Drake Stoops, OL Jacob Sexton, WR D.J. Graham III
Out: N/A
SMU vs. Oklahoma Prediction
Dillon Gabriel is back with Oklahoma and he showed no signs of slowing down against Arkansas State in Week 1, recording an 86.4 percent completion rate with 308 yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding a third as a ball carrier. In fact, five Sooners players scored six rushing touchdowns last Saturday, while three different wideouts each recorded a touchdown reception.
SMU quarterback Preston Stone fared well, recording three passing touchdowns and a passing efficiency rating of 145.2. The Mustangs' Air Raid offense could give Oklahoma's defense a bit more to contain than their first opponent, but I doubt it's enough to make oddsmakers consider dropping the current spread from -16.5 favoring the Sooners at home.
The total points line is set to a whopping 70.5, with -110 odds on either side. This is likely due to the juggernaut offense we saw on display from the Sooners in Week 1, however, the Mustangs' defense ranked 119th out of 131 FBS defensive units in 2022. They still have the same coaching staff, and while the offense looked sharp early against LA Tech, it's the defense that will need to over-deliver to maintain control of the game for the Mustangs.
One of the best bets to make in this matchup is taking the Sooners to cover the spread, -16.5, at -115 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook. I see no reality where the Mustangs' bottom-12 defense can contain an improved Sooners' offense that has gained continuity in Venables' system with the same quarterback leading the way at home under the lights. Let's enjoy this sweat-free best bet and watch Oklahoma cruise to another decisive victory at home against a non-Power 5 opponent in Week 2.
SMU vs. Oklahoma Pick
- Pick: Oklahoma -16.5 (-115) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
College Football Odds
