Sooners Looking to Flex Their Muscles Against Tennessee
By Charles Jay
The Oklahoma Sooners like to think they have the size, speed and depth to contend for a national title. After pounding a couple of out-gunned opponents, they take on another non-conference foe when they play host to the Tennessee Volunteers in college football betting action that is set to begin at 8 PM ET at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman.
Oklahoma, which is rated fourth in the coaches’poll and third by the Associated Press, cruised past Tulsa and Louisiana Tech thus far, impressing VietBet fans by going through those games without allowing a meaningful point. They handily beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last year and brought back nine starters on defense, in addition to making a permanent change at quarterback, inserting Trevor Knight, who led the Sugar Bowl victory, and moving Blake Bell to tight end. Tennessee struggled through a 5-7 season in Butch Jones’ first campaign as head coach, but they have demonstrated that they have the makings of a vastly improved squad, posting an impressive win over Utah State, which was expected to give them a much tighter game, and Arkansas State.
In the college football betting odds that have been posted on this contest at VietBet, the Sooners are considerable favorites:
Oklahoma Sooners -21.5
Tennessee Volunteers +21.5
Over 56.5 Points -110
Under 56.5 Points -110
One of the concerns surrounding the Vols was the development of quarterback Justin Worley, who chose Knoxville after getting offers from many bidders and had a so-so freshman campaign. Is he shaky? Well, less so than last year, although he will quite possibly be tested more severely than he has been in his brief collegiate career against the Sooner pass rush. The Volunteers also have to do some improvisation here, as they will be playing without Jacob Gilliam, their starting left tackle, who will not be available.
College football bettors know that Tennessee is not without weapons; the running game has received an injection from true freshman Jalen Hurd, and the coaching staff is expecting that he will be a more solid contributor with each passing week. Still, they will need something very consistent from Worley to keep the chains moving.
Oklahoma can be classified by VietBet customers as one of those teams that is going to be concerned with the margin of victory, because they have their eyes squarely on the four-team College Football Playoff at the end of the season. They just have to remember to win the game first. They are deeper at the running back spot than Tennessee, for certain, and they won’t give up much with a very experienced offensive line. They also have perhaps the biggest big-play guy on the field in Sterling Shepard, who may have found himself a running mate in Durron Neal, although 70 yards in receptions against Tulsa doesn’t necessarily guarantee such a thing.
Tennessee is going to be set back by a couple of injuries that should impact the way college football bettors look at this game. One of them is Gilliam, who occupied that all-important pass protection position and is out for the season with a torn ACL. And then there is wide receiver Von Pearson, who is also out. Worley needs all the potential targets he can get. And remember that this is a very young team, to the extent that Tennessee has played 22 true freshman, which to date has been more than anyone in the country. While that represents a good recruiting class, rude awakenings happen.
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