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Oklahoma Offense Looks To Threaten The Over

Funny enough, Cincinnati’s first game against a Big 12 opponent, while being a member of the conference, will be against No. 16 Oklahoma, a program that moves to the SEC next season. What is not funny for the Bearcats is how good the Sooners offense is, making the over in this game a potential NCAAF best bet.

Oklahoma had a great win last week, beating Tulsa 66-17 behind a dynamic performance from quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Cincinnati lost to Miami (OH) in overtime for the first time in 16 games, 31-24.

Oklahoma Offense Looks To Threaten The Over
Oklahoma Offense Looks To Threaten The Over

Oklahoma’s Offense Is Something To Fear

It is easy to see why this game has an over/under set at 57½ points. A big reason why Oklahoma is 16th in NCAA ranking is because of how dominant the offense has been. In Week 1, the Sooners scored 73 points against Arkansas State before having a slow day against SMU, scoring 28.

Gabriel has been the catalyst of the offense, leading all Big 12 quarterbacks in yards and touchdowns. In last week’s win over Tulsa, Gabriel threw for 421 yards and five touchdowns, with one interception. On top of that, the Sooners had three receivers over 100 yards, Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, and Andrel Anthony. They combined for four scores, 13 receptions, and 355 yards.

The Sooners’ passing offense is a big reason why College Football lines favor them to beat the Bearcats by a little more than two touchdowns. Oklahoma leads the Big 12 in passing yards and points per game.

On top of that, Cincinnati‘s defense has been shaky. While the Bearcats only allow 307.8 yards per game, they have yet to face an offense like the Sooners. Furthermore, the Bearcats allow 7.7 yards per pass, which can be concerning when facing the Sooners, who average 11.3 per pass attempt. Given that there is a good chance that Gabriel and his three receivers will have a good day, Oklahoma is set up to score a bunch of points, again.

Cincinnati Can Do Enough

The next step is whether Cincinnati’s offense will keep up with Oklahoma to make this game hitting the over an option for NCAAF predictions. The Bearcats’ offense is not nearly as good as the Sooners, but it does have some upside. They put up 538 yards last week but could not find the endzone.

Most of Cincinnati’s success does come from running the ball. Running back Ryan Montgomery and quarterback Emory Jones did most of the heavy lifting in that department last week. Each ran for 113 yards on 20 carries. But neither is the Bearcats’ leading rusher. That is Corey Kiner, averaging 6.1 yards per carry despite a down game last week, 14 carries, 31 yards and a touchdown.

The Bearcats running game must be successful to move the ball against the Sooners. However, that could be an issue, with the Sooners allowing 80 rushing yards per game, 2.3 per carry, and yet to give up a touchdown. That is another reason why College Football odds heavily favor Oklahoma.

Moving the ball against Oklahoma’s defense through the air might also be challenging. Last week, the Sooner defense forced five interceptions while the Bearcats quarterback threw two. However, turnovers tend to lead to higher-scoring games, only backing the over more for College Football picks.

Oklahoma vs Cincinnati Best Bets

With the over/under set at 57½, this seems like a clear game to hit the over. While the Sooners have only hit the over in two of their games this season, the one they failed to do was set at 68½ against SMU. On top of that, twice this season, the Sooners have covered this over/under line on their own.

Sure, they are playing a better team in the Bearcats this week, but their defense has struggled to defend the pass, the number one thing the Sooners want to do. Plus, with Jones likely to throw more interceptions, helping out Oklahoma’s offense, the over seems like a great betting choice.

The Bearcats offense is no slouch, either. If they can find a way to run the ball and finally get into the endzone, the Bearcats will be able to pull their weight in hitting the over.

Oklahoma vs Cincinnati Game Information

  • Game: Oklahoma (3-0) vs Cincinnati (2-1)
  • Location: Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
  • Day/Time: Saturday, Sept. 23, 12 p.m. ET
  • Oklahoma vs Cincinnati Live Stream: ESPN

 

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