Michigan vs. Oklahoma Odds, Picks & Betting Tips

NCAAF

A top 20 matchup hits the primetime airwaves on Saturday, September 6 when the Michigan Wolverines visit the Oklahoma Sooners. This is a big season for Brett Venables and OU after posting a losing overall record and going just 2-6 in their first season in the SEC. They opened the season with a convincing 35-3 win over FCS Illinois State behind 392 passing yards from transfer John Mateer. The game is set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET from Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK. ABC will provide television coverage.

Michigan at Oklahoma Preview

The Wolverines did what was expected, taking care of New Mexico, 34-17, in their season opener. They didn’t cover the 34.5-point college football betting line, but they did get their young quarterback Bryce Underwood some significant experience in his first career start. The heralded recruit was as advertised completing 21 of 31 for 251 yards and a touchdown. The fourth freshman in Michigan history to start also avoided mistakes.

It was a nice opener, but things get more challenging in a hurry for Michigan. One thing the Wolverines have relied on heavily over the years is a punishing ground game behind a mammoth offensive line. Justice Haynes rushed for 159 yards and three TDs on only 16 carries against the Lobos.

Michigan is 12-3 SU and 11-4 ATS in its last 15 road games.
In its last seven games against SEC opponents the Wolverines are 2-5 SU and ATS.
PK Dominic Zvada has made 96.4 percent of his kicks (23/24 FGs; 30/31 PATs) in his UM career.

There are high hopes for the Sooners after suffering through their second 6-7 season in the last three. Prior to 2022 it had been nearly a quarter of a century since the program last experienced a losing campaign. So there is pressure on the coaching staff to turn things around and getting John Mateer through the portal will help an offense that finished next to last in the SEC in scoring a season ago.

Don’t read too much into it since it was an FCS opponent, but Mateer was sharp, completing 30 of 37 for 392 yards and three TDs. OU totaled nearly 500 yards but had just 103 on the ground. They may be able to hit some downfield throws against UM but the lack of a ground game will certainly impact their ability to score.

OU failed to cover the college football point spread against Illinois State and is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games.
Mateer has 35 TDs and only 9 interceptions in 403 career pass attempts.
The Sooners are 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS in their last eight games against ranked opponents.

Michigan at Oklahoma Predictions

With two dynamic quarterbacks I can see offense playing a major role in this game. However, it seems as though Michigan has always been stout defensively and OU coach Venables built a career on building strong stop units. Besides, it’s hard to take away anything from Week 1 when both clubs used plenty of players in convincing wins against overmatched opponents. We won’t see the same production on offense leading me to back the UNDER.

Michigan at Oklahoma Betting Tips

Oklahoma opened laying 5-points with a moneyline price of -192
Michigan has outright wins in three of its last five games when a road underdog.
The Wolverines are +170 on the moneyline.
The total opened at 46.

Michigan at Oklahoma Head to Head and Key Stats

The only meeting between the programs took place in the 1976 Orange Bowl with OU earning a 14-6 win and later claiming the national championship after going 11-1. Throwing for 392 yards and three TDs in the opener, Mateer set up his team for success through the air. However, Michigan has a stingy pass defense and intercepted three New Mexico passes in Week 1.