Week 4 Free College Football Picks and Spreads: Missouri Tigers @ Oklahoma Sooners 2011 NCAA Football Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on FX Saturday 9/24/11: Last season, Oklahoma rolled into its matchup with Missouri as the top team in the nation, but the Sooners left with a 36-27 loss that all but ended their chances at a national title. When the Tigers (2-1) visit Norman Saturday, they will once again try to knock Oklahoma (2-0) from the top spot in the country. The two Big 12 rivals have taken turns dealing one another’s title chances death blows the last several, and even though the Sooners are 20-point favorites, history says this matchup could be a close one.
The Sooners enter this weekend’s contest coming off a huge win at Florida State. Meanwhile, the Tigers are still searching for a signature victory. Missouri lost its only real test of the season at Arizona State and was unimpressive in a win against Miami of Ohio. Knocking off No. 1 Oklahoma for the second year in a row would be the statement victory the Tigers are lacking, but a loss would raise more questions about the overall chances of this year’s team.
Missouri’s success in this matchup will depend on the play of quarterback James Franklin. The dual-threat QB has totaled nearly 700 yards passing in three games, throwing six touchdowns and just one interception. Franklin has also added two touchdowns rushing and is second on the team with 120 rushing yards. He is connecting on almost 66 percent of his passes thus far in 2011 as well, defying the critics that called him an unpolished pocket passer. That being said, Saturday’s game will be Franklin’s toughest test to date. The Sooners will put plenty of heat on the Missouri QB, and he will have to prove he can still play mistake-free football against a strong defensive unit.
The Tigers defense will be put to the test as well. The unit struggled in the loss to the Sun Devils, giving up 37 points. Oklahoma brings an even more potent offense to the table, led by Heisman hopeful Landry Jones. The QB will be looking to make amends for last year’s loss to the Tigers, and he and top receiver Ryan Broyles returned to school with the sole goal of winning a national title. If Missouri couldn’t slow down a solid Arizona State offense on the road, the same unit will be hard pressed to slow down an even better Oklahoma offense.
A possible X-factor in the contest could be Missouri running back Henry Josey. He has emerged as a true big play back, piling up 400 yards on just 29 carries. Do the math, and that is more 13 yards per carry. If Josey can break a few big runs Saturday, he could help the Tigers steal the momentum and level what seems like an otherwise uneven playing field.
While revenge may not be the right word, the Sooners will certainly be motivated to erase memories of last year’s loss to Missouri. With Jones, Broyles and an aggressive defense, Bob Stoops’ group should be able to do just that. Plain and simple, the Sooners have more talent on both sides of the ball than the Tigers. That being said, rivalry games have a way of being close, even when one side is far more talented than the other. Oklahoma should avoid another upset, but Franklin and the Tigers should be able to hang within three touchdowns.
Prediction: Missouri Tigers (+20) Cover the Spread
Free College Football Picks and NCAAF Predictions: Missouri +20 to cover the spread
| College Football: Missouri @ Oklahoma Date: 9/24/011 Time: 8 PM EST on FX Vegas Odds – Favorite: Oklahoma -20 | Total: Over/Under 56.5 |
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