#3 Ohio State Buckeyes at #14 Oklahoma Sooners
Saturday, September 17, 2016, 7:30 pm Eastern, TV: Fox
Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium – Norman, Oklahoma
Opening Line: Ohio State -2
Current Line: Ohio State -1
Opening Total: 64 1/2
Current Total: 63
Opening Money Line: Ohio State -140 / Oklahoma +120
Current Money Line: Ohio State -120 / Oklahoma +100
Two legendary programs meet Saturday in Norman as the #14 Oklahoma Sooners and #3 Ohio State Buckeyes. Oklahoma leads the series 2-0 but they haven’t played since 1983. The teams will meet in Columbus next year to complete the home and home.
Ohio State is 2-0 under coach Urban Meyer. The Buckeyes have blowout wins over Bowling Green 77-10 and Tulsa 48-3 both at home. Ohio State is 2-0 ATS and the total is 1-1. The Buckeyes were 28 point favorites against Tulsa and the total was 72.
Oklahoma also entered the season in the top five of the pre-season polls. However, they were beaten by then #15 Houston 33-23 in the season opener in Houston. The Sooners rebounded last week with a rout over Louisiana-Monroe 59-17 in Norman. This is a must win for coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners if they want any chance of returning to the playoffs. It doesn’t get much easier either after this with games against TCU and Texas coming up.
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Ohio State is outscoring teams 63-7 this season. The Buckeyes average 597 yards per game on offense including 314 rushing and 283 passing. On defense, Ohio State is allowing 216 yards per game including 151 passing and 65 rushing yards. The Buckeyes are +7 in turnovers with 9 takeaways. Ohio State averages 67 penalty yards per game and opponents average 46 per game. The Buckeyes are 17/30 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 9/36. OSU has forced 4 sacks and allowed 1 this season. The Buckeyes are 10/10 scoring in the red zone with 8 touchdowns and opponents are 2/5 with no touchdowns.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett has thrown for 498 yards with 6 touchdowns and an interception, and also has 22 carries for 85 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Back-up Joe Burrow has taken a few snaps in both blowouts in garbage time.
Running back Mike Weber has 36 carries for 228 yards and a touchdown. Curtis Samuel has 21 carries for 162 yards and a touchdown, and has 14 catches for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Receiver Dontre Wilson has 6 catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. He is probable with a foot injury. Noah Brown, K.J. Hill, Terry McLaurin, and Marcus Baugh will also get some catches. Seven defensive players are listed on the injury report.
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Oklahoma is outscoring teams 41-25 this season. The Sooners average 517 yards per game on offense including 338 passing and 179 rushing yards. On defense, Oklahoma allows 380 yards per game including 297 passing and 84 rushing yards. Oklahoma is -1 in turnovers with 3 giveaways. The Sooners average 48 penalty yards per game and opponents average 56 per game. Oklahoma is 11/24 on third and fourth down convesrions and opponents are 11/34. The Sooners have forced 4 sacks and allowed 8 this season. Oklahoma is 7/7 scoring in the red zone with 5 touchdowns and opponents are 5/6 with 2 touchdowns.
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield has thrown for 567 yards with 5 touchdowns. He hasn’t attempted a run this season. Back-up Austin Kendall played the second half against ULM and threw for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Running back Joe Mixon has 20 carries for 157 yards and a touchdown, and also has 5 catches for 77 yards. Abdul Adams has 18 carries for 91 yards. Samaje Perine has 16 carries for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns along with 5 catches for 66 yards.
Receiver Mark Andrews has 5 catches for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dede Westbrook has has 12 catches for 103 yards. Five defensive players are listed on the injury report.
Ohio State is 4-0 ATS overall, 5-1 against Big 12 teams, 8-2 after scoring more than 40 points and allowing less than 100 rushing yards, 8-3 in non-conference games, 5-2 after a straight up win, 40-16-1 in road games, 37-15 on grass, 9-4-1 in September, 37-17-2 after allowing less than 275 total yards, 33-16-2 after allowing less than 20 points, and 41-20-2 after allowing less than 170 passing yards.
Oklahoma is 4-0 ATS after allowing less than 20 points, 5-1 after a straight up win of more than 20 points, 6-2 after rushing for more than 200 yards, 5-2 after a straight up win, 7-3 after allowing less than 100 rushing yards and in September, 1-4 after gaining more than 450 yards, and overall, 1-5 against teams with winning road records, 0-4 in non-conference games, and on grass.
Oklahoma looked good on defense against Houston holding them to four field goals in the first half and forcing numerous three and outs in the second. It was the offense that struggled particularly the running game. That shouldn’t happen with two talented backs like Mixon and Perine, and even the developing Adams. If Oklahoma can run the ball effectively then they can win this game. If not Ohio State could win by double digits. I think this will be a high scoring game.
