At the onset of his first two years as Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley has converted all. Upon taking over as head coach at the age of 33 Riley faced understandable skepticism. Back to back 12-2 seasons and berths in the College Football Playoff established credibility. Further success came with Heisman Trophy Award winning quarterbacks in both campaigns. Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray were vital betting on college football assets. From this point Riley has earned the reputation of being a quarterback guru. Jalen Hurts will be taking over under center for 2019. Expectations are sky high.
2019 Oklahoma Sooners Futures Betting Analysis
Date and Time: Season Opens August 31, 2019
Betting on Football Betting Odds at SBG: Oklahoma Sooners 16/1 to win the national championship
The Life of Lincoln Riley
Once upon a time Lincoln Riley tried to be a college quarterback at Texas Tech. After a year it was obvious that he lacked the talent to get playing time. So, he became a student assistant under Mike Leach. Riley quickly developed and became a full-time assistant in 2007. By 2015 his reputation was such that he was named Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator. Riley made the unit into a betting on college football weapon. As a result, then head coach Bob Stoops found his successor. Stoops retired right before the 2017 season. Riley built one of the nation’s true scoring machines.
Enter Hurts
Former Alabama starting quarterback Jalen Hurts arrives as a graduate transfer. Hurts lost his job at Bama in the national title game of the 2017 season. Alabama rallied when Tua Tagovailoa sparked a comeback overtime win over Georgia. Hurts never got over being benched for the freshman in the biggest sportsbook matchup of his career. Yet it must be remembered that Hurts went 26-2 as a starter for the Crimson Tide. And he saved last season by ironically coming off the bench to engineer a comeback win over Georgia. That was in the SEC Championship Game.
Threepeat for Heisman?
Certainly, Riley has set quite a standard with Mayfield and Murray winning consecutive Heismans. Hurts is touted as being capable of a third for the Sooners. Most important of all he will not have to do it alone. Hurts is surrounded by a super powered offensive unit. Take the case of Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks. Both combined for over 2000 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns. Further help comes from CeeDee Lamb. Last year Lamb had 65 catches for 1158 yards and 11 touchdowns. Of great concern is an offensive line that lost four starters.
The Elephant in the Room
Late on Oklahoma’s explosive offenses have been undermined by the defensive unit. As a matter of fact, Oklahoma’s defense has been rendered helpless far too often. Alex Grinch arrives from Ohio State to solve the unit. OU ranked dead last for yards and points allowed in the Big 12 last year.
Matchup to Watch
In this situation any defensive improvement at all will mean betting on college football success for Oklahoma. Consistent with that is an offense that figures to be among the best in the nation. From this point the questions are on Hurts and the defense.
2019 Oklahoma Sooners Betting on College Football Futures Picks
On the whole this should be another College Football Playoff season at OU. At the very least!
2019 Oklahoma Sooners Betting on College Football Futures Season Prediction: Oklahoma Sooners to make the CFP!
Catch comments of new OU quarterback Jalen Hurts!