Should Oklahoma Be Your College Football Betting Pick?

Who’s ready to make some college football picks?

Luckily the wait is over, as the BetOnline.com sports book has plenty of betting lines to whet your gambling appetite. Saturday’s slate includes this year’s Big XII favorites, the Oklahoma Sooners, opening their season against the Utah State Aggies.

Utah State Aggies (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) at No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS)

Saturday, September 4: 7:00 p.m.

NCAA Football Lines:

Utah State: +33 ½
Oklahoma: -33 ½
Total Points: 58

Last season was a tough one for Oklahoma, as they finished just 8-5 and 5-7-1 ATS. Luckily for those looking to make the Sooners a college football handicapping pick, Oklahoma returns plenty to make them a smart wager.

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Starting with the offense, quarterback Landry Jones is back for his second year under center. After being forced into the starting role with an injury to Sam Bradford, Jones had to adapt on the fly, and it showed. He finished last season with a very impressive 3,198 yards passing and 26 touchdowns, but was also erratic at times, tossing 14 interceptions as well.

Joining Jones on this offensive unit are last year’s second leading rusher and top receiver. Jones’ running back of choice is senior DeMarco Murray, who must stay healthy in his fourth year at Oklahoma. When on the field he’s as good as anyone, rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2008, before being limited to 705 a year ago. Ryan Broyles is back at wide receiver, after catching a team-high 89 balls last year.

But before you run off and make the Sooners your college football handicapping pick, understand that this Utah State team will come to play. While their record was just 4-8 last year, they went 8-4 ATS, staying close late into several games.

The man who’ll be tasked with putting points up against a tough Oklahoma defense (which ranked seventh in scoring defense last year), will be quarterback Diondre Borel.

Borel can be enigmatic at times, but can also be a terror when he’s given time to make plays. Last year he threw for 2,885 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also rushing for 465 yards as well. This offense ranked in the top 40 in college football in both passing offense (36th) and rushing offense (20th) and Oklahoma better not overlook them.

Coming into this one, there is plenty of reason to make either team your college football picks. The play here is actually Utah State.

Look, we’re not saying Oklahoma is going to lose, because they won’t.

But at the same time, it seems all but certain that Utah State will at least be mildly improved from last year, in what was again a season where they lost three games by four points or less.

Also, Oklahoma will enter this game with several injured starters, including defenders Austin Box and Frank Alexander. With Florida State in Week 2, the Sooners are looking to make it out of this game with a win, and as healthy as possible. How they get that win won’t matter.

Oklahoma will get the victory, but Utah State will get the cover. Make the Aggies your Saturday night college football picks. You won’t regret it!

Aaron’s Pick: Utah State +33 ½