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5 smartest long-shot bets to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game

By Nick Villano

STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns talks with head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 27, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 38-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns talks with head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 27, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 38-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Oklahoma spring game
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4. Oklahoma – 15/1

The Oklahoma Sooners lost Kyler Murray when he went 1st overall in the NFL Draft. Usually, losing a player of that quality comes with major regression, but the Sooners were able to replace him with a quarterback that might be just as good, and one with everything to prove. Jalen Hurts transferred from Alabama to play his final season in the Big 12 and for a coach who developed the last two Heisman and No. 1 NFL Draft picks.

Oklahoma has been the winner of the Big 12 every season since 2014. They do have some competition, but they always do and they still win. This year, we don’t expect it to be any different. There are some questions with the offensive line this year, but they always have some of the best talent in the country coming there.

We really expect the Oklahoma defense to get a lot better, which is saying something in the Big 12. They have a new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch who brings an aggressive gameplan so the front seven should be much improved.

Oklahoma has a real shot to make a splash this season and get past the semifinals if Hurts picks up the offense as seamlessly as Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray did before him.