The Oklahoma Sooners and Jalen Hurts welcome the electric D’Eriq King and the Houston Cougars to Norman for a primetime college football matchup on Sunday.
Jalen Hurts is set to make his first start for the Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday night in Norman — and it’s hard to imagine expectations being higher as they ready to face the Houston Cougars. At the same time, there’s a good reason for that.
The last two quarterbacks to helm the Oklahoma offense, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, won the Heisman Trophy under head coach Lincoln Riley. Furthermore, Hurts proved to be a dynamic dual-threat quarterback while at Alabama before graduating and transferring to join the Sooners. Thus, big things are expected.
It’s good for Hurts and the Sooners that, despite needing to replenish the offensive line, they have a litany of weapons to work with. CeeDee Lamb, Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon offer a ton of upside. The biggest question for OU, though, may well be if a Kenneth Murray led defense that was one of the worst in country last season can improve in 2019.
That defense will be tested by D’Eriq King and Houston on Sunday night. King is a dynamic quarterback with a strong arm and electric athletic ability. With new head coach Dana Holgorsen taking over, you can expect him to be unleashed and really try to put the formerly lackluster Sooners defense on the ropes.
How to watch and bet on Oklahoma vs. Houston
Date: Sunday, Sept. 1
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Memorial Stadium – Norman, OK
TV Info: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Point Spread: Oklahoma -23
Over/Under: 80
(Odds via Bovada)
It’s okay to be scared, especially in regards to this line. With a team like Houston that can score and a Sooners defense that was more than generous last season, a 23-point spread is exceptionally large. Tentatively, give me the underdog Cougars. A lock, however, is the over. There are going to be points, points and, just when you thought they were done, more points on Sunday night.
Prediction: Oklahoma is going to win this game. I’m confident in that. That confidence wanes, however, in regards to how much they win by. The Sooners defense was abysmal last season, particularly against the pass. With the Cougars and King’s ability to move the ball, even a marginal improvement for Riley’s team may not be all that inspiring.
Subsequently, this one will be closer than expected, even if OU still gets the victory at home.