The Oklahoma Sooners are 3-0 straight up and 2-1 against the spread in 2013, and will try to stay undefeated Saturday when they visit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at South Bend. The Sooners are a 3.5-point road favorite to beat the Irish, who have defeated them in both meetings since 1999.
Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame betting odds and pick: Sooners to take South Bend
Oklahoma has lost two in a row vs Notre Dame, but the odds say the Sooners will beat the Irish Saturday. The Odds Shark prediction agrees with the betting line.
Wesley Hitt
After starting the season with quarterback Trever Knight over Blake Bell, Bell took over the starting job at home against Tulsa two weeks ago and played brilliantly. Better known for his rushing ability, Bell showed that he could pass well too, racking up 413 passing yards and four touchdown passes with no interceptions against the Golden Hurricane.
With the defense allowing just nine points per game through the first three games of the season, Oklahoma is looking like a serious contender for the Big 12 title and maybe more after being the third betting choice in Big 12 futures back in August.
Notre Dame has clearly lost a step from last year, going 0-3-1 ATS so far while just barely getting by Purdue and Michigan State and losing outright to Michigan. Still, the Irish are 3-1 SU, and have looked solid on offense with quarterback Tommy Rees under center. While they were virtually impossible to run on in the regular season in 2012, the Fighting Irish have allowed over 115 rushing yards in three of their four games this season.
Oklahoma hosted Notre Dame last year and was an 11.5-point favorite at home. The Fighting Irish picked up a signature win in that one, crushing the Sooners 30-13. It is difficult to see them repeating that performance on defense with this year’s squad, but can they solve the Sooners’ defense again? That game went under the posted total of 48.
Oklahoma has a tendency to drop a game or two that it is favored in every year, and this could be that spot this year. But with what looks to be an elite defense, a solid dual-threat quarterback under center, and a week off to prepare, we think that the Sooners have the goods to take care of business in South Bend.
PICK: Oklahoma -3.5 | Computer Prediction: 34-23 Sooners (from Odds Shark college football picks engine)
