The 2021 coaching carousel offered the wildest ride in college football history. And two of the programs most directly impacted by it were the Oregon Ducks and Oklahoma Sooners. Oregon coach Mario Cristobal left after the Pac 12 Championship game for Miami-FL. Cristobal played for the U and grew up in Miami. It was an understandable decision. But he leaves behind a virtually full cupboard for his replacement, current Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning. Cristobal is a recruiting machine expected to mine South Florida and make Miami great again.
Meanwhile, the Sooners were shocked to discover that Lincoln Riley bolted for the USC Trojans. Riley was the handpicked successor of Bob Stoops four years ago and was given the keys to a powerful program. Yet Riley saw the future and determined it wasn’t going to work. Oklahoma is destined to join the SEC cutthroat gauntlet. In comparison, USC is the sleeping giant of a mediocre Pac-12 Conference. Riley did the math and saw USC had a much easier path to the College Football Playoff. Former Clemson and Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables takes as head coach for OU.
The Oregon Ducks will take on the Oklahoma Sooners in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This game will take place on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at 9:15 p.m. ET, with television coverage on ESPN.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Oregon Ducks +4.5
Oklahoma Sooners -4.5
Total 61.5
Odds Analysis
Oklahoma opened as a 4-point favorite with a total of 61. The Sooners are the far bigger name brand with the public in this matchup. Oregon flopped badly down the stretch, further damaging their branding with squares.
Oregon Ducks
Most of the Oregon Ducks coaching staff remained to get the team through this bowl game. Including offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead. And it was Moorhead that got most of the credit for Oregon’s stunning upset of the Buckeyes at Ohio State earlier this year. Another assistant, Bryan McClendon, will serve as interim head coach for the Ducks.
Oregon was annihilated 38-10 by Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game as 3-point dogs. The game went under the total of 57. The Ducks now stand at 10-3 straight up, 5-8 against the spread, and 6-7 under the total.
Oregon’s poor mark against the board was an annoyance to gamblers. While Cristobal was an ace recruiter, his gameday coaching left a lot to be desired. The Ducks dropped two of their final three games on the board. Three of their last five games stayed under the total.
Senior quarterback Anthony Brown posted a 15/6 TD/INT ratio with a 138.8 rating. In comparison, junior back Travis Dye rushed for 1118 yards and 5.8 yards per carry.
Oklahoma Sooners
Former head coach Bob Stoops, an OU legend that led them to a national championship, is serving as the interim head coach of the Sooners. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch departed for USC with Riley.
Oklahoma is coming off a 37-33 loss at Oklahoma State in one of the greatest Bedlam games ever. The Cowboys were 4-point chalks to make for a push. OU and OSU cleared the total of 51. Thus, OU stands at 10-2 straight up, 5-6-1 against the spread, and 7-5 over the total.
Oklahoma is led by freshman sensation Caleb Williams, who won the job in-season from Spencer Rattler. Williams compiled a 166.7 QB rating with an 18/4 TD/INT ratio and 9.1 yards per attempt. Williams averaged 5.7 yards per carry and was second to Kennedy Brooks (1111 yards) with 408 yards rushing.
Oregon vs. Oklahoma Prediction
Oklahoma has a much stronger coaching presence with Bob Stoops in this matchup. And Sooner QB Caleb Williams is the best player on the field.
BookMaker Pick: Oklahoma Sooners
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