The Army West Point Black Knights (+32) are set to take on the No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Army West Point Black Knights vs. Oklahoma Sooners Betting Preview
Oklahoma has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 32 points to Army West Point. There will likely be some good in-game betting opportunities for this match, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 61 points.
The line opened at -33 but has recently moved higher to -32. The game’s total has yet to move after being initially set at 61.
The Black Knights are 1-1-1 against the spread (ATS) and have recorded 1.0 unit so far. The team has posted an O/U mark of 1-2. The Sooners have gained 2.0 units this season. The team is 1-2 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-0.
The Black Knights have gone 2-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Sooners are 3-0 SU.
The Black Knights made it two in a row after a 28-21 victory over Hawaii last week where Kelvin Hopkins Jr. completed six passes for only 162 yards. Hopkins Jr. (110 yards on 20 rush attempts, two TDs) also mounted the ground attack and was complemented by Darnell Woolfolk (70 yards on 19 carries, one TD). Christan Hayes (two receptions, 43 yards) and Calen Holt (one catch, 63 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Oklahoma enters this Saturday’s matchup following a 37-27 win over Iowa State. Kyler Murray completed 21-of-29 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns. Murray (77 rushing yards on 15 attempts) and Trey Sermon (74 yards on 13 carries, one TD) handled the running game while Marquise Brown (nine receptions, 191 yards, one TD) and CeeDee Lamb (three catches, 36 yards, one TD) led the Oklahoma pass-catchers in the win.
Army West Point has run the ball on 82.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Oklahoma has an overall rush percentage of 56.5 percent. The Black Knights have run for 307 yards per game and have nine scores on the ground this year. The Sooners are logging 222 rush yards per game and have 10 total rushing TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then it appears the Sooners ought to own an edge when it comes to efficiency in the ground game. Their backfield has logged 5.9 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 2.9 to opponents. The Black Knights have registered 4.9 yards per carry while allowing 4.7 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Black Knights offensive scheme has averaged 140 yards in the air overall and has two passing scores so far. The Sooners have recorded 329 pass yards per outing and have nine total pass TDs.
Defensively, Army West Point has let opponents run for an average of 112 yards and pass for 275 yards per game. The Oklahoma defense has given up 268.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 116.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Sooners are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 6.99 to opposing QBs, while the Black Knights have given up a staggering 9.15 ANY/A.
Offensively, Hopkins Jr. is up to 359 passing yards on the year, and has completed 52 percent of his 31 attempts with one passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. He’s got an 11.44 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 14.29 over the last two games.
In the other huddle, Kyler Murray has managed to complete 30-of-40 passes for 557 yards, five TDs and zero INTs. Murray’s ANY/A sits at 15.29 for the season and 11.43 across his last two games.
Free Pick: Army West Point Black Knights at Oklahoma Sooners
SU Winner – Oklahoma, ATS Winner – Army West Point, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Oklahoma defense has sacked opposing QBs nine times this season. Army West Point has registered six sacks.
The Oklahoma offense has lost one fumble in 2018 while the Army West Point offense has let two get away.
The Black Knights offense has recorded three pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Sooners have accounted for six such plays.
The Army West Point defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Oklahoma has given up four such plays.
The Army West Point offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Oklahoma has created six such run.
The Black Knights defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Sooners have given up one such run.
As a team, Army West Point has averaged 5.4 yards per carry over its last two matchups.
Oklahoma has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its last two.
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