Texas Christian Horned Frogs (8-1 SU, 5-4 ATS) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (8-1 SU, 5-4 ATS)
College Football Week 11
Date and Time: Saturday, November 11th, 2017 8:00 PM ET
Where: Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK
TV: FOX
by Keith F., Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: TCU +7/ OU -7
Over/Under Total:62.5
Big 12 and College Football Playoff implications are on the line in this contest as the Oklahoma Sooners will host the TCU Horned Frogs in a primetime clash that could easily become one of the match-ups of the year. The two teams have been on a collision course and now the time has come for the two to finally roll up their sleeves and settle who takes the driver seat of the conference race. The contest will be one of national interest and respectfully so. As a result, the affair will be aired across the country on FOX with a kick-off time of 8:00 PM ET. The fixture will come live from Norman, Oklahoma at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Coming into this contest it is also worth mentioning that the Sooners are now ranked #5 and the Frogs at #8. Overall, Oklahoma has won five of the previous six meetings between these two evolving rivals. In 2016, the contest was settled by a touchdown when the Sooners travelled to Fort Worth and handed TCU a 52-46 loss. The last five meetings have all been settled by a touchdown or less.
The Horned Frogs come in off an impressive win against Oklahomas biggest rival, the Texas Longhorns on Saturday night. The Frogs share one anecdote with their adversaries this week; they were also struck down by the giantkillers of college football when Iowa State. The difference is TCU lost in Ames; Oklahoma lost in Norman. Just like Oklahoma, the loss sent the Horned Frogs tumbling out of the top-five. However, with Oklahoma State and Iowa State both dismissed now from the race most likely, this two-horse race will reach its head when these two teams square off. Currently, TCU and Oklahoma hold the top position over the conference race be that they both own a win over Oklahoma State. Whose was more impressive is subject to argument be that both teams wins were attained in Stillwater.
The Sooners have silenced many critics after hanging over 60 points on the Pokes in Stillwater in the annual Bedlam Game. The catalyst? Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is now once again the likely favorite for the Heisman Trophy after putting together a stellar performance against the Cowboys on a national stage. Whilst Oklahoma had established a track record of playing down to the level of their opponents, the Sooners now have two big wins on their resume in the 2017 season. As a result, they have received a lot of love from the College Football Playoff Committee. A win against TCU would catapult this outfit likely into the top four. One thing we must stress however, a win here cements nothing. It is very likely that TCU and Oklahoma will meet again in Arlington for the Big 12 Conference Championship.
Out of the gate we have seen an initial lean on the Frogs and thus the price has begun to descend in some markets. The number presented is a popular choice that many books have used in games of consequence. We saw this in the Penn State and Ohio State contest and also when Oklahoma faced off with Ohio State earlier this season, as well. In both contests the underdog covered, this is something that needs to be taken into consideration where the public was on the dog. It is unlikely this will happen a third time in a row. In Over/Under markets, we have seen the number fall drastically by 2.5 points to its current position of 62.5 reflecting action on the Under.
In this situation, the line in this market is bound to have several movements over the course of the week be that bookmakers are going to be extra sharp in a high-profile game of this magnitude. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Oklahoma has home field advantage in this one and has the ability to do what the Sooners normally do: pick up a few late-season wins that impress pollsters and collapse on the biggest stage of all. Fortunately, this game is just a buffer for TCU and the Big 12 Championship Game will be the appropriate venue for such an event to occur. For now, the Sooners spotting the points is the quality play.
Keiths Pick to Cover the Point Spread: OKLAHOMA -7 – Move the line on this game up to 20 points by inserting it into a 20 point football teaser at the web’s best sportsbook: 5dimes!