Oklahoma Sooners 2016 NCAA Football Preview
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Big 12 Conference
2015 Record – 11-2
ATS – 5-5-2
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
Big 12 Conference #1
2015 Recap
They sure were a lot of fun to watch last season. They made an improbable comeback on the road vs Tennessee, and just when you thought they might be invincible, they lost to Texas as double digit favorites. They ran the Big 12 table the rest of the way and lost in the Orange Bowl to a tough Clemson team 37-17 to end their run at the CFP Championship.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
Wow. QB Baker Mayfield was fantastic last season and returns in 2016 to lead what looks like another potent offense. What is really interesting is that the Sooners scored 43.5 points per game while getting sacked 41 times (!) which ranked them 8th in the Big 12. The offensive line looks to be in good shape this season and we see a large reduction in sacks allowed and an improved average per carry. That is BAD news for the rest of the Big 12.
The running game should be devastating with Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon returning for duty after trampling opposing defenses for well over 2,000 yards and 23 TDs. The Sooners will be without last season’s #1 WR Sterling Shepard (2nd round NFL DC) but still have a lot of talent at the position including DeDe Westbrook who averaged over 16 yards a catch last season. MEGALOCKS BIG 12 INSIDERS note that TE Mark Andrews has improved his blocking and may be able to improve on last season’s numbers (19-318, 7 TD) due to additional playing time.
DEFENSE
The last time the Sooners held opponents to under 20 points per game was back in 2009. This season they have a lot of talent on defense as per usual BUT they only return 5 starters and lose their #1 tackler Dominique Alexander. This season the DL still looks very good and the secondary remains one of the best in the country. They do lose more than half of their sack total from 2015 but overall this defense should still be the best in the conference. And as always, pass defense comes in handy in the Big 12.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Sooners need to find replacements in the return game but can rely on excellent P AND PK Austin Seibert in 2016.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 5.5
MEGALOCKS says:
If Oklahoma can successfully navigate their first five games they should be in great shape. They have four tough opponents before the middle of October (Houston, Ohio St, TCU, Texas). History has taught us that they might lay an unexpected egg at some point but the reality is that this team has as much talent as anyone in college football. Facing Ohio St and Houston on the non-conference schedule means that even a one-loss season and Big 12 Title will almost certainly get them in the playoff.
Overall, we give the SOONERS a 5.5 ATS Value Rating (Average) this season. The Sooners are going to be on every handicapper’s radar this season. They are absolutely loaded and it would be a disappointing season if they achieve anything less than a playoff berth. It is almost crazy to say they will ever be a horrible bet BUT the spreads will probably be inflated in their favor a lot of the time particularly when they are facing the teams in the lower half of the conference. You need to assess them on a week to week basis and not overpay.
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News
http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/
http://bleacherreport.com/oklahoma-sooners-football
http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/oklahoma-sooners
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/oklahoma-sooners
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