Week 1 2012 OU vs Texas El-Paso Predictions
The Oklahoma Sooners are expecting another very good season. Almost all polls have them in the top 5 as this talented team is returning a lot of experience too. Oklahoma is always in the argument but hasn’t won a championship in a while.
Oklahoma Sooners vs UTEP Miners
Saturday Sept 1
Sun Bowl – El Paso, TX
10:30PM
Moneyline: Oklahoma -11000, UTEP +4500
Spread: Oklahoma -30
O/U: 62.5
Oklahoma
The last time they were in the BCS was 5 years ago when they lost to Florida.
With the Big 12 undergoing some changes in the pecking order with new teams joining an undefeated season is a real possibility.
OU returns 8 offensive starters from a team that scored 39.2 point sper game last season. But it was really a tale of two season as the offense wasn’t nearly the same without departed receiver Ryan Broyles in the lineup.
This year they should have a very good and deep receiving corps not dominated by a single player. Broyles had 21 more catches than anybody else and didn’t play in several games.
It is rare for a team of Oklahoma’s stature to begin the season on the road, especially at a team like UTEP. They are certainly easing into the year with the Miners, then Florida A&M, followed by a bye week. With their explosive offense big numbers are not uncommon for OU.
In the last two season they have had three games where they were favoured by 30 or more. They are only 1-2 ATS in those contests. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
UTEP
The UTEP Miners are never horrible but after 6 straight losing seasons coach Mike Price is on the hot seat. It won’t help matters that three of the first 4 games are against BCS heavyweights Oklahoma, Mississippi and Wisconsin. Truth is when I look at their schedule this team could easily be a one or two win team this season.
Lucky for them division mates Rice and Tulane aren’t much better.
Like the Sooners the Miners also return 8 starters on offense.
There was a time when Price was considered an offensive innovator but at UTEP his offense have never been all that great. In this one the Miners will just hope that they are not passing for their life.
They do return 4 starters on the offensive line but none of their top 3 rushers return. Against a team like OU you want to have balance and try and burn some clock.
UTEP is not good and I see no scenario in which an upset could occur. The question is whether being at home and welcoming a top team is enough to get a spirited performance out of them.
I don’t like laying big numbers with the chalk but UTEP is a little bit scary, especially if they can’t run the ball at all.
Spread Pick: Oklahoma -30
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Oklahoma 48 – UTEP 10
