Oklahoma Sooners 2016 College Football Betting Preview, Championship Odds

Two years ago, the Oklahoma Sooners ended their season with a 40-6 bowl blowout loss to Clemson, and last January they lost the rematch against the Tigers in a national semifinal bout. The Sooners rate among the favorites to return to the College Football Playoff this season, but so does Clemson.

2015 Oklahoma record: 11-2 SU, 9-4 ATS

2016 regular-season wins over/under: 10

2016 odds to win Big 12: -140 (bet $140 to win $100)

Odds to win national championship: +1200

Last Year in Review

Helped by a late rally at Tennessee, the Sooners started 4-0 last year. But they then lost a real puzzler to Texas as 16-point favorites on the college football betting lines at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. Oklahoma then beat up on the rest of the Big 12, winning its last seven games by an average score of 52-19 and going 6-1 against the spread in the process.

So the Big 12 got its CFP berth, but unfortunately the Sooners only carried that banner for about two quarters in the Orange Bowl before fading late in a 37-17 loss to Clemson. Oklahoma had better hope that showing doesn't affect its CFP chances later this season.

This Year in Preview

Oklahoma returns 13 starters this season, the same number it had for last season. Seven are back on offense, including Heisman-candidate quarterback Baker Mayfield (68 percent completions last year, 36/7 touchdowns/interceptions), record-setting running back Samaje Perine (3,000 rushing yards in two seasons), dual threat Joe Mixon (1,100 yards from scrimmage, 11 touchdowns last year) and three along the line. And six starters are back from a defense that held foes to 22 points per game last year.

Oklahoma 2016 Schedule

The Sooners open this season with a neutral-site match against a dangerous Houston outfit, and a couple of weeks later they host fellow national championship contender Ohio State. From there, OU visits TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia, hosts Baylor and Oklahoma State and, of course, plays the Shootout with Texas in Dallas. Oklahoma can afford one loss along the way and still have a shot at the CFP, but two would be too many.

Betting on the Sooners

OU has big expectations but little room for error. To reach the CFP they have to beat Houston and Ohio State and win the Big 12, and their futures odds don't provide enough value on a proposition like that. Week-to-week, the best value on the Sooners comes when they play on the road, where they're 13-6 ATS over the last four seasons.