The Oklahoma Sooners, with a record of 4-2, will aim to rebound as they take on the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are 3-3, this Saturday afternoon. Following a significant 34-3 defeat against No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry, Oklahoma has dropped out of the top 25 rankings. South Carolina seeks to break a two-game losing streak after setbacks against then-No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 7 Alabama. They came close to upsetting Alabama last week, recovering an onside kick late in the game but failing to score afterward.
The matchup is set to kick off at 12:45 p.m. ET at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. After initially being favored by up to 5.5 points, Oklahoma is now a 1-point underdog as per the latest odds, with an over/under of 41 points according to consensus data.
Oklahoma’s struggles have been partly attributed to turnovers, especially in losses against Tennessee and Texas where they totaled five turnovers. They possess the second-longest bowl streak in the nation at 25 seasons, making this game crucial for their bowl eligibility. The Sooners’ defense has been strong this season, leading the SEC with 14 forced turnovers and ranking near the top in sacks per game. Freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who has stepped up as a starter, is completing over 62% of his passes for 458 yards and one touchdown. Historically, Oklahoma has a strong home-game record, going 10-1 in their last 11 home outings, while South Carolina has struggled with just one win in their last six away games.
On the other hand, South Carolina has shown resilience in their season, marking a notable win against Kentucky and covering the spread in multiple games, including an impressive performance against LSU and Alabama. Freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers demonstrated his capabilities by completing most of his passes for solid yardage while adding rushing statistics. The Gamecocks have been successful in covering the spread in six of their last seven SEC games and in four of their last five overall.
In terms of predictions, simulations of the Oklahoma vs. South Carolina matchup have generated results leaning towards the over, with a point-spread prediction showing a success rate exceeding 70%. Details on how to make betting decisions and specific picks can be found on sports betting platforms.