What bettors need to know: Texas Tech at Oklahoma

Line moves

The Oklahoma Sooners opened as 6-point favorites and were quickly bet up to -7. After dropping down to -6.5 it has now returned to a touchdown.

The total has climbed steadily to 75 after opening at 68 points.

Against the spread

Oklahoma is 7-2 ATS this season, 3-2 ATS at home. Over the last three years they are 11-5-1 ATS in Norman.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are 5-2-1 ATS in 2008, 3-1 ATS on the road. They hold an 8-8 spread mark on the road over the last three seasons.

Head-to-head

The home team is 8-2 in the last ten games in the series. Tech’s only win in Norman came in 1996.

Last year, the Red Raiders torched Oklahoma’s national title hopes by knocking off the Sooners 34-27 in Lubbock. It should be noted, though, that OU quarterback Sam Bradford went down early in that game with a concussion after the team’s second drive.

Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops are no strangers. Leach served as offensive coordinator under Stoops in 1999-2000.

Stoops to conquer

For those who may be wondering why Oklahoma is a 7-point favorite, consider this: In 10 years with the program, Stoops is 54-2 SU at home. Conversely, Leach is 20-24 SU on the road at Texas Tech (40-10 at home).

Oklahoma holds the nation’s longest home-winning streak at 23 games. Its last loss in Norman came in the 2005 season opener, 17-10 to Texas Christian.

Stoops is also 16-7 off a bye while Leach is 7-6.

The situation

Barring a loss in the regular season finale against Baylor, Tech can clinch a shot at the national title via the Big 12 Championship game with a win over Oklahoma.

If Oklahoma wins, it would set up a three-way tie in the Big 12 South between itself, Texas Tech, and Texas. If all three finish up 7-1 in the league, then the highest ranked team in the BCS will play for the Big 12 championship.

In all likelihood, Oklahoma would be that top-ranked BCS team with a win over Tech and Oklahoma State next week.

QB duel

It doesn’t get any better than this in terms of quarterback play.

Most people know that Red Raiders QB Graham Harrell is having a ridiculous season. He boasts a 71.7 completion percentage, 407 yards per game, 36 touchdown passes and just five picks.

In fact, since throwing three interceptions in the first two games of the season, Harrell has been picked off just twice for a 33-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the last eight games.

Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford might be just as good. He sports a 67.9 completion percentage, 340 yards per game, a 38-6 TD-INT ratio and the No. 2 passing efficiency rating in the nation.

Best in the biz

There’s no question who the best wide receiver in this game is.

Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree, according to some, is the best college receiver since Larry Fitzgerald. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner scorched the Sooners with 12 receptions for 152 yards and one TD last year.

Crabtree has gone 13 consecutive games with at least five receptions and one score. He is one shy of the all-time record held by the aforementioned Mr. Fitzgerald.

Un-Stoops-like D’

Oklahoma is in the middle of the pack nationally in yardage and points allowed per game. Statistically it may be the worst defensive unit of the Stoops era.

Injuries have been a part of the problem. The Sooners lost key linebacker Ryan Reynolds for the season against Texas. They will also be without two members of their four-man defensive end rotation, including preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Auston English.

If there is one bright spot, it may be that the defense has a penchant for big plays. They are first in the nation in turnover ratio, 21st in turnovers generated, third in sacks and ninth in tackles for a loss.

OU special teams struggling

If the Oklahoma defense is average at best, the special teams are downright awful. The team is ranked 108th in kickoff coverage, allowing 25.6 yards per return.

Texas A&M’s Cyrus Gray set an Aggie team record with 261 return yards against the Sooners, including a 98 yard TD return. Oklahoma also allowed TD returns of 97 and 96 yards against Cincinnati and Texas respectively.

The kicking game isn’t much better. Punter Mike Knall averages just 35.8 per kick and the team is ranked 93rd in net punting. Not to be outdone, kicker Jimmy Stevens has missed four extra points and three-of-five field goal attempts from beyond 30 yards.

Stoops is relentlessly working his special teams in practice. He claims they are looking better but it remains to be seen whether it will carry over to game day.