So we're favored by 2.5 against ND

[soonercastor]

I was expecting the same line but the other way since we're on the road

[sendbaht]

really? hard to believe..but I do..

[SoonerorLater]

I was expecting ND by +4 or something close to that. They haven't looked great but played a tougher schedule to this point. I think we have a pretty good shot. Bell seems like the kind of guy who keeps his cool even when things break down around him. A good trait in a road game like ND.

[BoulderSooner79]

The -2.5 is probably more of a statement from folks doubting ND than confidence in OU. Having watched ND against Mich, Purdue and MSU, they look pretty similar to last season without the spark from Golson and Teo. Eifert was another bug graduation loss. OU is sort of a mystery at this point with only 1 game against a mid-major in the Bell era. That's not a bad thing as we have 2 weeks to prepare for ND with a very good idea of what to expect and they have 1 week with not as much to go on. I agree with SoonerorLater that Bell being calm and composed in his first start is more encouraging than the numbers he put up.

[OU_Sooners75]

Last week I predicted OU at -1.5 by game time.

So wasn't to far off.

[MyT Oklahoma]

I like our chances.

[OkieThunderLion]

Bettors love OU.

Sooners almost always favored.

[8timechamps]

It'll be interesting to see if this line gravitates close to a pick'em by Saturday. There's a lot of Catholic bettors out there.

[OkieThunderLion]

It'll be interesting to see if this line gravitates close to a pick'em by Saturday. There's a lot of Catholic bettors out there.

It's my only vice! ;)

[BoulderSooner79]

It's my only vice! ;)

Being Catholic?

[SanJoaquinSooner]

The boards are saying OU -3.5. Did it open at -2.5?

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/odds

[8timechamps]

The boards are saying OU -3.5. Did it open at -2.5?

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/odds

I'm seeing the line at OU -3 now, but it did open at -2.5.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

I'm seeing the line at OU -3 now, but it did open at -2.5.

Do you mean your bookie's?

[8timechamps]

Do you mean your bookie's?

LOL, no. I don't bet on games.

If you're an ESPN Insider, you can go to their "Pick Center", and it has all of the stats (betting lines) for all the top 25 games. It lists what the line opened as, and what the current line is, pretty interesting.

They also use some kind of formula to predict the scores. They have OU winning 26-23. I don't know how accurate they've been, but I like that prediction.

[S.PadreIsl.Sooner]

I'll take a win by 1. But, if we bring our "A" game we will cover that spread.

[oudivesherpa]

What I've seen is OU by three, on this game I'm more interested in the Over/under which if it's 40or over, I'm going under.
I never bet on OU, too much emotion to be objective.

[MyT Oklahoma]

I'll take a win by 1. But, if we bring our "A" game we will cover that spread.

Amen.

[OUster]

Got a real question for the collective then...I'll be in Vegas on Saturday for a wedding (much rather be in south bend but it's a "must attend" wedding, family and a texas fan on top of it!)...the plan is to watch the game from the closest sports betting casino. Do I 1) not bet because it'll mess with our mojo, or, 2) bet for our boys? If "yes", how much? I truly hate that THIS is the weekend I'll be at a wedding. But, I promise to be the only Sooner tailgating by himself in the lobby of Cesar's at 9 a.m. after 2 hours of sleep! Anyone else who's there is welcome to join me. A good buddy of mine is a county sheriff at the Clark county jail...we're good.

[8timechamps]

Got a real question for the collective then...I'll be in Vegas on Saturday for a wedding (much rather be in south bend but it's a "must attend" wedding, family and a texas fan on top of it!)...the plan is to watch the game from the closest sports betting casino. Do I 1) not bet because it'll mess with our mojo, or, 2) bet for our boys? If "yes", how much? I truly hate that THIS is the weekend I'll be at a wedding. But, I promise to be the only Sooner tailgating by himself in the lobby of Cesar's at 9 a.m. after 2 hours of sleep! Anyone else who's there is welcome to join me. A good buddy of mine is a county sheriff at the Clark county jail...we're good.

Damn weddings! :)

I don't bet on sports, but if I did, I would NEVER bet on OU. Too emotional. If you can remove the emotions, then go for it!

[jkjsooner]

I think one of the big questions is how will OU's offense (and specifically Bell) play on the road. I still have memories of Jones's first couple of years where we were terrible on the road. We'll see.

[Soonerjeepman]

Damn weddings! :)

I don't bet on sports, but if I did, I would NEVER bet on OU. Too emotional. If you can remove the emotions, then go for it!

AMEN...cause when I do OU loses...

[olevetonahill]

AMEN...cause when I do OU loses...

I never BET ON OU . I bet the Spread, In this case I'd bet a bunch on OU to cover.

[JiminyChristmas]

Some other interesting numbers for this game. The only time OU beat ND (1956), the tallest player on the OU roster was 6'4" and the heaviest was 224 lbs. Our QB (6'6", 252 lbs) this year would have been the biggest guy on the team, by far. Crazy.

[BoulderSooner79]

Some other interesting numbers for this game. The only time OU beat ND (1956), the tallest player on the OU roster was 6'4" and the heaviest was 224 lbs. Our QB (6'6", 252 lbs) this year would have been the biggest guy on the team, by far. Crazy.

Amazing that money directly impacts human evolution. It took hundreds of thousands of years to evolve to the basic humanoid form, but only a couple of generation for OL to add 75-100 lbs with the advent of multi-million $$ football contracts. Same effect is obvious in hoops - 6'10" guys that shoot from long range are common now but didn't exist 40 years ago. Now if we could only use this power for good...

[jkjsooner]

Amazing that money directly impacts human evolution. It took hundreds of thousands of years to evolve to the basic humanoid form, but only a couple of generation for OL to add 75-100 lbs with the advent of multi-million $$ football contracts. Same effect is obvious in hoops - 6'10" guys that shoot from long range are common now but didn't exist 40 years ago. Now if we could only use this power for good...

I wonder if some of it is a result of athletes meeting and mating with other athletes. AD was definitely a product of this. This probably became more apparent with the increased segregation of athletes from regular students and Title IX increasing opportunities for athletic women and increasing the odds they will meet and mate with athletic men.

As far as the athletic 6-10 guy playing small forward or guard, a lot of that has to do with coaches giving them that opportunity at a young age. In the old days the kid would be stereotyped as a center and not allowed to roam much beyond the basket.

[JiminyChristmas]

Some other interesting numbers for this game. The only time OU beat ND (1956), the tallest player on the OU roster was 6'4" and the heaviest was 224 lbs. Our QB (6'6", 252 lbs) this year would have been the biggest guy on the team, by far. Crazy.

Amazing that money directly impacts human evolution. It took hundreds of thousands of years to evolve to the basic humanoid form, but only a couple of generation for OL to add 75-100 lbs with the advent of multi-million $$ football contracts. Same effect is obvious in hoops - 6'10" guys that shoot from long range are common now but didn't exist 40 years ago. Now if we could only use this power for good...

I just wonder how far it can keep going. I'm sure 60 years ago no one would have thought a 6'6, 252lb QB was possible. Is 6'10, 325lbs possible for a QB 60 years from now? I know it has no impact on if we win or not, just thought it was interesting.

[OU_Sooners75]

Most bettin sites now has OU at -3.5

[FirstandGoal]

Well I have also been in Vegas during football season and I did bet on the Sooners..... and I won.
I actually have a great track record in October at Vegas sports books betting on college football.

Anybody who didn't bet the hell outta the spread when it opened at -2.5 when they had the opportunity to should be kicking right about now.

[badger]

Oh, boys... NEED I REMIND YOU?! (http://linemakers.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/2012-10-26/college-football-lines-point-spreads-odds-picks-over-under-notre-dame-oklahoma)

Or would this video suffice:
vqq8-8N8-6w

Yes, your resident debbie downer is here to remind you that in last year's 17-point home loss, where everyone was picking us, OU was favored by 10.5.

[tooslow]

How much would you pay for OU to beat the Irish? Whatever that amount is, bet it on Notre Dame. That way, if the unthinkable happens, you can get some extra cash to help dry the tears.

[jkjsooner]

How much would you pay for OU to beat the Irish? Whatever that amount is, bet it on Notre Dame. That way, if the unthinkable happens, you can get some extra cash to help dry the tears.

Or if you get really lucky we win but don't cover the spread.

If I'm ever in Vegas when we play a tough game I'll play the drown my sorrows bet - as long as we're favored. I'd hate to be the dogs and lose both the game and the bet.

The only time I ever placed an official bet on OU was when we played UNC in the second round of the bball tourney in 1990. F U Rick Fox.

[8timechamps]

How much would you pay for OU to beat the Irish? Whatever that amount is, bet it on Notre Dame. That way, if the unthinkable happens, you can get some extra cash to help dry the tears.

I started growing a beard one week before the ULM game. My son told me I couldn't shave it, because since I've had it, the Sooners have won.

So, I now have a one-month old beard. I'm not normally a beard person, so it's gotten fairly annoying.

I look at this weeks game this way: Win, and I'll be happy for another week. Lose, and I'll be unhappy, but with a clean face. I guess it's my version of betting on the Irish.

[tooslow]

Or if you get really lucky we win but don't cover the spread.

Wow, I didn't even think of that happening, but what a feeling it would be to beat the Irish by 1 or 2 AND get paid. :D

[aurorasooner]

Looks like Kersey over at the DO picks ND coaching staff over OU's.
COACHING

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has frequently repeated that last year's home loss to coach Brian Kelly and Notre Dame came down to the Irish's ability to make all the plays in the fourth quarter. Lots of that is on the players, but a good chunk of the blame falls on coaching, too.

Advantage: Notre Dame I can't say that I disagree with him until this staff can prove it on the field against a quality opponent and staff, especially on our offensive side of the ball --- Heupel.
I would like to see some Cotton Bowl like "shock and awe" on Saturday from our offense from the beginning, but I don't think our offensive staff has the imagination to do anything but keep the game close and try and let the defense win it at the end.

[OU_Sooners75]

I think one of the big questions is how will OU's offense (and specifically Bell) play on the road. I still have memories of Jones's first couple of years where we were terrible on the road. We'll see.

jones was hit and miss any game, anywhere.

Just depended on how much pressure the opposition brought after him.

[OU_Sooners75]

Nvm

[OU_Sooners75]

Oh, boys... NEED I REMIND YOU?! (http://linemakers.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/2012-10-26/college-football-lines-point-spreads-odds-picks-over-under-notre-dame-oklahoma)

Or would this video suffice:
vqq8-8N8-6w

Yes, your resident debbie downer is here to remind you that in last year's 17-point home loss, where everyone was picking us, OU was favored by 10.5.

That's the thing. The line didn't start that high.

Betting lines or spreads move with how much money is going to each side.

If all the big money was going toward OU this week the line would have move dramatically in favor of OU to entice other big money to be placed on ND.

Sports books operate to break even.

In other words, big money likes the line where it is, so it is getting even bets on both sides.

We will tell more late tomorrow early Saturday at where the final line is set.

[ouwasp]

so what's the over/under on total pts scored?

[badger]

Sports books operate to break even.

Is that how Lee Corso operates too? :P

[KantoSooner]

Nope, Lee is utterly random. He thinks he's getting secret tips from the words formed in his alphabet soup.

[birddog]

over/under set at 50

[SicEmBaylor]

32-28
OU