The biggest game of the college football weekend takes place in Norman, Oklahoma as the No. 6 ranked and undefeated Tennessee Volunteers are the first SEC opponents the No. 15 ranked Oklahoma Sooners will face during the 2024 season.
Tennessee (3-0) has decimated its competition to start the season. The Volunteers have outscored opponents 191-13, including a win over then-No. 24 North Carolina State this year as this team is rolling into its first SEC matchup.
Oklahoma – in its first season in a new conference – jumps straight into the fire. The Sooners (3-0) have had tougher-than-expected games against Houston (16-12 final) and Tulane (34-19 final) ahead of this matchup.
With two top 15 ranked teams facing off, what should bettors expect in this matchup? We’ll cover that as well as give bettors our best popular game bet in this preview of the Tennessee-Oklahoma game.
Tennessee Volunteers QB Nico Iamaleava UNDER 259.5 Passing Yards
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is another elite quarterback head coach Josh Heupel has secured for his program. The 6-foot-6 freshman has 698 passing yards and six touchdowns through the air while rushing 17 times for 102 yards and another score.
After Iamaleava threw for 314 yards against UT Chattanooga, the quarterback has passed just 39 times over the last two games for 384 total yards. The Volunteers will run against Oklahoma’s defense, and Iamaleava will leave the contest without hitting this player prop mark.
Oklahoma Sooners WR Deion Burks UNDER 58.5 Receiving Yards
In three games this season, Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold has thrown for 484 yards and seven scores, and a third of that production belongs to wide receiver Deion Burks. On the year, Burks has caught 22 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
Against Tennesee, however, the Sooners are expecting to have star receiver Nic Anderson back in the fold. With a talented option on the field, it could help Burks get open for some good looks. But the Vols have a deep defensive backfield, so it’s hard to see that happening. Take the under on this player prop bet.
Tennessee Volunteers RB Dylan Sampson OVER 80.5 Rushing Yards
Tennessee’s offense is predicated on the run, evidenced by the team’s decision to run it 62 percent of the time. Vols running back Dylan Sampson has the lion’s share of the team’s rushing production, carrying the ball 45 times for 357 yards and nine touchdowns in three games.
Oklahoma’s defense has been strong against the run thus far, holding opponents under 70 rushing yards for the game in two of those three contests. Yet they haven’t seen a runner like Sampson. Expect the junior to cover this player prop bet and then some on Saturday night.
Best Bet: Tennessee (-7)
I’ll take this bet all day. Yes, the Sooners are chomping at the bit to prove their worth in the SEC. Oklahoma is certain to have a few tricks up their sleeves when facing off against the Volunteers in this primetime matchup.
Yet Tennessee hasn’t even played a close game to start the season, giving me confidence this isn’t going to be one, either. I expect the Volunteers to race out to a lead and maintain a two-touchdown edge throughout the night against the overmatched Sooners.
