Bradford could return when Sooners meet 'Canes
Oklahoma could have Sam Bradford back in action this Saturday when the Sooners travel to Miami to meet the Hurricanes. Is Bradford returning to the gridiron too soon and what does it mean to the spread?
Sam Bradford actually might play for the Oklahoma Sooners this week. Can this possibly be a good thing for OU supporters?
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner sprained his right shoulder in the season opener against BYU – a 14-13 loss as 22.5-point favorites that shocked the college football conscience. Bradford saw Dr. James Andrews over the weekend, and according to Sooners coach Bob Stoops, everything is “positive” so far.
Stoops is expected to make a decision later this week on who will start Saturday against the Miami Hurricanes. If Bradford isn’t ready yet, it’ll be Landry Jones, who led the Sooners to two victories (2-0 ATS) at a combined score of 109-0.
Not to suggest that Jones is the better quarterback – although he may yet prove to be. It could happen. But there are two issues with Bradford’s potential return to the lineup. The first is that he’s being rushed back into action too soon; this is the theory running through the MSM right now, blaming Stoops for jeopardizing what could be a long and profitable NFL career for Bradford. We’re here to handicap, so let’s forget about the muckraking and focus on the idea that Bradford might not be his usual Heisman self if he plays Saturday. That would clearly be bad for Oklahoma.
The second issue has to do with betting value. When handicapping college football, it’s de rigueur to assume the betting public will overvalue the starting quarterback and undervalue his back-up. College football is first and foremost about systems – in this case, the systems drawn up by Stoops, offensive co-ordinator Kevin Wilson, and the rest of the Sooners staff. Jones has already proved he can work within the system. Sure, it was against Idaho State of the FCS and Tulsa of the FCS-like Conference USA, but nine touchdown throws to three picks is a pretty good ratio.
This would be the first time Jones, if he plays, would be stuck in front of a competent defensive line – although the Hurricanes failed to get the job done last week, losing 31-7 at Virginia Tech (+2.5) to fall to 2-1 SU and ATS. That’s the same record as Oklahoma if you include the Idaho State game, where some books went ahead and posted the Sooners at –50 (they won 64-0). The Hokies were supposed to be vulnerable on the offensive line; instead, they ran for 272 yards. Oklahoma’s O-line, also in question at the start of the season, has still been good enough to allow RB DeMarco Murray to run for 6.8 yards per carry. That includes 5.8 yards per carry in the loss to BYU.
This week’s betting odds favor the Sooners by an even seven points with a total of 49. About two-thirds of bettors are throwing their support behind Oklahoma, enough to push the spread to 7.5 points at some books. So much for all that talk about the Hurricanes being a No. 1-quality team. But this is also not the same ‘Canes squad that got drilled 51-13 when these two clubs last met in 2007.
Jacory Harris is on his way up the food chain in his second year at quarterback, and he does have a good line in front of him. A lot of what went wrong against the Hokies was further downfield, where his receivers were dropping passes left and right in the rain. Tight end Jimmy Graham had an especially critical drop in the third quarter that would have kept a drive alive inside the Hokies’ red zone.
It’s possible rain could play a part in Saturday’s matchup as well. The forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms above what is currently being called Land Shark Stadium, aka Dolphin Stadium. Temperatures at game time are expected in the low 80s. A little rain might help the under extend its record to 4-0 for the Sooners this season. Miami has the under at 2-1 heading into Week 5.
Oklahoma could have Sam Bradford back in action this Saturday when the Sooners travel to Miami to meet the Hurricanes. Is Bradford returning to the gridiron too soon and what does it mean to the spread?
Sam Bradford actually might play for the Oklahoma Sooners this week. Can this possibly be a good thing for OU supporters?
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner sprained his right shoulder in the season opener against BYU – a 14-13 loss as 22.5-point favorites that shocked the college football conscience. Bradford saw Dr. James Andrews over the weekend, and according to Sooners coach Bob Stoops, everything is “positive” so far.
Stoops is expected to make a decision later this week on who will start Saturday against the Miami Hurricanes. If Bradford isn’t ready yet, it’ll be Landry Jones, who led the Sooners to two victories (2-0 ATS) at a combined score of 109-0.
Not to suggest that Jones is the better quarterback – although he may yet prove to be. It could happen. But there are two issues with Bradford’s potential return to the lineup. The first is that he’s being rushed back into action too soon; this is the theory running through the MSM right now, blaming Stoops for jeopardizing what could be a long and profitable NFL career for Bradford. We’re here to handicap, so let’s forget about the muckraking and focus on the idea that Bradford might not be his usual Heisman self if he plays Saturday. That would clearly be bad for Oklahoma.
The second issue has to do with betting value. When handicapping college football, it’s de rigueur to assume the betting public will overvalue the starting quarterback and undervalue his back-up. College football is first and foremost about systems – in this case, the systems drawn up by Stoops, offensive co-ordinator Kevin Wilson, and the rest of the Sooners staff. Jones has already proved he can work within the system. Sure, it was against Idaho State of the FCS and Tulsa of the FCS-like Conference USA, but nine touchdown throws to three picks is a pretty good ratio.
This would be the first time Jones, if he plays, would be stuck in front of a competent defensive line – although the Hurricanes failed to get the job done last week, losing 31-7 at Virginia Tech (+2.5) to fall to 2-1 SU and ATS. That’s the same record as Oklahoma if you include the Idaho State game, where some books went ahead and posted the Sooners at –50 (they won 64-0). The Hokies were supposed to be vulnerable on the offensive line; instead, they ran for 272 yards. Oklahoma’s O-line, also in question at the start of the season, has still been good enough to allow RB DeMarco Murray to run for 6.8 yards per carry. That includes 5.8 yards per carry in the loss to BYU.
This week’s betting odds favor the Sooners by an even seven points with a total of 49. About two-thirds of bettors are throwing their support behind Oklahoma, enough to push the spread to 7.5 points at some books. So much for all that talk about the Hurricanes being a No. 1-quality team. But this is also not the same ‘Canes squad that got drilled 51-13 when these two clubs last met in 2007.
Jacory Harris is on his way up the food chain in his second year at quarterback, and he does have a good line in front of him. A lot of what went wrong against the Hokies was further downfield, where his receivers were dropping passes left and right in the rain. Tight end Jimmy Graham had an especially critical drop in the third quarter that would have kept a drive alive inside the Hokies’ red zone.
It’s possible rain could play a part in Saturday’s matchup as well. The forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms above what is currently being called Land Shark Stadium, aka Dolphin Stadium. Temperatures at game time are expected in the low 80s. A little rain might help the under extend its record to 4-0 for the Sooners this season. Miami has the under at 2-1 heading into Week 5.
