Another critical non-con game for two teams that disappointed last season. The game is in Norman, on 9/11.
Florida State starts the "After Bowden" era this season. After what should be a warm up game at home against FCS Samford, the 'Noles travel for their first critical game under new HC Jimbo Fisher. With 8 starters returning on ofense, including QB Christian Ponder, scoring should be no problem for this team, which scored 30 or more points in 7 games last season. The defense returns 4 starters, and was a major failure last season. They gave up 28 or more points in 7 games last year. New DC Mark Stoops brings in many changes to the defense, hoping to use the talent he has more efficiently.
Oklahoma is also coming off a sub-par season, due in part to the early departure of QB Sam Bradford, due to injury. They also get a pushover in game 1, playing Utah State. OU returns 9 starters on an offense that was very inconsistant last season. This squad scored 31 or more points 7 times last season, but was held to 13 or less points on 4 different occasions, all leading to losses. The defense, a strong point for OU last season, only returns 4 starters. Since Sargeant Stoops closes his spring drills and practices, it is hard to get a read on his defense, but look for Ronnell Lewis to star at a LB position.
Being such a headline game, this game will get a lot of action at the books. Nothing really stands out for Florida State, except for their 1-7 ATS record as a non-con away dog of 3 or more points in the past 3 years, while OU is 7-0 ATS at home against non-con opponents in that same time span. Interestingly enough, BYU stunned OU in their neutral site opener last year, and then were crushed two weeks later at home by Florida State. With so many new players on defense on each team, and a complete coaching overhaul at Florida State, this game is going to be very hard to figure out. Both teams openers will show little, because they are easy games. This may be the perfect example of the old gambling saying: "Sometimes the best wager is no wager at all".
Florida State starts the "After Bowden" era this season. After what should be a warm up game at home against FCS Samford, the 'Noles travel for their first critical game under new HC Jimbo Fisher. With 8 starters returning on ofense, including QB Christian Ponder, scoring should be no problem for this team, which scored 30 or more points in 7 games last season. The defense returns 4 starters, and was a major failure last season. They gave up 28 or more points in 7 games last year. New DC Mark Stoops brings in many changes to the defense, hoping to use the talent he has more efficiently.
Oklahoma is also coming off a sub-par season, due in part to the early departure of QB Sam Bradford, due to injury. They also get a pushover in game 1, playing Utah State. OU returns 9 starters on an offense that was very inconsistant last season. This squad scored 31 or more points 7 times last season, but was held to 13 or less points on 4 different occasions, all leading to losses. The defense, a strong point for OU last season, only returns 4 starters. Since Sargeant Stoops closes his spring drills and practices, it is hard to get a read on his defense, but look for Ronnell Lewis to star at a LB position.
Being such a headline game, this game will get a lot of action at the books. Nothing really stands out for Florida State, except for their 1-7 ATS record as a non-con away dog of 3 or more points in the past 3 years, while OU is 7-0 ATS at home against non-con opponents in that same time span. Interestingly enough, BYU stunned OU in their neutral site opener last year, and then were crushed two weeks later at home by Florida State. With so many new players on defense on each team, and a complete coaching overhaul at Florida State, this game is going to be very hard to figure out. Both teams openers will show little, because they are easy games. This may be the perfect example of the old gambling saying: "Sometimes the best wager is no wager at all".