Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas Jayhawks Predictions: Beating the Spread
The Kansas Jayhawks are just one win away from bowl eligibility for the second straight season. For the second straight season, they have a chance to clinch it against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Oklahoma State got a big win last week, counting on their defense to build a big lead and then hold on for the win. Will they be able to do something similar against the Jayhawks this week, or will Kansas win for the second year in a row?
Do you disagree with our assessment? Make sure you read them all and then hope over to the Discord or on Twitter to share your own thoughts.
Kyle Davis
Check out our Oklahoma Preview for Kyle's full breakdown and prediction.
Derek Noll
There’s a big part of me that wants to take the Jayhawks in the upset. They’re gonna have a raucous crowd at the Booth, the Big Noon Kickoff show is in town to hype everyone, and the team and staff have had two weeks to figure out how to beat the Sooners. Plus, I think that Lance might be playing a little coy about the availability of Jalon Daniels. So I’d really like to take the Jayhawks, but I think Oklahoma saw some reality last weekend when they scraped by a poor UCF team and they won’t be overlooking any aspect of the Jayhawks’ game this weekend. Dillon Gabriel is very good, but if KU can stop the OU running game (which hasn’t been impressive this season) and make Gabriel air it out, that KU secondary might be able to make some big plays. Either way, I see this one coming down to the wire with the Jayhawks coming up just shy.
Oklahoma 35, Kansas 31.
Brendan Dzwierzynski
Kansas has to be at its best, relatively, to win today, but there’s definitely a chance at that. I think the key for me is Jason Bean’s arm. He doesn’t need to throw for 400+ yards and 5 touchdowns like he did against Oklahoma State, but OU’s pass defense is slightly worse than its run stopping this year, statistically speaking. If the Jayhawks can move the ball well through the air, it should open up more opportunities to lean on Devin Neal and the running game. I’m taking OU, but Kansas absolutely has a chance to.
Oklahoma 31, Kansas 27.
Andy Mitts
I’ve already been on the record publicly stating that I think the Jayhawks have a great chance in this one. Given the huge differences between the way Kansas plays at home versus on the road, I expect a much better showing from the defense than two weeks ago. And Jason Bean had success against the Sooners last year, so a difference in defense may be enough to push them over the top.
But the part that really has me optimistic about Kansas in this one is the reports that Oklahoma is dealing with a bout of the flu in the program. While I wouldn’t ever wish someone to get sick so that the team I follow wins, I think everyone remembers what Ohio did to Iowa State in the week that they were dealing with widespread illness issues in the program.
Ultimately, give me a Kansas squad that is hungry to show that they are not a fluke this season. They come out inspired and actually start relatively quickly, holding a narrow lead at halftime. And much like Oklahoma State was finally able to break through and force turnovers in the fourth quarter against Kansas, I expect the Jayhawks to chip away at the Sooners throughout the game and finally get some pressure to narrowly get the victory at home.
Kansas 42, Oklahoma 41.
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