BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK
Oklahoma Projected to be Favorites in 11 Games During 2023 Season
After a disappointing first season in Norman for Brent Venables, oddsmakers seem to expect Oklahoma to bounce back in a big way this fall.
According to Action Network’s Collin Wilson, the Sooners project to be favored in 11 games during Venables’ second season.
It’s important to remember the projections aren’t based on win totals, but simply how many games Oklahoma will be favored in. Just by taking a look at the Sooners’ full slate in 2023, it’s understandable why the model would favor OU in 11-of-12 games. The team avoids playing Baylor, Kansas State and Texas Tech — three teams OU lost to a season ago. In turn, Oklahoma replaces the three Big 12 opponents with Cincinnati, UCF and BYU in their transition to Power 5 football.
In addition to Oklahoma's light schedule, the Sooners were closer on paper than it appeared in 2022. OU lost five games by a single score, and four of those five games by just a field goal.
The Sooners brought in a loaded transfer portal class, filling plenty of holes throughout the defense and adding depth on both sides of the ball. Oklahoma returns Dillon Gabriel at quarterback and expects Jalil Farooq to step up in a big way, making up for Marvin Mims’ departure to the NFL.
In addition to the transfer portal haul, Venables reeled in the No. 4 overall recruiting class in the country headlined by 5-stars in Jackson Arnold, Peyton Bowen, and Adepoju Adebawore. While Arnold will wait his turn behind Gabriel, Bowen should see action right away while Adebawore could break out at any point during the season. The star studded freshman class gives Oklahoma options if things go south — something the Sooners didn’t have a season ago.
“If we just get better on defense, we’re going to win 10-plus games and have a chance to compete and hang a banner up at the end of the year,” Venables said during Oklahoma’s SEC schedule reveal show. “But talk’s cheap.”
As Venables said, if Oklahoma’s defense improves, the team itself will obviously be in a much better spot on the field. Both the Sooners’ head coach and the oddsmakers in Vegas are expecting double digits in the win column this fall.
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