Oklahoma vs. Tulsa picks, predictions: Week 3 college football odds, spread, lines

Picks and predictions for Oklahoma vs. Tulsa in this Week 3 college football game

So far, the returns on the Sooners' defense are paying off in Year 2 for Brent Venables, but there's a long way to go this season starting this weekend as Oklahoma hits the road for the first time against in-state Tulsa in college football's Week 3 action on Saturday.

OU is allowing just 5.5 points per game through two weeks after rousing victories against Arkansas State and SMU at home and the unit ranks No. 8 nationally in third down defense. Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel is 5th in the nation in passer rating, completing six touchdown passes and no interceptions thus far.

Tulsa is 1-1 and coming off a big loss against a ranked Washington team but presents a challenge when running the football, with three backs eclipsing 100 yards in the Golden Hurricane's first two games of the season.

What do the experts think of the matchup? Let's see how the College Football Power Index computer prediction model projects the game.

Oklahoma vs. Tulsa picks, predictions

Oklahoma vs. Tulsa picks, predictions / USA Today Images

Oklahoma odds: The computers are predictably siding with the Sooners, who have the 96.4 percent chance to win outright, according to the model that picks winners by simulating games 20,000 times.

Tulsa odds: Conversely, the Golden Hurricane have the outside 3.6 percent shot to defend the home field and pull off the upset.

Point spread: Oklahoma comes into the game as 28.5 point favorites against Tulsa, according to the lines at SI Sportsbook.

Over/under: 59.5 points

Oklahoma predictions: The index ranks OU as the No. 9 team in the nation in the latest 133 college football rankings, projecting the Sooners are 21.3 points better than an average opponent, estimated to win 10.5 games, and have a 27.5 percent chance to make the College Football Playoff.

Tulsa odds: FPI slots the Hurricane at the No. 98 team in the country based on a projected scoring margin of minus-8.8 points against an average team, projected to win 5.0 games, and a 37.6 percent chance to play in a bowl game.

Oklahoma vs. Tulsa schedule

When: Sat., Sept. 16
Time: 2:30 p.m. Central
TV: ESPN2 network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

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College Football Power Index

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance.

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season, using a combination of analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, and a team’s schedule.

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College football rankings

More: A closer look at the AP top 25

First-place votes in parentheses

1. Georgia (55)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Florida State (3)
4. Texas (2)
5. USC
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. Tennessee
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. LSU
15. Kansas State
16. Oregon State
17. Ole Miss
18. Colorado
19. Oklahoma
20. North Carolina
21. Duke
22. Miami
23. Washington State
24. UCLA
25. Iowa

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams

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