Tag: 2021 Week 1

Threat assessment: Which Green Wave could give the Sooners trouble on Saturday?

Since 2017, season openers in the Lincoln Riley era have led to big Sooners’ wins. Here are the Green Wave that could make things interesting in Norman.

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The Oklahoma Sooners opened as 26.5 point road favorites against Tulane in week one per Tipico betting odds. However, with the game now in Norman due to the destruction of Hurrican Ida, that line has ballooned to 31.5. And rightfully so, OU boasts a combination of depth, talent, and experience that has forced all of college football to acknowledge its legitimacy as a national title contender.

But if the college football playoff has taught us anything, it’s that winning the games you’re expected to win is not enough. It’s also about winning those games how others expect you to win them.

With one of the Big 12’s weakest non-conference schedules, it’s imperative that the Sooners are in midseason form as quickly as possible.

Saturday’s contest arrives under unusual circumstances. On the one hand, the Sooners now receive the benefit of an extra home game. On the other, many of the Green Wave are Lousiana natives who have spent days worrying about their homes and loved ones.

While it’s difficult to predict how emotions unfold at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium this weekend, Tulane would certainly enjoy playing the role of spoiler in the Sooners’ own backyard.

Here are the Green Wave best poised to make things interesting in Norman.

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Where does OU vs. Tulane rank in the week 1 slate of games?

After just five games in week zero, week 1 offers 84 games to fully kickoff the 2021 college football season. Where does OU-Tulane rank?

After just five games on the week zero slate, week one kicks off the college football season in earnest. There are 84 games this week and you’ll get a game nearly everyday leading to a full slate on Saturday.

Over at Athlon Sports, Steve Lassan ranked all 84 games “based on watchability” for this week’s action. It’s a fantastic list that provides the viewer with direction on what to watch when their favorite team is t on the television.

The season opener for the Oklahoma Sooners, which will now take place in Norman due to Hurricane Ida, came in at number 18 on Lassan’s list.

Due to the effects of Hurricane Ida, it’s uncertain if this game will take place in New Orleans, Norman or a neutral site. Oklahoma has its sights set on contending for the national title this fall, and a solid Tulane team will provide a good test for coach Lincoln Riley’s group. The Green Wave feature rising star quarterback Michael Pratt, but unless the defense has significantly improved versus the pass, it’s hard to see coach Willie Fritz’s team keeping this one within three or four touchdowns on Saturday. – Lassan

It’s an intriguing matchup between the Sooners and the Tulane Green Wave. Tulane’s been a solid Group of Five team each of the last three years, with two winning seasons and two bowl wins. They finished .500 in 2020 and bring an experienced group to Norman.

Obviously, Sooners fans will be tuned in for the the first game of the 2021 illegal football season, but fans of other teams will be watching to see Spencer Rattler and the Oklahoma Sooners offense go to work. Others will be curious about the Sooners defense.

It may not be a matchup that has huge national appeal, but Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch’s brand of football will have eyes tuning in to see what Oklahoma will look like to start the 2021 season.

REPORT: It’s official, OU and Tulane issue statements as week 1 matchup moves to Norman

Statements from the University of Oklahoma and Tulane University confirm earlier reports that the week one matchup will move to Norman.

Earlier today, it was first reported that the Oklahoma Sooners and the Tulane Green Wave would move this week’s matchup to Norman. Now, that report becomes official as both the University of Oklahoma and Tulane Green Wave released statements confirming the move to Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman for week one. The decision comes in the wake of Hurrican Ida, which has caused significant damage to New Orleans and the Southeast since making landfall on Sunday.

OU’s official Twitter account confirmed the start time of 11:00 a.m. CST on ABC.

Saturday’s contest was set to be the first season-opening road game of the Lincoln Riley era. OU is undefeated in week one since Riley took over in 2017, winning its last four by an average of 41 points. The last time the Green Wave and the Sooners faced each other in Norman, Baker Mayfield threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns to give OU the 1-0 all-time series lead.

The Oklahoma Sooners can now get comfortable at home over the next month, as their first road game won’t come until October 2nd versus Kansas State.

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Early betting odds have Oklahoma Sooners as heavy favorites vs Tulane Green Wave

The Oklahoma Sooners open the 2021 college football season as big betting favorites against the Tulane Green Wave.

Yesterday marked the beginning of the 2021 college football season. It’s been a long nine months since the Oklahoma Sooners gave the Florida Gators a beatdown that had Florida representatives and faithful scrambling for excuses.

With a plethora of highly talented players returning for the 2021 season, the Sooners are one of the favorites to win the national championship. At Tipico, the Sooners currently have the fifth-best betting odds to hoist the national title at +800 behind Alabama (+250), Clemson (+350), Ohio State (+550), and Georgia (+550).

Only Georgia joins the Oklahoma Sooners in the top five, bringing back its starting quarterback from the 2020 season as J.T. Daniels and Spencer Rattler return for their squads.

The Oklahoma Sooners must find a way to navigate a Big 12 schedule that’s tripped them up over the years. Still, if they’re able to do that and win their seventh straight Big 12 championship, it should put them in a great position to win their eighth national championship in school history.

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With the start of the season just six days away for the Sooners, the early betting odds favor the Oklahoma Sooners on the road against the Tulane Green Wave per Tipico betting odds.

Line: Oklahoma (-26.5)

Over/Under: 68.5

Money Line: OU -5000 | UCLA +1300

The Sooners and the Green Wave will kick off at 11:00 a.m. CST on ABC. Lincoln Riley is 4-0 as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners and his offense have scored at least 48 points per game in each of the contests. The Sooners are averaging 54 points per game in those four contests.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions.