Tag: Jalen Hurts

Oklahoma at Baylor odds: Sooners favored in titanic battle

Previewing Saturday’s Oklahoma at Baylor college football matchup, with college football betting odds, picks and best bets

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The Oklahoma Sooners (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) and Baylor Bears (9-0, 6-0) square off at McLane Stadium on the banks of the Brazos River in Waco, Texas, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Sooners look to deal the Bears their first loss of the season and derail their College Football Playoff chances while simultaneously enhancing their own.

We analyze the Oklahoma-Baylor odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Oklahoma at Baylor: Three things you need to know

1. Oklahoma enters the game ranked 10th in the College Football Playoff rankings, while Baylor checks in 13th despite the unblemished record — two spots behind a two-loss Florida team.

2. Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb racked up 167 receiving yards with two touchdowns in last week’s 42-41 shootout win against Iowa State, and he earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

3. Baylor will look to apply pressure on dynamic QB Jalen Hurts. The Bears lead the Big 12 conference with 29 sacks.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Oklahoma at Baylor: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 6:25 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Oklahoma 45, Baylor 38

Moneyline (ML)

Oklahoma (-371) heads into this one as an overwhelming favorite on the road despite Baylor (+280) and its unbeaten record. If any team is worth rolling the dice on, it’s the Bears, as you can nearly triple your money. Still, I expect Oklahoma to grind out a win in a one-possession game.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Baylor to win would return a profit of $28.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BAYLOR (+10.5, -115) has the horses to hang with Oklahoma (-10.5, -106). QB Charlie Brewer has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,338 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions this season, and WR Denzel Mims (44-675-8) leads the way at receiver. The Bears are 6-1 ATS in the past seven against winning teams, and 5-2 ATS in the past seven Big 12 battles.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER (67.5, -110) is a strong play with both of these high-octane offenses. The over is 18-7-1 in the past 26 overall for Oklahoma, and 8-3 in the past 11 against winning teams. The over is 20-8 in Baylor’s past 28 at home against winning teams on the road, and 5-1 in the past six meetings in Waco, too.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Which quarterback are Bears targeting in latest 2020 NFL mock draft?

The Bears will be in the market for a quarterback this offseason, and they’ll likely turn to the 2020 NFL Draft for their next QB.

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The Chicago Bears will be looking to improve the quarterback position in 2020, and the NFL Draft would be a good place to start.

While you could argue the Bears are in win-now mode and can’t afford to start over with a young quarterback, free agency isn’t necessarily a cost-effective, production-guaranteed investment.

The Bears will likely turn to the 2020 NFL Draft for their next quarterback, which features a strong class rich with Day 2 talent.

In Draft Wire‘s latest three-round 2020 mock draft, they have the Bears using their first selection — No. 45 in the second round — on Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts.

While Hurts has gotten some first-round love, it’s likely that he falls to Day 2, where the Bears will be waiting with a pair of second round picks. This season, Hurts is completing 73% of his passes for 2,742 yards and 24 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions.

Hurts is also producing on the ground, where he added 125 rushes for 869 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Hurts isn’t a quarterback that the Bears would insert immediately, which makes sense for 2020, where Mitchell Trubisky will likely still be on the roster potentially with a free agent addition.

The Bears have another pick in the second round just three picks later at No. 48 — which was acquired from the Oakland Raiders in the Khalil Mack trade — where Draft Wire has them going defense with Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell.

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2020 NFL mock draft: Latest 3-round projections

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling updates his three-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft

We’re 10 weeks into the NFL regular season, and the college football season is hitting crunch time, with playoff pushes starting at both levels.

It’s crunch time for some of the nation’s top prospects, as well as the pro teams fighting for position at the top of next year’s draft board.

Here’s an updated look at how the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, using the latest updated pick order:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

For the longest time now, it’s seemed Tua Tagovailoa was written into this spot with permanent marker. But Burrow’s performance so far this season has launched him into the No. 1 overall conversation, while another high-ankle injury has dinged Tagovailoa’s stock. Don’t be shocked if there’s a different QB in the top spot come next April.

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

Another franchise in disarray, Washington needs to add as much talent as possible, regardless of position. They already have their quarterback of the future in Dwayne Haskins, so they need impact players elsewhere on both sides of the ball. Young is a monster of a pass rusher with all size, athleticism and technique to be a dominant player at the next level.

3. New York Giants | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

Now that Odell Beckham, Jr. is gone, the Giants need a true No. 1 target to help Daniel Jones reach his full potential. Jeudy is one of the most polished, explosive pass-catchers we’ve seen in years, and he’s well worth a top-three pick.

4. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

Aside from the injuries, it’s hard to find a flaw in Tagovailoa’s game. A few months ago, it would have been hard to imagine the Dolphins landing him without getting the No. 1 overall pick, but thanks to Burrow’s soaring stock, he just might fall into their lap here.

5. New York Jets | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

If Sam Darnold is ever going to develop into the franchise quarterback the Jets drafted him to be, he’ll need a franchise left tackle to keep him upright. Thomas is the best of a deep class, and would be an immediate upgrade for New York.

6. Atlanta Falcons | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

In today’s NFL, you can never have too many quality corners. The Falcons may have more pressing needs elsewhere, but with this pick, they land one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country. Okudah is keeping up the trend of sending blue-chip defensive backs from Columbus to the pros.

7. Cleveland Browns | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

After all the offseason hype, the Browns have struggled mightily this season. They need to give Baker Mayfield everything he needs to succeed, and that means improving things up front. Wirfs would be an instant upgrade at either tackle spot.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Grant Delpit | S | LSU

Despite investing heavily into their secondary in recent drafts, Tampa Bay still needs help on the back end. Without a worthy tackle prospect still on the board here, the Bucs opt for the best playmaker in the defensive backfield, getting a versatile playmaker who can line up all over the field.

9. Denver Broncos | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

Offensive tackle is the bigger need, but the talent is too good to pass up elsewhere. Brown is a rare athlete for his size, with the explosiveness and power to be a dominant force up front. He’d be a much better use of a top-10 pick than reaching for he next-best tackle.

10. Arizona Cardinals | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

The Cardinals have lots of young talent, but they need more difference-makers on defense. Epenesa is a disruptive force who can line up inside or on the edge, making him the kind of versatile prospect Arizona should be targeting.

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Mailbag: What lies ahead for the Detroit Lions?

This week’s Lions Wire mailbag is looking forward to 2020, talking draft, free agency, and potential coaching changes.

The Detroit Lions 2019 season appears to be over, or at least, Lions’ fans think so.

While I try to stay optimistic, I will admit that things aren’t looking pretty. The Lions are down a starting quarterback, lack any depth at running back, and the defense looks to be really struggling. They might not be able to salvage the season, but maybe there will some glimpses of hope for the future.

This week’s mailbag is looking forward to 2020, talking draft, free agency, and potential coaching changes.

What linebackers in the draft or potential free agents fit the Lions’ size and style for next season? — @RICH_K13

I’ll be honest, I’m not too studied up on this year’s draft prospects, so I’ll focus on upcoming free agents.

[Editor’s note: Keep an eye on Ohio State’s Malik Harrison]

If the Lions want to go out and spend some big money on a free agent linebacker, 2020 would be a good time to do it.

One name that stuck out was Shaq Thompson of the Carolina Panthers. The 26-year-old linebacker will hit free agency fresh off of his rookie contract, and though he has stated that he’d like to remain with the Panthers, the appeal a big payday could lure him to a place like Detroit.

As we’ve seen, defensive players want to play for head coach Matt Patricia. Maybe Thompson will feel the same way. He fits the bill for what the Lions want in a linebacker; he can rush the passer, he can drop into coverage, he can make plays on the ball. He would thrive in Patricia’s defense.

Rank the players in order of likelihood to make the 2020 roster: Darius Slay, Sam Martin, Jarrad Davis, Taylor Decker. — @ZugIreland

Tier 1: Slay, Martin, Davis, Decker.

Slay, Martin and Decker are more than likely locked into starting roles heading into next season. Davis has struggled, but it’s far too early to give up on him.

All four will be Lions next season.

How many wins would the Lions have to get to in order for Matt Patricia to get one more year? — @rayray1222

Look, this season hasn’t been pretty, but at this point, any losses the Lions get are more reflective of them losing their starting quarterback, not the coaching.

I think next year will be Patricia’s make-or-break season. I could see a mid-season firing if his 2020 campaign has a rough start.

Chances of us drafting a QB like Jalen Hurts in this upcoming draft? Is it time to start looking at Stafford’s successor? — @TheBlackPH30N1X

I don’t think Detroit will be moving on from Stafford any time soon. But, like general manager Bob Quinn said, drafting quarterbacks is ‘good football business’.

Especially after looking at the most recent game against Chicago, I do think the Lions should invest some of their day 2 draft capital on a backup quarterback.

Grooming a quarterback behind Stafford for the next few seasons would be a smart move by Quinn. We saw how bad things are when we don’t have our starter.

I’m currently looking at Utah State’s Jordan Love. I see a lot of Stafford’s game in him, so he’d be my perfect draft prospect for Detroit.

Who are the most eligible candidates for defensive coordinator if the Lions move on from Paul Pasquiloni? — @ZugIreland

One name that I like right now is Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard.

Known for helping put together Seattle’s Legion of Boom, I think Richard could do a lot to help Detroit’s defense. This team has big holes at both cornerback and safety heading into next season, and a guy like Richard would be a valuable asset come draft time.

He served as Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2015 to 2017, so he’d be reuniting with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as well.

Who do you think the Lions should draft with their number-one draft pick this coming April? — @B_Lake007

The Lions may be drafting top-ten, but definitely not number one.

I’d go linebacker or defensive end if I were Bob Quinn. As I said earlier, I’m not caught up on this year’s top prospects, so ask again in March.

Thanks to everyone who submitted their questions this week!

Be sure to get those questions in next week, and give me a follow while you’re at it, on Twitter @maxgerbs.

Oklahoma opens as smallest betting favorite of season against Baylor

After Iowa State about upended No. 8 Oklahoma, the Sooners opened up as its smallest betting favorite of the year against Baylor.

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Iowa State about handed No. 8 Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) a surprising, unexpected comeback win as the Sooners pulled out a 42-41 win over the Cyclones on Saturday

Now, Oklahoma heads to Waco, Texas, to take on No. 10 Baylor (9-0, 6-0) in a primtime matchup that has brought the presence of College GameDay to the Bears’ campus.

The Sooners have been huge favorites for most of the season, but oddsmakers think this will be their closest game of the season as Oklahoma opened up as an 8.5-point favorite over Baylor according to BetMGM.

Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Nov. 11 at 5:05 p.m. ET. 

Oklahoma was last this low of a favorite in the Red River Rivalry as 11-point favorites over Texas. The Sooners are 4-5 against the spread this year, including a 1-3 record away from Norman, Oklahoma.

“Want to get in on the action? Place your bet now at BetMGM.”

Oklahoma will kickoff against Baylor at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

*Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Final game grades, report card for Oklahoma-Iowa State

Oklahoma about suffered an epic collapse against Iowa State. Here are the final game grades, report card for Saturday’s game.

As Lincoln Riley says, “The game is never as good as you thought, and it’s not going to be bad.”

On first glance, Iowa State stayed with what was working and ended up making a game out of one that didn’t seem to be close. Oklahoma had an atrocious fourth-quarter, but it didn’t feel like they played bad during the first three quarters.

After every game, Sooners Wire’s Kegan Reneau will rewatch and provide his final thoughts before moving on to the next one.

Here are the grades for the unit and the grades for individuals who ended up on the stat sheet or were noticeable for Oklahoma. These grades reflect how the Sooners played on that game indicative of the perception Reneau expects them to play.

QUARTERBACK — C-

Jalen Hurts — C-

We are at the point where it is acceptable to ask:

What would this offense look like with Spencer Rattler or Tanner Mordecai? 

Jalen Hurts should have thrown a pick-six and two more interceptions against Iowa State.  

His running ability has brought a different variable to Lincoln Riley’s system, but his inability do dissect coverage and consistently hit vertical throws has done more harm than good. Has it limited the offense’s ceiling? That’s something I pondered with prior to the season, but CeeDee Lamb’s and Charleston Rambo’s yards after the catch have inflated the numbers for this offense. 

No, this isn’t me calling for a quarterback change. This is me stating the reality that this offense is different and Jalen Hurts will never be the quarterback Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray or the future quarterbacks will run. 

RUNNING BACK —  A

Trey Sermon — N/A
Kennedy Brooks — A
Rhamondre Stevenson — N/A
T.J. Pledger — N/A

So, this is what happens when one of the best running backs in the country get the ball … 

H-BACK — B

Jeremiah Hall — B
Brayden Willis — B

Solid day. Nothing stood out as bad and both made a couple plays.

WIDE RECEIVER — B+

CeeDee Lamb — A-
Charleston Rambo — B
Trejan Bridges — B-
Nick Basquine — N/A
A.D. Miller — B-
Theo Wease — N/A

CeeDee Lamb is the best receiver in college football. No ifs, ands or buts about it. That fumble cost him an A+.

Some of the blocking in the running game did not hold up. 

TIGHT END — B

Lee Morris — B

Morris is becoming more and more useful for Riley as the season has gone on. 

OFFENSIVE LINE — B-

Iowa State has one of the most underrated defensive lines in the country and the Oklahoma offensive line held its own. Nothing too flashy. Lot of the success in the running game was based on play design, but the offensive line did what its job is supposed to do. 

OFFENSE — 81

Not its best day at the office, but Oklahoma did what many can’t against Iowa State: Chunk plays and points.

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CeeDee Lamb named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week

CeeDee Lamb went off against Iowa State, earning him Big 12 offensive player of the week.

Expect anything different?

CeeDee Lamb went off against Iowa State, earning him Big 12 offensive player of the week.

Being the main offensive weapon against the Cyclones, Lamb could not be contained even if he was covered by three defenders.

Not only was he a threat through the air with his eight catches for 167 yards and a touchdown, but he was a huge help in the run game. Lamb is one of the best blocking wide receivers in the nation, proving his abilities once again last Saturday.

This is the fourth time this season that the offensive player of the week is a Sooner and the second time this season that Lamb has been recognized as the offensive player of the week.

Jalen Hurts has also won offensive player of the week twice and newcomer of the week twice. Safety, Brendan Radley-Hiles and linebacker, Kenneth Murray have each been awarded Big 12 defensive player of the week once. In total, players from Oklahoma have been recognized eight times this season.

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