Oklahoma Football: Las Vegas releases early point spreads for 4 games on Sooners schedule

It’s a new era for Oklahoma football, with Brent Venables taking over as the Sooners coach in 2022. In spite of all the change and drama from this offseason, the Sooners’ fanbase still expects big things after claiming six straight Big 12 titles from 2015-20.

Although there is roughly two months until the season kicks off, Las Vegas has already gotten started forecasting some Sooner games. Sportsbooks released early point spreads for four Oklahoma games this season, including conference battles against rivals Texas and Oklahoma State. The Sooners find themselves a 5.5-point favorite against the Cowboys, but they are underdogs against the Longhorns.

Below is a list of all the early game spreads for Oklahoma:

• Oklahoma (-4.5) at Nebraska, Sept. 17
• Oklahoma vs. Texas (-1), Oct. 8 in Dallas
• Oklahoma (-4) at Iowa State, Oct. 27
• Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (-5.5), Nov. 19

More on the four matchups for Oklahoma football

The Sooners went a combined 3-1 against these teams this past football season, with their only loss coming against Oklahoma State. If history is any indicator, however, that isn’t likely to continue as last year’s win was just the second for the Cowboys in the past 10 seasons. With Oklahoma set to join the SEC by at least 2025, the future of the Bedlam series is uncertain and this could be one of the last matchups between the two rivals for some time.

Speaking of old rivalries, Oklahoma met Nebraska in 2021 for the first time since the Cornhuskers left the Big 12 in 2011. The two schools were fierce rivals in the 70s and 80s, facing off in many memorable matchups in the old Big Eight Conference. The Sooners claimed a 23-16 victory in Norman last year but will have to endure a tough road environment to come out on top this season.

One rivalry that isn’t going anywhere is the Red River Showdown, as Texas is set to join the Sooners in the SEC. The Longhorns are coming off of a 5-7 finish last year, but have high expectations after landing several highly touted transfers this offseason. Oklahoma has won the past four meetings between the two schools, including a thrilling 55-48 overtime victory last year in which they completed a 21-point comeback — the largest in series history. Anything can happen at the Cotton Bowl, however, and Texas still holds a 62-50-5 all-time lead over the Sooners.

Iowa State has been a tough team to beat recently, as five of their past six matchups against the Sooners have been decided by a touchdown or less. The Cyclones handed Oklahoma its only loss of the regular season in 2017 and was one of just two teams to beat them in 2020. As Venables enters this game, he’ll be well-aware of the damage that Matt Campbell’s team is capable of delivering.