Valero Alamo Bowl point spread: Picking Arizona Wildcats vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Two Top-15 teams will square off in San Antonio tonight when No. 14 Arizona (9-3) and No. 12 Oklahoma (10-2) meet in the Alamo Bowl.

With one of the Pac-12’s best and one of the Big 12’s best going at it today, On3’s Andy Staples and Ralph Russo of the Associated Press have made their picks for the Wildcats versus the Sooners.

How to watch Arizona vs. Oklahoma

Time: 9:15 p.m. ET on December 28th
Channel: ESPN or ESPN+, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas)

To start, both Staples and Russo highlighted the quarterback change for Oklahoma from Dillon Gabriel to Jackson Arnold. With the freshman getting the start, Russo sees this as the program’s next step into being what they hope to be as they head into their debut in the Southeastern Conference next year.

“The reason why Dillon Gabriel is in Oregon is because of Jackson Arnold,” said Russo. “There’s certainly a possibility that he could have stayed and competed but Oklahoma understands, and I think Dillon Gabriel understood, that this kid is coming and he’s going to be the future here at Oklahoma.”

“I think, in many ways, Oklahoma is still building up under Brent Venables,” Russo continued. “I don’t think we saw the best of Oklahoma this year. We saw them take a step forward. I think that they believe with Jackson Arnold and another more experienced recruiting class? Now you have what Oklahoma should be, which is what they think will be a contender in the SEC.”

However, Russo also didn’t underrate the campaign that Arizona just put up. With their best record since 2014 and a chance at their first bowl win since 2015, he sees this as an opportunity that the Wildcats will want to take full advantage of now that they’re here.

“As you said, Arizona is also loaded here. They want to be here. This is the best season Arizona football has had since Rich Rod won the division I’d say,” said Russo. “Arizona was no fluke this year. By the end of the year, they were clearly the third best team in a good Pac-12.”

“It’s been a while since Arizona has been in this spot. And, again, a lot of times I think about a games from ‘Who wants to be here?'” Russo explained. “What does it mean for Arizona to beat an Oklahoma in a bowl game? That’s a big deal.

That’s why, in the end, Russo went with Arizona as the 2.5-point favorite. Having QB Noah Fafita along with the meaning of this outcome for them was enough for him to lean their way with his pick.

“I’ll take Arizona here because of the fact that they do have their quarterback and I think this is a big deal,” said Russo.

However, as for Staples’ selection, he went with Oklahoma to win their first postseason game under Venables. He did so in large part due to their Top-50 defense that, for the most part, is still altogether.

“I’m going to take Oklahoma in this particular game,” said Staples. “The defense is intact, basically. I think that’s going to be very helpful.”

TRY FOR FREE: Fubo’s holiday offer just kicked off – For a limited time, new subscribers can save $20 on Fubo’s Pro, Elite, and Premier plans ($20 off the first and second months)

Either way, though, both agreed that this may be one of the best contests of the entire bowl season. With two teams that are mostly whole and have a lot to play for, Russo sees this as one that could get interesting tonight in the Alamo City.

“This should be a fun one, though,” said Russo. “This is two teams that are generally, like, looking forward to being here, strapping it on, and seeing what happens.”