The Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas Jayhawks meet Saturday in college football action from KU Memorial Stadium. Oklahoma just finished up a matchup versus UCF over the weekend. In that one the Sooners stayed undefeated with a close victory. As for Kansas, they’re 5-2 overall and coming off an open week. The Jayhawks last appeared in a seven-point loss to Oklahoma State. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.

Oklahoma Sooners 

The Sooners stormed out of the gate well this year with wins in each of their first six games. Only one of those victories came by a single-digit margin as well. Oklahoma took out Arkansas State 73-0 in the opener, then proceeded to beat SMU 28-11, Tulsa 66-17, Cincinnati 20-6, Iowa State 50-20 and Texas 34-30 to keep it rolling. 

In the UCF game last weekend, Oklahoma was down 23-17 heading into the final quarter. The Sooners posted a couple of touchdowns from there however and powered out the win 31-29. QB Dillon Gabriel managed 253 yards and three scores with a pick. Nic Anderson led the receivers on 105 yards and two scores from five catches, while Marcus Major added 82 rush yards. 

Oklahoma Sooners Team Facts 

• The team ranked 6th in the AP Poll has won each of its last nine games.
• Oklahoma has covered the spread in seven of its last eight games.
• Oklahoma has won the first quarter in five of its last six games against conference opponents.
• Oklahoma has won the first half in six of its last seven games against conference opponents.
• Each of Oklahoma’s last three games against non-AP-ranked teams at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium have gone UNDER the total points line.

Kansas Jayhawks 

Over on the Jayhawks’ side, they won four straight games to kick off the 2023 season. Those wins came versus Missouri State 48-17, Illinois 34-23, Nevada 31-24 and BYU 38-27. Kansas had a tough matchup versus Texas in a 40-14 loss for game five, but then bounced back with a 51-22 win over UCF the next weekend. 

Back on October 14 versus Oklahoma State in their most recent appearance, the Jayhawks had a promising 32-27 lead going into the final quarter but got blanked from there in a 39-32 loss. Jason Bean threw for 410 yards, five scores and two picks in the defeat. Mason Fairchild (five catches; 95 yards; two TDs) and Quentin Skinner (two catches; 91 yards; two TDs) paced the receivers. 

Kansas Jayhawks Team Facts

• Kansas has won each of its last four games at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
• Kansas has failed to cover the spread in 12 of its last 13 games as an underdog against AP-ranked teams.
• Kansas has won the first quarter in three of its last four home games against conference opponents.
• Kansas has lost the first half in 24 of its last 28 home games against conference opponents.
• Seven of Kansas’ last eight games as an underdog have gone OVER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• Kansas are one of only six FBS teams undefeated in home games this season ([z-0]).
• Kansas rank T21st among FBS teams for points per game this season (35.4).
• Oklahoma rank 4th among FBS teams for points per game this season (43.1).
• Oklahoma are one of only six FBS teams undefeated in home games this season ([z-0]).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I might take a stab on Kansas here. The Jayhawks have had a bit of extra time to get ready for this tough matchup, and if all goes well I think they can keep a cover pace on Oklahoma. In their last game versus Oklahoma State, Kansas posted 500 total yards (410 passing) with 19 first downs and a pair of interceptions. The defense couldn’t stop the Cowboys on the other side though, giving up 554 yards (336 passing) and 27 first downs with zero takeaways. Kansas is scoring pretty well this year though; they’ve hit 31 or ore points in all but one game so far. 

As for Oklahoma, they survived a major scare versus UCF over the weekend thanks to a two-point conversion stop late in the game. It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but the offense kept rolling. The Sooners have scored 28 or more points in all but one game so far this year, so they should post another big total in this one. I think the Jayhawks can keep a cover pace if they start hot, though.