The SMU Mustangs and the Oklahoma Sooners meet Saturday in college football action from OU Memorial Stadium. SMU is fresh off an opener game versus Louisiana Tech. In that one the Mustangs managed a blowout victory. As for Oklahoma, they took on Arkansas State in their first outing. The Sooners would go on to win in an even bigger blowout. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.

SMU Mustangs 

The Mustangs had a matchup versus Louisiana Tech in their first outing of the year, and things went pretty well. SMU was up 31-0 by halftime and cruised in the second half for the 38-14 win. QB Preston Stone finished with 248 yards and three scores, while LJ Johnson added 128 rush yards and a TD on 14 carries. 

SMU kept the Bulldogs in check on defense during the opener, especially on the ground. The Mustangs gave up just 28 rush yards, 11 first downs and a 5-of-16 rate on third and fourth downs. The Mustangs had 209 rush yards themselves (and 457 total) with zero turnovers and 33:57 in time of possession.

SMU Mustangs Team Facts

SMU has lost 14 of its last 15 road games against AP-ranked teams.
SMU has covered the spread in each of its last five road games against opponents from the Big 12 Conference.
SMU has won the first quarter in five of its last six games against non-conference opponents.
SMU has won the first half in nine of its last 12 games against non-conference opponents.
Five of SMU’s last six games against non-conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line. 

Oklahoma Sooners 

Over on the Oklahoma side, they faced off against a severely overmatched Arkansas State team in their first game of the year. The Sooners scored 28 points in the first quarter, 17 in the second and 21 in the third on the way to a ridiculous 73-0 blowout victory. Quarterback Dilly Gabriel finished with 308 yards and two scores. Tawee Walker added two rushing touchdowns. 

The Sooners defense gobbled up anything the Red Wolves tried to do in the opener matchup. Oklahoma allowed just 208 total yards (48 rushing), 10 first downs, 23:04 in time of possession and 2-of-12 on third-down tries. The Red Wolves’ 14 penalties for 111 yards (versus Oklahoma’s six for 65) didn’t help the cause.

Oklahoma Sooners Team Facts

Oklahoma has won each of its last 14 games against non-conference opponents at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Oklahoma has covered the spread in five of its last six games against non-conference opponents.
Oklahoma has won the first quarter in seven of its last eight games against non-conference opponents.
Oklahoma has won the first half in each of its last 14 games against non-conference opponents at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Four of Oklahoma’s last five games as a home favorite have gone OVER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

Oklahoma ranked 6th among FBS teams for Q1 points per game last season (10.2).
Oklahoma was one of only 14 FBS teams to lose 3+ games when leading at HT last season.
SMU ranked T4th among FBS teams for Q1 win percentage last season (.692).
SMU ranked 12th among FBS teams for points per game last season (37.2).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I suppose I’ve got to stick with Oklahoma in this one. The Sooners weren’t expected to face much difficulty in the Arkansas State game, and they certainly didn’t. Oklahoma marched up and down the field with 642 total yards (422 passing), 7.8 yards per play, 36 first downs, 36:56 in time of possession, 11-of-14 on third downs and zero turnovers. There’s not much to complain about here, to put it mildly. SMU is going to have their hands full against a pumped-up Sooners squad, but the Mustangs should provide a bit more of a challenge. Still, if Oklahoma plays to their capabilities they shouldn’t have too many issues covering in game two.