Oklahoma vs. Kansas: Preview, Prediction, and Game Odds
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas Jayhawks.
GAME INFO
Saturday, October 28; 10; (CT); David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium; Lawrence, Kansas
TV: FOX
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network (Brian Hanni, David Lawrence, Brandon McAnderson) Sooner Sports Radio (Toby Rowland, Teddy Lehman, Gabe Ikard, Chris Plank)
Records: Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0); Kansas (5-2, 2-2)
Last Week: Oklahoma 31, UCF 29; Kansas coming off bye week
Rankings: Oklahoma No. 6 in AP Poll; Kansas unranked
Series History: Oklahoma leads, 80-27-6
Last Meeting: Oklahoma 52, Kansas 42 (2022)
Line: Oklahoma (-9.5)
Fun Fact: Oklahoma has won 35 of the last 40 meetings in this series dating back to 1976. Additionally, the Sooners have won each of the last 18 meetings, dating back to 2000.
KEY PLAYERS
Oklahoma Sooners
QB Dillon Gabriel
- Stats: 166-233 (71.2%), 2,131 yards, 19 TD, 3 INT; 53 rushes, 230 yards (4.3 ypc), 5 TD
- Note: Gabriel is +800 to win the Heisman, up from +1000 two weeks ago.
LB Danny Stutsman
- Stats: 70 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
- Note: Stutsman leads the Big 12 in tackles and is sixth nationally in tackles for loss.
Kansas Jayhawks
QB Jason Bean
- Stats: 62-95 (65.3%), 913 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT; 27 rushes, 91 yards
- Jalon Daniels has missed all but two games this season, leaving Bean to be the starter in 2023 and Daniels is “doubtful” again this week.
DL Austin Booker
- Stats: 31 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 8.0 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble
- Note: Kansas ranks second in the Big 12 with 19 sacks, of which Booker’s 5.0 leads the team.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
OU Red Zone Offense vs. Kansas Red Zone Defense
Oklahoma Sooners
- Oklahoma’s red zone offense leads the Big 12 with 37 trips into opponents’ red zone and has scored on 32 of their trips, with 24 touchdowns and eight field goals.
Kansas Jayhawks
- Kansas’ red zone defense is the worst red zone defense in the nation, allowing points on all 27 of their opponents’ trips to the red zone. They are just one of two teams nationally to allow points at a rate of 100% in the red zone.
KEY STORYLINES
Oklahoma Sooners
Can Oklahoma put the shaky performance against UCF behind them and play like the team we saw before the bye week? The Sooners had been one of the most consistent and dominant teams in the nation heading into this weekend, but the 31-29 win over the Knights gave folks a reason for pause. With the first true road game since their trip to Cincinnati, this will be a major test for Brent Venables’ team.
Kansas Jayhawks
What will the Jayhawks look like coming out of their bye week, and will Jalon Daniels be able to go at quarterback? Daniels missed the game against Oklahoma last season with an injury and Jason Bean was unable to lift them to a win, losing 52-42. This time around, OU is playing much better defense and it might take a career effort from Bean to keep up with the Sooners’ scoring machine.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma 41, Kansas 27
I don’t expect a completely dominant performance from Oklahoma, but I do expect them to leave little doubt once the clock reaches 0:00. The Sooners’ lackluster performance against UCF was alarming at times, and I believe we will see some intentionality from them come Saturday. Playing Kansas inside the Booth isn’t the same challenge it used to be, as teams would have a hard time getting up for the game. Now, with the Jayhawk faithful being rowdy and ready to go for this one, I expect a competitive game for three quarters before the Sooners pull away in the final frame.
