Tennessee vs. Oklahoma Point Spread

Carrie Stroup here with your Tennessee vs. Oklahoma betting odds, courtesy of Sportsbook.ag.  Place your 1^st bet and get your 2^nd bet for FREE up to $100.

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Oklahoma -21.5 &57

Opening Line & Total: Sooners -21 & 55

No. 4 Oklahoma looks to get a big non-conference win on Saturday when it entertains Tennessee.

This will be the third-ever meeting between these teams, with each school winning once. The Butch Jones era has begun in Tennessee, and after two weeks, it is off to a good start. The Volunteers beat Arkansas State 34-19 last weekend, but this will be a much more difficult test against Oklahoma. Tennessee has really struggled to win on the road against ranked teams, losing its past 20 games in this scenario, with its last victory coming against Georgia on Oct. 7, 2007. That streak will be very difficult to break as Bob Stoops-coached Oklahoma teams have an incredible record of 87-5 at home during his tenure as the head man. The Sooners were one of the trendy College Playoff picks coming into this season after a big win against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and after two weeks, they appear to be fully capable of contending for a national title. In the team’s first two victories, Oklahoma has outscored its opponents, 100-23. However, like the Volunteers, the Sooners will be facing a much more difficult test on Saturday. Favorites of 10.5 to 21 points who won at least 80% of their games from the previous season are 46-17 ATS (73%) in the past 10 seasons, but Tennessee is 39-19 ATS (67%) on the road after forcing one or less turnovers since 1992. The Sooners are dealing with some off-field problems as CB Cortez Johnson and DL Quincy Russell are both questionable due to personal problems, OL Dionte Savage may have to serve a suspension, and DTs Jordan Wade (questionable) and Charles Walker (out) are dealing with undisclosed injuries. The Vols have no significant injuries.

For the Volunteers, the past couple of seasons have been rough, as the offense has not been able to compete with the SEC defenses. The offense comes into the game 51^st in FBS scoring (36 points) and 55^th in passing (260 passing YPG). While it has been only two weeks, QB Justin Worley (49-of-76, 520 yards and five touchdowns) has been terrific. He has showed great command of the offense, and done a nice job of spreading the ball around to many different receivers, as 11 Volunteers have catches in the first two weeks. His No. 1 target is sophomore WR Marquez North (8 catches, 106 yards, 2 TD). At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, North is a matchup nightmare on the perimeter. He is too big and strong for cornerbacks to guard him one-on-one on the outside. However, the Volunteers do a great job of moving him around, and will put him in the slot against linebackers. If that matchup happens, the Volunteers could be in great shape, as linebackers just can’t run with him. The fact that the passing game is playing so well is big because the Volunteers have some home-run threats in the backfield. Freshman Jalen Hurd (112 yards, 1 TD) and Marlin Lane (95 yards, 1 TD) are both capable of taking the ball 80 yards on any given play. With the passing game continuing to improve, that should only open things up for the running game, as defenses have to take one guy out of the box. The defense of Tennessee has also been strong, allowing only 13 points (21st in nation). LB A.J. Johnson (18 tackles, 1 INT) is one of the elite defensive players in the country. He is an extremely versatile player that can play against the run, but also does a tremendous job of guarding the opposing tight ends. He is a game-changer for the Volunteers on defense, and will have an opportunity to show his talents on Saturday.

Two weeks into the college football season, the Sooners seem to be in midseason form. The offense ranks 10^th in the nation in scoring (50.0 PPG), while ranking 41^st in passing (286 YPG) and 42^nd in rushing  (222 YPG). Quarterback Trevor Knight (40-of-68, 552 passing yards and 3 TD) looks like the quarterback that took over the Sugar Bowl last season. While he is still only a sophomore, he is a different quarterback when it comes to controlling the offense. The Sooners have playmakers all over the field, with Sterling Shepard (12 catches, 226 yards, 2 TD) leading the way. Shepard is the type of receiver that can take a quick slant 80 yards, but he also has the ability to beat the defense over the top. That playmaking ability is crucial with the way the Sooners have rushed the ball. Keith Ford (19 carries, 138 yards, 4 TD) and Alex Ross (16 carries, 126 yards, 3 TD) are a threat to score every time they touch the ball. Last week, Ross rushed for an 82-yard touchdown against Tulsa. The Sooners are averaging 6.3 yards per carry on the season, with four players scoring at least one touchdown on the ground. The Sooners offense has put up points in recent years, but the best Bob Stoops teams are the ones that have been elite on the defensive side of the ball. The Sooners have allowed only 11.5 PPG in two games (14^th in FBS). LB Caleb Gastelum (12 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) is coming off a big performance against Tulsa that saw him land a scholarship after the game. He does a great job of just flying around to the ball, and is the guy that teammates see playing hard and it causes them to take their game to another level. CB Zack Sanchez (2 INT) is expected to play despite a shoulder injury, and he will get a lot of time against North.

• Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter