Oklahoma will host Alabama in the first College Football Playoff game of the year on Friday night.
These teams met earlier this season in Tuscaloosa, with the Sooners coming away victorious 23-21 thanks to a string of takeaways. The latest college football odds have Oklahoma as a slight favorite over Alabama in the rematch.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma odds
Here’s an up-to-date look at the odds for Alabama-Oklahoma along with the most favorable price from a variety of the best sports betting apps:
Here’s what you should know about both teams before betting on this game:
Alabama football notes
- Alabama earned the No. 9 seed in the College Football Playoff despite losing handily to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game a couple weeks ago.
- The Crimson Tide lost to Oklahoma in Tuscaloosa earlier this season despite out-gaining the Sooners by nearly 200 yards. However, it was closer on a per-play basis — 5.4 to 4.2 in favor of Alabama.
- Alabama’s offense has been dreadful down the stretch. The Tide averaged under 4 yards per play against both Auburn and Georgia.
- There’s been rumors regarding a potential back injury for quarterback Ty Simpson. However, Simpson has not been listed as questionable on the CFP availability report this week.
- Alabama is expected to have running back Jam Miller back for this game. The Tide’s rushing attack has been dreadful without him — and even with him at times — this season. Alabama totaled -3 rushing yards in the SEC Championship Game.
- Alabama’s defense ranks No. 20 nationally in Game on Paper’s EPA-per-play allowed metric. CFB-Graphs grades Alabama’s stop unit at No. 9 nationally entering the Playoff.
- In the first meeting against Oklahoma, the Sooners were largely unable to efficiently move the ball through the air or on the ground but did make a trio of field goals and cashed in on good field position via 3 Alabama giveaways.
Oklahoma football notes
- Oklahoma’s offense has been poor for the better part of the 2025 season. The Sooners are 114th in the country in schedule-adjusted EPA-per-play on offense.
- Quarterback John Mateer has just 12 touchdown passes against 10 interceptions this year. More alarmingly, he’s averaged just 6.5 yards per attempt against SEC defenses.
- Like Alabama, Oklahoma’s rushing metrics leave a lot to be desired. Top running backs Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock both have rushing success rates south of 40%, per Game on Paper.
- Wide receiver Isaiah Sategna is Oklahoma’s big-play threat. He has 65 catches for 948 yards this season.
- Oklahoma coach Brent Venables seems to have Kalen DeBoer’s number. OU has beaten Alabama both times these coaches have gone head-to-head, including a 24-3 victory in Norman last season when the Tide were big favorites. OU’s defense has forced a total of 6 turnovers across those 2 contests. Alabama has 33 total giveaways over the past 2 years, meaning a significant percentage (18%) have come solely against Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma’s defense is regarded as one of the best in the country. OU is No. 2 nationally in schedule-adjusted EPA-per-play allowed, trailing only Toledo.
- OU’s defense did give up yardage in the first meeting against Alabama this year. Tight end Josh Cuevas (7 catches, 80 yards) and Germie Bernard (6 catches, 71 yards) proved to be especially difficult matchups for Oklahoma.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma predictions
I like Ty Simpson’s passing yardage over. Alabama has one of the worst rushing offenses in the country and Oklahoma has one of the best rushing defenses in the country. There’s not going to be much low-hanging fruit for the Crimson Tide’s rushing attack, particularly as Jam Miller is recovering from an injury. I think Simpson is going to throw the ball a lot in this game. Alabama also had quite a bit of success passing the ball against the Sooners when they met earlier this season (turnover issues aside). I think we’ll see Simpson move the ball well through the air between the 20s.
Pick: Ty Simpson over 240.5 passing yards (-115 on BetMGM)
I think the total in this game is too low. Both of these teams really struggled offensively in their first meeting and that game still ended up with a final total of 44 points. Some of that was due to Oklahoma taking advantage of short fields, but I think the Sooners may be in position to do that again in the rematch. OU has been nothing if not opportunistic this season. Both of these teams have questionable quarterbacks and terrible running games, which means there will almost certainly be lots of highly-volatile decisions made by Ty Simpson and John Mateer. Either way, that should lead to points.
Pick: Over 39.5 points (-115 on DraftKings)
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
