Michigan vs. Oklahoma: Picking anytime TD scorer, other best bets

Michigan will make the trip to Norman, Oklahoma, on Saturday for a huge nonconference tilt between Big Ten and SEC programs.

While this may not be a College Football Playoff preview this year, the outcome of this game could certainly have an impact on selection committee deliberations into late November. The Big Ten scored a big win over the SEC last week with Ohio State’s triumph over Texas, but a road win would be even sweeter.

Michigan vs. Oklahoma betting preview, predictions

Here’s what you should know before betting this game:

Michigan fact sheet

• This is something of a homecoming game for Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore. He played offensive line for the Sooners under Bob Stoops from 2006-07. 
• Michigan will start true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood under center. Underwood was good in his first action last week against New Mexico — he averaged 8.1 yards per attempt and didn’t register a turnover-worthy play, per Pro Football Focus. 
• Michigan had no issues running the ball vs. the Lobos thanks to Alabama transfer Justice Haynes and an always-solid offensive line. Haynes averaged almost 10 yards per carry in the opener. 
• Michigan’s wide receiver room has been the subject of plenty of questions this offseason (and throughout 2024). It’s possible that will remain an issue this season. Against New Mexico, Underwood’s most-targeted pass catcher was tight end Marlin Klein. 
• Michigan’s defense was elite last season even as its offense floundered. The Wolverines allowed 4.86 yards per play in 2024, which ranked 5th among Big Ten programs. 
• Michigan will be without linebacker Jaishawn Barham in the first half against Oklahoma due to a controversial targeting penalty. Although Big Ten officials disagreed with the call, the NCAA upheld the suspension this week. Barham earned the highest rush defense grade of any Michigan linebacker in 2024, per PFF. 
• Michigan is top-40 in returning production on both offense and defense, per ESPN’s Bill Connelly. 

Oklahoma fact sheet

• Oklahoma’s offense was putrid in 2024, so head coach Brent Venables brought in the Washington State tandem of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer to help right the ship. Both of those additions have been widely celebrated throughout the offseason. 
• OU’s wide receiver room and offensive line unit were so injured last season that it’s difficult to quantify how much starter-level returning production the Sooners have with those groups. Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh is back and is regarded as one of the best developers in that role in all of college football, so it’s likely OU will see some progress up front this year. 
• Deion Burks is the big name to know at receiver, although transfers like Keontez Lewis (Southern Illinois) figure to make a big impact as well. 
• Also keep an eye on Jaren Kanak, a converted linebacker who played quarterback in high school and has the athleticism to make a real impact in this offense. He started and caught 5 passes for 90 yards in OU’s opener vs. Illinois State. 
• OU did not run the ball well in its first game against Illinois State. The Sooners averaged just 3.4 yards per carry as it dealt with multiple offensive line injuries. Star running back transfer Jaydn Ott was also limited to just a handful of snaps, but coach Brent Venables said Tuesday he expects Ott to play more this week. 
• Defensively, Oklahoma lost 3 key players from last year’s unit that ranked 7th in the SEC in yards per play allowed. 
• Venables is back as OU’s primary play caller on defense this season after Zac Alley left for the defensive coordinator job at West Virginia in the offseason. 
• OU’s transfer additions were mostly on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, but the Sooners did bring in 2 key contributors on defense — Marvin Jones Jr. from Florida State and Kendal Daniels from Oklahoma State. 
• The strength of OU’s defense is up front. R Mason Thomas projects to be a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft off the edge. Additionally, OU’s interior DL room includes potential pros Damonic Williams, David Stone, Jayden Jackson and Gracen Halton. 
• Cornerback Eli Bowen has been out most of the offseason with an injury. True freshman Courtland Guillory started in his place in the opener against Illinois State and earned a coverage grade of 70.1, per Pro Football Focus. 

Michigan vs. Oklahoma best bets

Michigan has been the slowest non-service academy team in the country over the past couple of seasons. Per Team Rankings, the Wolverines took more than 30 seconds per play in both 2023 and 2024. At Washington State last season, Ben Arbuckle’s offense was middle-of-the-pack in terms of pace. As for efficiency, both of these programs are expected to field excellent defenses and highly-questionable offenses. I don’t think this one gets into the high 40s unless there’s a defensive score or some sort of special teams disaster. 

Pick: Under 45 (-110 on bet365)

The emergence of Jaren Kanak as a threat in Oklahoma’s passing offense is very intriguing. The Sooners have struggled at tight end for a few years now (although Bauer Sharp was relatively productive in 2024, turnover issues aside) but Kanak could be a difference-maker. He caught 5 of 6 targets on Saturday against Illinois State, although none went for touchdowns. But then there’s this — Washington State’s tight end last season, Cooper Mathers, caught 13 passes all season and 6 went for touchdowns. Washington State threw 7 touchdowns inside the 10 yard-line last year and 4 of them went to Mathers. Based on that, I think it’s fair to assume Arbuckle and Mateer like to target tight ends in the red zone.

Pick: Jaren Kanak anytime touchdown (+240 on BetMGM)

Spenser Davis

Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.