One of the best matchups of Week 9 features No. 8 Ole Miss heading to Norman to take on No. 13 Oklahoma. The Rebels are coming off a tough loss to Georgia, while the Sooners are fresh off dismantling South Carolina. Normally, this would be a classic bounce-back spot where I would look to back Ole Miss after a game they probably should have won. However, I really like Oklahoma at home in this spot.
I grabbed the Sooners -4.5 earlier in the week, and I still fully endorse them at the current number. Some may argue that Oklahoma could be looking ahead to next week's trip to Neyland to face Tennessee, but I find that ridiculous. How could this team afford to look ahead? This is a program still fighting to prove itself as a legitimate SEC contender after joining the conference last year.
Sooners Defense is Legit
Head coach Brent Venables has molded this roster into one of the more complete teams in the SEC, and his defense might be one of the best in the nation. The Sooners rank top five in points allowed, passing yards, rushing yards, and third-down defense. This unit is loaded and arguably better than the one Ole Miss faced last week against Georgia, which says a lot.
For Ole Miss, coming off an emotional loss and heading into back-to-back top-15 matchups, this is a brutal situation. Playing a physical defense on the road is never easy, and this one could get away from them early.
Some may question who Oklahoma has really beaten, pointing to their loss to Texas, who has looked shaky. But the same question can be asked of Ole Miss before last week's game. This feels like the moment where we truly find out who each of these teams is. I expect the Sooners' home crowd to be electric from start to finish, and Venables will have his players dialed in with a massive chip on their shoulder.
This matchup feels like a defining moment for both programs. Ole Miss will be tested mentally after last week's emotional loss, while Oklahoma has a real chance to make a statement to the rest of the SEC. The Sooners' physicality on defense and balance on offense should be the difference. Expect Venables to have his group disciplined, aggressive, and ready to deliver. If Oklahoma controls the line of scrimmage and wins the turnover battle, this could be their signature win of the season and a message to the rest of the conference.
BOOMER SOONER.
