Michigan @ Oklahoma-4.5

Transparency: Buckeyes fan! Hate SEC but Xichigan more. Watch every B1G game weekly. Write w/ wallet not heart.

No. 14 UM @ No. 18 OU (-4.5) – Week 2, Memorial Stadium. OU favored off home field + QB spark, but UM’s elite D could make this a grind.

2024 Recap

UM (8-5, 6-7 ATS): Opened 4-1 (beat USC/Minn), then QB disaster (131st pass O, 12 TD/13 INT) led to stumbles. D carried (19.9 PPG, 19th; 91 rush YPG, 5th). Finished w/ ReliaQuest upset of Bama.

OU (6-7, 6-7 ATS): SEC debut: 4-1 start (W @ Auburn), then imploded (34-3 L to Texas). Only other FBS W was vs Bama (24-3). O-line gave up 50 sacks (FBS-worst). D was solid (29th scoring, 19th total). Bowl L to Navy sealed losing yr.

2025 Outlook

UM O: Frosh QB Bryce Underwood = hope. Vet Mikey Keene (FSU/UCF) backs up. RBs Haynes (Bama transfer) + Jordan Marshall (ReliaQuest MVP) replace Mullings/Edwards. WR/TE thin post-Loveland (NFL 1st-rd). McCulley (6-5, Indiana) + TE Hansen need to step up. OL talented but still gelling.

UM D: Elite again (30+ sacks L4Y). DL: EDGE D. Moore + DT R. Benny. LBs Hausmann (top tackler) + Barham (No. 2, suspended 1H). EDGE TJ Guy (5.5 sacks), S Hillman strong vs run. S R. Moore back.

UM ST: Strength. PK Zvada (21/22), PR Morgan (11.1), KR Marshall (25.0), P Bauer (Mizzou).

OU O: QB Mateer (ex-WSU, 29-7 TD/INT, 826 rush, 15 TD) = dual-threat. WRs Burks + Gibson (APB: 1,215 yds, 9 TD). RBs Barnes (577, 5 TD), Ott (1,300+ @ Cal ‘23), frosh Blaylock. OL returns 100+ starts, healthier.

OU D: Lost LB Stutsman + S Bowman but deep. DE R. Thomas (9 sacks) + FSU transfer M. Jones Jr. (4). LB Lewis + OSU transfer K. Daniels (5.5 sacks, 7 PBU). CB Bowen + S Spears-Jennings anchor.

OU ST: PK Sandell (UTSA 19/23), P Ulrich (46.0). Return game unproven.

Wk1 Recap

UM 34-17 NMex: Underwood 21/31, 251 yds, TD. Haynes 159 yds, 3 TD (56, 5, 1). D w/ 3 INTs but allowed 208 pass. Barham ejected (targeting).

OU 35-3 IllSt: Mateer record debut: 30/37, 392 yds, 3 TD + rush TD. WR Lewis (9-119-2), TE Kanak (5-90), Burks (7-88-1). Run O weak (103 yds, 3.2 YPC). Blaylock (8-44, TD) hurt. D held ISU to 151 yds.

Inj/Susp

UM: Barham out 1H (targeting). No other inj.

OU: RB Ott (shoulder) near 100%. RB Blaylock (shoulder) out. WRs Farooq + J. Gibson/Javonnie Gibson out. CB Bowen (leg) out. OL Fasusi + Simmons back.

Matchups / Pick

UM run D (5th LY) vs OU RBs—Blaylock gone, Ott easing in, Barnes must carry. Underwood in hostile enviro vs OU pass rush (Thomas/Jones Jr.). Mateer’s dual-threat + Burks stretching field give OU edge, but UM secondary (Moore/Hillman) can limit. Barham out 1H opens LBs vs TE Kanak. ST edge = UM.

Final: OU O + home field tilt it. UM D keeps close, but Mateer makes plays.

Pred: OU 28, UM 20 – Sooners cover -4.5. UM +4.5 viable if Haynes controls tempo and field position. 

Play: OU -4.5

god I wish michigan didnt run the stupid quick schemed offense that they run. not as high on underwood as others. saw strong arm and accuracy in high school but just doesn't look right to me at that position, doesnt look natural enough to me. michigan runs basically the same offense he ran in high school so he should get eventually comfortable it's a painful offense to watch for me, but the goal is to win by any means I guess. it just doesnt showcase the skills needed for the next level. which is why it's still a mystery how mccarthy went so high, couldnt put together enough decent highlight reel of him actually dropping back much and passing the ball like normal qbs.

Good luck Dr. G.  

Noone cares bucknut.   13-10

Fixed it for ya! 

@UNIMAN

 Oh man…this hurts! 

I respect the banter while you can, it’s all good.

@DrGame

 If you would have not purposely skipped that part in your Michigan 2024 recap my post never would have happened. 

@rosswin97

 Underwood doesn’t look right at the QB position?! Lmao

I got OU ml but it's a homer pick. It's tough to win in Norman but we shall see.