UTEP at Oklahoma

Oklahoma's defense was the story of a bounce-back 2025, holding opponents to under 14 points per game on the way to a 10-2 finish under Brent Venables, but tonight's total leans toward the other side of the ball. UTEP allowed better than 30 points a game a year ago in a 2-10 season, and Scotty Walden's defense doesn't get an easy introduction to the year against an offense that's going to move the ball with regularity no matter how sharp UTEP's execution looks in Week 1. UTEP's own offense put up better than 23 points a game last season, respectable enough that a defense still finding its footing against a jump in competition can't be counted on to keep this one buried. Games this lopsided on paper often see the favorite pull away early, then keep the offense rolling into the second half while the other side scores enough to stay involved. The bigger money in the market has leaned toward the OVER here too, a signal worth noting when it lines up with the matchup itself. Go with the OVER.