The UTEP Miners visit the No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners to open their seasons Friday with an 8 p.m. ET kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Let's analyze college football odds around the UTEP vs. Oklahoma odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
UTEP finished just 2-10 last season, and a measily 3-9 against the spread (ATS). It enters its first season in the Mountain West after finishing 11th in C-USA at 1-7 in 2025. Dual-threat QB EJ Colson Jr., a redshirt sophomore transfer from the UCF Knights, will lead a Miners' offense that averaged 32.5 points and 331.8 yards per game (YPG) last season. The Miners enter their third season under coach Scotty Walden and are in dire need of a turnaround in the 2026
campaign.
Oklahoma ended last season with a 10-3 record, including 6-2 and a fifth-place finish in the SEC. It went 7-5 ATS. Its efforts landed them the eighth seed in the College Football Playoff, where the Sooners lost 34-24 in the first round to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Senior QB John Mateer looks to improve on his 2025 season in which he threw for 2,885 yards with 14 TDs and 11 INTs. The Sooners averaged 31.2 PPG and 235.8 YPG.
Oklahoma has beaten UTEP in all 5 meetings, including a 45–13 win in 2022.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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UTEP at Oklahoma odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:38 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Off the board at BetMGM; UTEP +8000 at FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Against the spread (ATS): UTEP +41.5 (-108) | Oklahoma -41.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 51.5 (O: -112 | U: -105)
UTEP at Oklahoma picks and predictions
Prediction
Oklahoma 44, UTEP 13
Moneyline
PASS.
Oklahoma is so heavily favored in the matchup the moneyline is off the board, or unplayable.
Against the spread
BET UTEP +41.5 (-108).
While the Sooners have every advantage possible, with a seasoned quarterback, an established playoff-worth team, and home field advantage to name a few, this margin is too wide to not take the visitors. Mateer dealt with turnover issues last season that stunted drives, while Colson has a lot of promise for the Miners. At this value, anything more than a single touchdown will close the scoring gap, giving value to the underdogs.
Over/Under
BET OVER 51.5 (-112).
Expect the Sooners' offense to be explosive behind Mateer, who is looking to make an immediate impact and set the stage for what should be an exciting Sooners' season. Expect big plays from the home team. The same situation with the spread applies for the total with the Miners, anything more than a single touchdown, will do wonders for the Over.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: UTEP Miners at Oklahoma Sooners odds, picks and predictions
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