Most football experts think the Oklahoma Sooners will lose to third-ranked Alabama in Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl.
Vegas has made OU two touchdown underdogs.
But the Sooners have a history of proving the experts wrong in big games.
OU has been a double digit underdog just twice in the Bob Stoops era.
One of those times ended with a national title.
“I like being the underdog,” OU fan Tommy Embery said. “I think OU does well when they’re the underdog, so yeah, I love it. I love the situation.”
Alabama has won three of the last four BCS national championships, so OU fan Glen Burdett can understand the point spread.
“If they stay within 14, it’s probably not bad,” he said, “but hopefully coach Stoops can come up with some magic for them.”
But should OU consider the point spread as disrespect?
Former Sooner star lineman and NFL veteran Kelly Gregg thinks so.
“As a former player, you would take that into consideration and think ‘hey, this guy is not two touchdowns better than me across the line of scrimmage’,” Gregg said Thursday after hosting his radio show on “The Franchise” Sports Radio 107.7 FM.
He reminds fans that OU was a 4.5 point underdog this season at Kansas State, but won by 10.
They were 10.5 point underdogs in Stillwater, but ruined OSU’s Big 12 title dreams with a 33-24 victory.
Oregon was favored in the 2005 Holiday Bowl, but the Sooners won by three.
They were 10 point underdogs to Florida State in 2001, but won their 7th national championship at the Orange Bowl, 13-to-2.
Oklahoma has never beaten Alabama in a bowl game, losing to them in the 1963 Orange Bowl, 17-0. They tied ‘Bama in the 1970 Bluebonnet Bowl, 24-24.
But Gregg thinks they have a shot at finally beating the Crimson Tide in January.
“If I’m Bob Stoops, I look at the blueprint of the Oklahoma State game,” he said. “Nothing wrong with punting, keep it close, have a chance to win it there at the end.”
The Sooners are 4-2 all time in Sugar Bowls.
