The point spread on the Cotton Bowl between Oklahoma and Florida moved drastically this week, with the Sooners going from underdogs to top picks of in excess of a touchdown in the hours leading up to kickoff Wednesday.
The Gators opened as 3-point top picks a week ago, however the line flipped for Oklahoma after a few key Florida playmakers quit the bowl game, including star tight end Kyle Pitts and leading receiver Kadarius Toney.
On Monday, after Florida’s pick outs were unveiled, sportsbooks moved the Sooners to 3-point favorites. The line kept on developing altogether Wednesday, and Oklahoma was a 8.5-point favorite in the hours leading up to kickoff.
The Sooners experienced little difficulty covering in a 55-20 triumph.
Matt Metcalf, sportsbook director for Circa Sports in Las Vegas, said his shop began seeing wagers on the Sooners on Tuesday night, not long after Miami quarterback D’Eriq King was harmed and knocked out of the Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma State. Metcalf said he believes bettors were speculating that Florida quarterback Kyle Trask, a NFL prospect, probably won’t play the whole game against the Sooners.
On Wednesday morning, Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill revealed that 51% of the point-spread wagers were on the Gators, yet 73% of the cash bet was on Oklahoma.
