The No.7 Alabama Crimson Tide hit the road to face the Oklahoma Sooners this weekend for an SEC showdown as Kalen DeBoer’s team looks to move closer to a College Football Playoff berth. Sportsbooks favor the Crimson Tide right now, with Alabama currently sitting as a 13.5-point favorite among all major sportsbooks. The over/under for the game is 52.5 to 53.

Alabama vs. Oklahoma predictions and best bets

• Alabama -13.5: -108 at DraftKings
• Alabama Over 30.5: -110 at FanDuel
• 1st Oklahoma Drive Result – Punt: -170 at DraftKings

It’s been a disappointing first season in the SEC for Oklahoma, and losing to a lackluster Missouri team seems like the final nail in the coffin. The Crimson Tide can’t overlook this Sooners squad, but it’s hard to picture how OU keeps up with an Alabama offense that put up 34 against Missouri and 42 against LSU recently.

The battle of field position will play in the favor of the Crimson Tide, and that’s bad news for an Oklahoma team that has struggled to generate points. If Jalen Milroe is given short fields, he should put up plenty of points.

This Alabama total points line is high, but the Sooners have allowed that many points three times in their last five games. Meanwhile, Alabama has surpassed this number in each of its previous three games.

The Sooners have scored on the first drive in just one of their first six SEC games. Against an Alabama defense that’s been on a tear lately, that lack of production likely continues. Surprisingly, Oklahoma has only punted in one of those five stalled drives, so any other first-drive outcome at +480 is also worth considering.

Alabama vs. Oklahoma moneyline odds analysis

Why Alabama could win as the favorite

Best odds: -520 at DraftKings

The Tide seems to have found its groove over the past three weeks after giving Alabama fans reason for worry earlier in the year. With dominant wins over LSU and Missouri, it’s clear that Alabama remains one of the top teams in college football.

Now that they are hitting the road to go against Oklahoma, Jalen Milroe and company will be tested. One slip-up loss and Alabama will be on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff picture.

Defensively is where the Crimson Tide should be able to shine against OU. The Sooners offense has struggled to establish consistency, which becomes more evident against higher-level opponents. Slowing down this unreliable Oklahoma offense should be doable, assuming Alabama’s early-season woes of allowing big plays are over.

For the Crimson Tide offense, Jalen Milroe remains the headline name. The QB has turned to his legs more in recent games, but against an impressive Oklahoma front seven, Milroe’s arm must be on full display. This one should be routine for Alabama, as long as Milroe can limit turnovers and continue to produce at a high level.

Why Oklahoma could win as the underdog

Best odds: +440 at FanDuel

Sitting at 5-5, this hasn’t been the season Oklahoma wanted, but the team is still in play for bowl eligibility and will look to secure it with a major upset this weekend. The Sooners’ chance at winning on Saturday night starts with the offense. Since firing Seth Littrell, the unit has shown some flash but still lacks consistency.

The running game will be detrimental to the team’s chances. Whether Jovantae Barnes is playing or not, the team must continue to find ways to grind out yards with its running backs to help keep the Alabama defense guessing.

Since taking back the quarterback job, Jackson Arnold has shown flashes, but ultimately, the offense needs to be stronger in both areas to knock off a team of Alabama’s caliber. Defensively, the Sooners have the pieces in place to succeed. However, they’ve been inconsistent in slowing down their opponents.

If they can keep Jalen Milroe in the pocket and uncomfortable in the passing game, this one could get tight. With the game at home in front of a rowdy Norman crowd, it could be enough to break this one in their favor.