2018 Oklahoma Sooners Season Win Total Picks and Predictions for NCAA Football

2017 Record: 12-2

2018 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 10.5

2018 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'

Baker Mayfield's crotch grabbing and the Oklahoma defense's complete collapse in the second half against Georgia seems like ages ago. And with Mayfield's Heisman, a Big 12 title, and a College Football Playoff choke all behind them, the Sooners are now set to begin Year 2 of the Lincoln Riley Experiment in earnest.

Riley was thrust into leadership last summer after Bob Stoops' surprise retirement. Riley, a former offensive coordinator at East Carolina, acclimated himself very well. It helped that he had been the OC in Norman the two previous seasons and was familiar with all of Oklahoma's star-studded personnel. But now that he has to replace all that talent. And now that some of the bloom is off the rookie coach's rose, we will see what Riley really has to offer.

The Sooners, as always, are stocked with highly-touted players. They have leading rusher Rodney Anderson and backup Trey Summer back. They also have two of their top three pass catchers and four guys that caught at least three touchdown passes back in the fold. Throw in a trio of three-year starters across what could be one of the top offensive lines in the country, and the OU offense should be able to average 40 or more points per game for the fourth time in four years that they've been running Riley's system.

Of course, that all depends on the quarterback play. And Riley will have to choose between junior transfer Kyler Murray, who is more of a dual-option threat, or proto-passer Austin Kendall, a sophomore.

Regardless, Oklahoma will score. The key for this team will once again be on the defensive side of the ball. And in somewhat of a plot twist, that falls on the shoulders of former coach Bob Stoops' brother, Mike. The Sooners defense was perfectly average (again) last season, finishing outside the Top 50 in scoring, rushing, passing and total defense. Georgia exposed this unit. And they will have to make some major strides if the Sooners want to get back to the playoffs.

Oklahoma should come out of the gate strong this year. They have two tricky nonconference games, facing brash Lane Kiffin and Florida Atlantic followed by evil genius Chip Kelly and new-look UCLA. But both of those games are at home. And since Stoops has had months to prepare for both offenses, the Sooners defense should be able to hold its own. (You would think.)

A revenge game at Iowa State is followed by a pair of home layups against Army and Baylor.

Then things get interesting. The Sooners have to face Texas, TCU and West Virginia on the road this year. And whether or not you think they can get to 11 wins in the regular season depends on how many of those games you think they will lose. Is Texas back? Is TCU still a factor? Is West Virginia legit? Beyond that, it is tough to see any of the middle- and lower-tier Big 12 teams coming into Oklahoma and beating the Sooners.

This Oklahoma team is not as good as last year's version. No one loses a Heisman winner and then gets better. And I still have some questions about Riley as a head coach and Stoops as a defensive coordinator. But the bottom line is that, coaching be damned, Oklahoma is still absolutely stacked with talent. They are the best team in the Big 12 and should be favored in at least 11 of their games.

But if I have to make a call I am going to bet this one 'under'. I think Oklahoma will lose the Red River Rivalry, and I think that Friday night game in Morgantown to close the season might be too much for them. The Big 12 is down this year. So OU running the table wouldn't stun me. But I see the Sooners winning 10 games in the regular season and missing the playoffs.

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