Oklahoma vs. Arizona Alamo Bowl predictions, odds outlook, and best bets

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Arizona is a slight favorite over Oklahoma in what promises to be one of the best bowl games of the 2023 college football season.

The Wildcats were one of the most stunning teams of the year, posting a 9-3 record with one-possession losses to Mississippi State, Washington, and USC. When star QB Jayden de Laura got injured early in the year, Noah Fifita took the starting job and never gave it back, throwing for 2,515 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions.

The Cats had the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the Pac-12, averaging 34 points per game. Fifita figures to be Arizona’s QB1 next season after de Laura announced his entrance into the transfer portal.

Dillon Gabriel eclipsed 3,500 passing yards and 30 touchdowns for the second time in his five-year college career but isn’t playing for the Sooners in the Alamo Bowl after joining Oregon in the portal. Instead, five-star freshman Jackson Arnold will make his first start.

Arnold completed 75% of his passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns in five games this season. The Texas native is also shifty, rushing for 78 yards and a score.

Most notable skill position players on both teams will take the field in the Alamo Bowl. The biggest opt-out outside of Gabriel is Arizona LT Jordan Morgan, who declared for the NFL Draft after giving up just two sacks.

Each offense lit up the scoreboard throughout the regular season, and the Alama Bowl should be no different. Oklahoma and Arizona combined to average 74 points per game, and the Sooners’ offense scored the third-most points in FBS.

With over a month of Arnold getting first-team reps in practice, the highly-ranked prospect should be ready to go on Thursday night. However, moving the ball through the air won’t be easy against a Wildcats’ defense that surrendered only 229 passing yards per game.

Arnold benefits from having all of Oklahoma’s top pass catchers active for the Alama Bowl. Drake Stoops led the Sooners with 78 receptions for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns.

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