Oklahoma
Alamo Bowl 2023: Arizona vs. Oklahoma predictions, odds for Thursday night game
Both programs are set to move conferences after this season.
The 2023 Alamo Bowl will feature the Pac-12’s Arizona Wildcats taking on the Oklahoma Sooners of the Big 12 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The No. 14 Wildcats are enjoying their best season of the last decade while the No. 12 Sooners are disappointed after losses to Texas and Oklahoma State kept them out of a New Year’s Six Bowl in 2023.
Oklahoma certainly has the edge in bowl experience ahead of this one. The Sooners have made a bowl game every season since 1999; Arizona’s in the postseason for the first time since 2017.
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It’s an interesting matchup at quarterback for both teams. Arizona’s redshirt freshman signal-caller Noah Fifita took over from starter Jayden de Laura against Stanford and led the Wildcats to a top-15 ranking for just the third time since 2000. Fifita comes from a family of defensive players and will lead the Wildcats in their first Alamo Bowl since 2010. de Laura stated on Christmas he will transfer after the bowl game.
Oklahoma’s starter this year, Dillon Gabriel, is transferring to Oregon and won’t play. Instead, freshman Jackson Arnold will make his first college start. Sooners coach Brent Venables is already drawing comparisons to Oklahoma great Sam Bradford when talking about Arnold.
This marks the third time the two schools are meeting on the football field. The most recent game came in 1989 when the Wildcats won 6-3 in Tucson.
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2023 Alamo Bowl: Arizona vs. Oklahoma predictions
Sportsbook Wire: Arizona 37, Oklahoma 31
Jess Root writes, “This should be a high-scoring game and, as this is Arizona’s 1st bowl appearance since 2017, the Wildcats will be motivated. I like Arizona but there are better odds and value with the spread.”
The Oklahoman: Oklahoma 38, Arizona 35
Justin Martinez says, “It’ll be a good one in San Antonio. But OU has been there before, beating Oregon in the 2021 Alamo Bowl, and it’ll also get a boost from a crowd that figures to mostly consist of crimson.”
Sports Illustrated: Oklahoma 34, Arizona 27
James Parks writes, “There’s enough of a talent gap across the board here to favor Oklahoma. Despite its personnel losses, this offense still features a credible downfield threat capable of creating space and moving into scoring position. And it has the defensive firepower to create pressure and challenge the Wildcats’ air attack.”
Action Network: Oklahoma +3 or Better
Collin Wilson says, “The oversold line for Arizona is a result of the announcements from Lebby and Gabriel, but there’s no expected drop-off with the moves to Arnold at quarterback and Littrell at offensive coordinator.”
Sports Betting Dime: Arizona -2.5
Robert Duff writes, “These are two ships passing in the night. Oklahoma is leaving the Big-12 for the SEC. Arizona is joining the Big-12. The personnel losses for the Sooners will be the difference maker in a close game.”
2023 Alamo Bowl: Arizona vs. Oklahoma odds
The Wildcats are favorites to defeat the Sooners, according to the BetMGM NCAA odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NCAA betting promos in 2023.
Betting odds, as of Thursday afternoon:
- Spread: Arizona (-2.5)
- Moneyline: Arizona (-140); Oklahoma (+115)
- Over/under: 59.5
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Oklahoma
Firefighters respond to commercial fire in Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a commercial fire near the area of NW 10th and N Western Avenue.
OKCFD were at the scene of a commercial fire around 7 p.m. Saturday night, when they arrived there was heavy smoke visible from multiple floors of a boarded up building.
One adult female was found in the building and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
At this time no cause has been reported.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma
Navy Coach Brian Newberry Talks Oklahoma Prep, Going for 10 Wins
NORMAN — Bowl season is a bit unconventional for Navy.
The Midshipmen annually play against Army six days after the bowl schedule is released. That was the case this year, as Navy beat the Black Knights 31-13 on Dec. 14.
Beating Army is always a highlight for the Midshipmen. But the drawback for them is that they have less time than their bowl opponent to prepare for the game.
In this case, that’s Oklahoma. The Sooners will enter the game with more than two weeks of preparation for Navy’s triple-option offense.
“It’s just a little different,” Navy coach Brian Newberry told reporters earlier this week. “They’ve known they’re going to play us for a little time now.”
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Navy does, however, enter the Armed Forces Bowl with momentum.
The Midshipmen (9-3) eased past Army last week in Landover, MD. They outgained the Black Knights 384-179 and forced Army quarterback Bryson Daily to throw three interceptions.
Navy’s rivalry win was its third in the last four games after the Midshipmen went on a two-game skid in the middle of the season. Newberry cited his team’s physicality in recent games, particularly in the Midshipmen’s drubbing of Army.
“I was so impressed with how our kids handled the moment,” Newberry said. “Army’s a really, really good football team. I thought we physically dominated the game in the way that we blocked, beat blocks, the way we tackled. I thought we outplayed them in all three phases, so I’m really, really proud of that.”
A stark difference between the teams is the number of players that have entered the transfer portal.
The Sooners have seen 25 players from their 2024 team enter the portal. The Midshipmen have suffered only one departure in the winter portal window with defensive back Lorenzo Vitti.
On one hand, that makes Oklahoma preparation tough for Navy.
“It’s interesting,” Newberry said. “We’re going through their two-deep and trying to figure out who’s going to play and who isn’t. It’s a little bit of a challenge in that regard. And it could certainly change with a different quarterback.”
But largely, the Midshipmen’s lack of transfers gives Newberry confidence that his team will be bought in for one more game in 2024.
“The portal can affect us, players can jump in the portal — we’re not getting that,” Newberry said. “It’s challenging to build a culture anywhere in college football right now, one that’s built on a certain level of trust. They know each other really, really well. They’ve fought through adversity. They stay the course, they pay the price and they have an opportunity.”
Navy will also play for more than just another win; the Midshipmen are looking to make history.
Navy has reached the 10-win mark just four times in program history. The Midshipmen did so three times under former coach Ken Niumatalolo from 2009-2019.
Having a shot at history while playing Oklahoma — the state that Newberry hails from — excites the coach.
“It’s the last time that this team gets to play together,” Newberry said. “They want to go out the right way against a storied program like Oklahoma. It’s a great reward to play in a bowl game, but it’s a game we want to win.”
The Midshipmen and Sooners will play in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth at 11 a.m. on Dec. 27.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis Sees Armed Forces Bowl as Growth Opportunity
As Danny Stutsman departs from Oklahoma, Kip Lewis seems to be the next man up.
A redshirt sophomore linebacker in 2024, Lewis was one of the Sooners’ better defenders. In addition to his 28 solo tackles, Lewis intercepted two passes, running both of them back for touchdowns.
Lewis hopes to be the leader that Stutsman was over his four years at OU. But his goal isn’t to be a Stutsman clone.
“I feel like I’m my own player and my own leader in how I do things,” Lewis said. “Danny’s a great player, great leader. Taught me everything I need to know. I think I’m just my own person. I don’t think I need to step into his role and be the Danny. There’s only one.”
Lewis played and started in all 12 of the Sooners’ games in the 2024 season. It was his second season as a regular on OU’s defense after playing in just two games as a true freshman.
In Oklahoma’s first season as an SEC squad, Lewis and his defensive counterparts saw plenty of offensive stars. Between Garrett Nussmeier at LSU and Quinn Ewers at Texas, there was never really a dull moment for the Sooners during conference play.
Lewis will see a different type of challenge at the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy.
WATCH: Navy HC Brian Newberry Ahead of Armed Forces Bowl vs. Oklahoma
The Midshipmen — like the other service academies — run a triple-option offense. While Navy, Army and Air Force struggle to get the highly-touted recruits that other programs draw, the unconventional offense sets them apart.
Thankfully for Lewis, this style of offense isn’t new.
“I’m a little used to it. So it’s been a minute since I played it, but it brought me back to my roots playing the Wing-T. There’s a team called Pleasant Grove out there in Texas, so they used to give me a run for my money back in the day.”
Navy finished the regular season 9-3. The Midshipmen started the season 6-0 before losing three times in a four-game span.
They ended the season well, though, beating both East Carolina and Army by double digits to end the regular season.
Lewis and multiple of his teammates tuned in as the Midshipmen beat Army in the annual rivalry game.
“They showed a lot of fight, a lot of grit,” Lewis said. “I think that’s an important key into playing football.”
Lewis will play only one more game as an underclassman. Then, he’ll step into the role of other defensive leaders the Sooners have seen recently, whether that’s Stutsman, Billy Bowman Jr., Woodi Washington or others.
Games like the Armed Forces Bowl will help him get there.
“Just always having to bring my best effort every day,” Lewis said. “Just bringing everything I’ve got. Just every day, I bring my value into whatever that is, whatever I’ve gotta do for my team. I think it’ll be a big role.”
The Sooners will battle the Midshipmen on Dec. 27 in Fort Worth. The game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
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