Oklahoma does not have QB Dillon Gabriel in this game as he has entered the portal with the entire offensive line opting out as well. They have about half their defensive lineup playing in this game. The Sooners will go with a five star QB prospect in Jackson Arnold and it will be his first start in a bowl game on the road. Meanwhile, Arizona turned their season around by going with their backup freshman QB Noah Fifita after their starting QB got injured and this team ended up winning their last six games with Fifita at the helm. Fifita has had a fantastic season as a mobile QB and his stats are excellent. The team became an offensive force, upsetting top ranked teams in the Pac 12 like Utah, Oregon State and UCLA. Arizona had incredible success in the red zone this season ranking 12th in defensive scoring efficiency. Both teams are highly explosive on offense and this game should be a tight back and forth entertaining game but the key to winning this game for Arizona is to limit the explosive plays that the Sooners will dish out, and they do have that experience, and to finish their drives with touchdowns and not field goals in which the Wildcats have no problems in scoring in the red zone. Arizona also finished 45th in Finishing Drives and in Defensive Quality Drives. Since the Wildcats have experience playing in a conference that featured the best explosive offenses, they are battle tested to enter this game and win and cover it. They have virtually their entire team playing as very little non key players have opted out. Both will be motivated but Arizona wants it more as they last won a bowl game in 2015 and there are so many changes with Oklahoma and staff that it is hard to gauge where their attention is at.

Arizona are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games. Arizona are 8-0 SU in their last 8 games when playing as the favorite. Oklahoma are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games. Oklahoma are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing as the underdog. OKlahoma are 0-1 ATS this season when playing with 2 weeks or more of rest. Arizona are 1-0 ATS this season after a bye week or over two weeks rest. Arizona are 3-1 ATS this season after a win by 21 or more points. Arizona is 4-0 ATS this season after scoring 37 points or more last game. Oklahoma are 0-2 ATS this season and 1-6 ATS in the last three seasons after scoring 31 points or more in 3 straight games.

Best bet: lay the points with Arizona.