The set-up: Big changes occurred for both teams in the off-season. Kyler Murray is gone from Oklahoma, and Ed Oliver has left for Houston. Both teams have new coaching staff as well. It's interesting to note that when these two teams last battled, it was UH which scored the upset to open the 2016 season. While I'm not calling for the upset here, I do think that the stage is set for a more competitive battle than what this spread would suggest. The Sooners have been terrible defensively for years, but their offense has masked its inefficiencies. Alex Grinch is the new defensive coordinator for Oklahoma, but I still think the Sooners will struggle on that side of the ball this season.

The pick: D'Eriq King is back for the Cougars after suffering an early injury last year and he has top RB Patrick Carr back as well (also top WR's in Courtney Lark, Keith Corbin and Marquez Stevenson.) OU's defense has been a disaster and while QB Jalen Hurts, a transfer from Alabama should make the offense one of the best in the nation again, the question marks defensively are the difference maker for me in the end. No outright, but closer than expected. Grab the points.

10* COACH'S CORNER on Houston.