Missouri vs. Oklahoma Prediction, CFB Picks: Ahmad Hardy's Biggest Test Yet

Missouri Tigers RB Ahmad Hardy celebrates scoring a TD in a game against Massachusetts.
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

They say it just means more in the SEC, and the football world may find that out when Missouri and Oklahoma meet on Saturday.

The weekend bout (12:00 p.m. ET on ABC) sees the No. 22 Tigers hit the road to clash with No. 8 Oklahoma in Norman. With this game carrying College Football Playoff implications, the anticipation is building for a high-profile matchup.

Here, we’ll break down a Missouri vs. Oklahoma prediction and CFB pick for Saturday NCAAF. Use PrizePicks’ CFB game for player projections on RB Ahmad Hardy and others. 

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Missouri vs. Oklahoma Prediction, Preview for Saturday, 11/22

Week 13 marks the 98th time these two illustrious programs will go head-to-head on the gridiron. There’s plenty of history here, especially considering the sides’ days in the Big 12. Oklahoma currently leads the all-time series with a 67-25-5 record

After a 13-year drought, the Tigers and Sooners revived their rivalry last season. A late-game fumble return propelled Missouri to a 20-point final frame, securing the 30-23 win. What could take place this time around? 

Let’s take a closer look at the Missouri vs. Oklahoma matchup on Saturday.

Missouri Tigers Preview vs. Oklahoma

The 2023 and 2024 campaigns saw Missouri post a combined 21-5 record, also winning both the Cotton Bowl and Music City Bowl in the process.

This year, head coach Eli Drinkwitz has his program at a respectable 7-3. Unfortunately, all three of those losses were in the last five outings. 

Regardless of the status of QB Beau Pribula (ankle), the Tigers’ offense is ground-based. It ranks 10th nationally in yards per rush (5.6) and is sixth in rushing yards per game (244.2). 

Defensively, Missouri is stout, holding opponents to the 11th-lowest yards per play average (4.5) and clamping on third downs (32.79%, 13th). 

Oklahoma Sooners Preview vs. Missouri

Oklahoma’s introduction to the SEC didn’t go too well in 2024. Head coach Brent Venables and company went 6-7, ultimately losing to Navy 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl. 

Year No. 2 in the conference sees the Sooners at 8-2, and last weekend’s upset win over Alabama has them squarely in College Football Playoff contention. 

Contrary to what many expected, OU’s 2025 offense is nothing to write home about. It ranks 62nd in scoring average (27.6 PPG) and is in the top 25 in penalty yardage (63.3 yards per game). 

Fortunately for Oklahoma, their defense covers up a lot of warts. It’s the ninth-best scoring unit (16.1 PPG) in the country, also sitting fifth in yards per play (4.1) allowed. 


Missouri vs. Oklahoma Picks for PrizePicks

Below are prime Missouri vs. Oklahoma picks to consider for Week 13. PrizePicks player projections include RB Ahmad Hardy, QB John Mateer and WR Isaiah Sategna.

Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy Projection vs. Oklahoma: 105.5 Rush Yards

  • Hardy’s 1,346 rushing yards lead all FBS ball carriers. He’s also first in the SEC with a 6.8 yard-per-carry average.
  • Since sub-100-yard outings against Alabama (52), Auburn (58), and Vanderbilt (97), Hardy’s returned to form. He had 109 yards vs. Texas A&M and detonated for 300 in last weekend’s 49-27 win over Mississippi State.
  • Per Game on Paper, Hardy ranks 13th among 264 rushers in total EPA (37.67). He’s 35th in success rate (49.2%). 
  • The biggest test yet is Oklahoma’s run defense, which is first in success rate (27.4%) and second in EPA/play (-0.18). 
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Oklahoma QB John Mateer Projection vs. Missouri: 217.5 Pass Yards

  • Mateer averages 231.9 passing yards per game. Since returning from a hand injury, however, that number is way down to 174.4. 
  • A safer approach isn’t necessarily working. Per Pro Football Focus, among 21 SEC QBs with 50+ dropbacks, Mateer ranks 16th in big-time throw clip (2.9%) and is 17th in average depth of target (8.0 yards).
  • Mateer ranks 88th out of 125 signal-callers in EPA/dropback at 0.16, via Game on Paper.
  • Missouri’s pass defense is eighth in success rate (35.9%) and 17th in EPA/dropback (-0.15). 

Oklahoma WR Isaiah Sategna Projection vs. Missouri: 70.5 Rec Yards

  • Sategna’s fourth year with the Sooners is his best, seeing him set career-highs for receptions (53), yards (718), and TDs (5). 
  • The speedy WR seems to have put a slow start behind him. In his last eight games, Sategna averages 82.3 yards. 
  • OU’s star receiver makes the most of his opportunities, ranking 52nd out of 707 players in yards per target (8.72), per Game on Paper
  • An emphasis for Missouri will likely be stopping Sategna once he gets the ball. He averages 7.3 yards after catch per reception, good for 11th among SEC WRs with 10+ targets. 

Make #22 Missouri vs. #8 Oklahoma Picks on PrizePicks

As the College Football Playoff picture comes into focus, Missouri vs. Oklahoma picks are far from the only ones to consider in Week 13. With PrizePicks’ real-money CFB game, you can cash in on the action. 

Doing so is simple. Just pick your players, predict More or Less for their projected stats, and win rewards if you’re right. 

Keep it here with the Playbook for continued college football coverage. 

Get in the game! Sign up for PrizePicks and cash in on your sports predictions. Play $5 and get $50 instantly in Lineups with promo code PLAYBOOK.

about the author

Jordan Foote is a seasoned sports writer with years of experience covering the NFL, NBA and MLB for multiple outlets. He is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media with an emphasis in sports journalism. Foote was born and raised in Kansas City, where he still resides to this day.

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