Oklahoma vs. Auburn 2017: Early Sugar Bowl Prediction, Betting Odds, Preview For Final Bowl Game

Two college football programs as accomplished and storied as the No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) and the No. 14 Auburn Tigers (8-4) have only met once before. It was back in 1972 when the Sooners claimed a 40-22 victory in the Sugar Bowl and in New Orleans.

Fast-forward almost four decades later, and the two teams will meet under similar circumstances and settings – albeit not for a piece of the national title - Monday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

The matchup, pitting Auburn’s No. 5-ranked defense against the Sooners' No. 9-offense, figures to be one of the highest scoring affairs during this bowl season and one of the narrowest, according to the latest odds from Sportsbook.ag.

Oklahoma, led by star quarterback Baker Mayfield and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and receiver Dede Westbrook, are 3-point favorites and the over-under is currently set at 63.5 points.

Mayfield set new career-highs by completing 71.2 percent of his passes for 38 touchdowns to eight interceptions as well as 3,669 yards while helping Oklahoma tear through the Big 12 for a second straight conference title. The junior will also try to erase his poor, two-interception performance in last season’s College Football Playoff national semifinal against Clemson for the first bowl victory of his career.

Westbrook, a senior who was also a Heisman candidate, pulled down 74 receptions for 1,465 yards and 16 scores as the Sooners put up 44.7 points per game.

However, the Sooners struggled against ranked, non-conference opponents early in the season and limited their chances for a College Football Playoff berth. Oklahoma fell to then No. 15 Houston and two weeks later No. 3 Ohio State 45-24, before winning nine straight.

Sophomore running back Joe Mixon also played a crucial role, gaining 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns, but he continues to be at the center of scrutiny after a video emerged of him striking a woman in 2014. Mixon plead guilty but did not serve jail time while he was suspended from the team for his freshman season.

The Tigers, who enter the Sugar Bowl for the first time since going 13-0 in 2004, had some struggles both with conference and non-conference foes but can still claim a second consecutive bowl victory behind one of the country’s best defenses.

Auburn fell to No. 2 Clemson and then No. 17 Texas A&M in two of their first three games of the season, but did beat ranked schools LSU and Arkansas during a six-game winning streak before slipping to Georgia and eventual SEC champ and CFP favorite Alabama to close the regular season.

The Tigers didn’t have a particularly strong pass rush, which would help against the dangerous Mayfield, but their secondary was one of the strongest in the SEC. Sophomore defensive back Carlton Davis and senior Joshua Holsey each recorded 10 passes defensed, or a third of Auburn’s SEC-leading 66.

Altogether, Auburn surrendered only 12 passing touchdowns all season – good for No. 14 in the country – and opposing quarterbacks netted a rather average 112.8 rating.

Betting Odds: Oklahoma -3 via Sportsbook.ag.

Over/Under: 63.5 points

Prediction: Oklahoma over Auburn, 34-27