Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State Odds
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 132.5 -115o / -105u | +125 |
| Oklahoma State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 132.5 -115o / -105u | -145 |
When you think of the two big state universities in Oklahoma squaring off, the first thing that comes to mind is likely Bedlam. To me, this has always been one of the more underrated rivalries in college athletics.
Aside from the Thunder, Oklahoma does not have any pro teams, so most residents either bleed red or orange. With the Sooners move to the SEC on the horizon, the matchups on the hardwood as conference foes are soon to be limited. That makes Saturday's matchup in Stillwater very exciting.
It has been an up-and-down year for both teams thus far.
Oklahoma State was hit with a one year postseason ban by the NCAA, a decision that most would agree did not make a whole lot of sense. That decision has not stopped Mike Boynton's team from competing every night. The Pokes play really hard and have been able to pull off some big wins, including a victory in Waco over Baylor.
For the Sooners, Porter Moser has his team in the discussion for the NCAA Tournament in year one. Oklahoma has taken some punches recently in a loaded Big 12, but there will be plenty of chances in February to add some big wins to the resume.
Oklahoma Must Protect the Ball
Oklahoma made a really good hire in Moser once Lon Kruger announced his retirement last spring. Moser's teams at Loyola always ran good offenses and kept teams in front of them on the defensive end.
Moser is starting to leave his imprint in Norman, but with the depth of the Big 12 it has certainly been a bumpy ride thus far.
The Sooners have some nice wins over the likes of Iowa State, Arkansas and Florida, but there's also been some tough losses, including getting swept by TCU.
Everything is still in front of this team from a tournament perspective, and Saturday is a big chance to get things back on track and add a road league win.
One thing that has really been halting the Oklahoma offense is the amount of turnovers it is committing. OU ranks 332nd in the nation in offensive turnover percentage, which is by far the worst of any Big 12 team.
The Sooners will need to be much better with the ball on Saturday against a swarming Cowboy defense.
Oklahoma State Continues to Compete
The record may not show it, but Boynton has done a fantastic job getting his guys to battle every night. The Cowboys enter this game losers of four in a row, despite holding a second half lead in all of those losses.
The Pokes are struggling to finish games right now, and the biggest reason why is the lack of scoring options offensively. From an adjusted efficiency standpoint, Oklahoma state ranks 145th offensively to 18th defensively. You'd be hard-pressed to find a team in the country with starker splits than these Cowboys.
Given how consistent the defense has been, it makes sense the Cowboys have been able to notch some impressive victories in Big 12 play. They went to Waco and dominated Baylor, handled Texas at home and also beat a really solid TCU team.
Sophomore Rondel Walker is a key moving forward for this offense. Walker has shown flashes of the high upside he possesses, and if he could gain some consistency the Cowboys' offense would take a significant step forward.
Walker had 18 the other night in a narrow loss to Kansas State, hitting four threes in the process. Building off that performance against the Sooners would go a long way in helping the Cowboys secure the victory.
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State Betting Pick
It's hard to envision this one not coming down to the wire on Saturday afternoon. These teams are similar, and both groups' strengths lie on the defensive end of the floor.
When diving into it from a betting perspective, I think the value lies with the home team, and I will be backing the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State has shot the ball much better in its own building, and Gallagher-Iba Arena will be rocking for this rivalry game.
Kalib Boone and Isaac Likekele are both elite defenders, and the Pokes have the personnel to make things very difficult for the Sooners in the half court.
Avery Anderson has the ability to create his own shot, and his penetration and play-making will be key against the OU defense.
Give me the home Cowboys to do just enough to win Bedlam on the hardwood.
Pick: Oklahoma State ML
