The Oklahoma State Cowboys take on the Florida Atlantic Owls in Charleston, SC as part of the Charleston Classic. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU
Oklahoma State is favored by 1 point on the spread with a moneyline of -118. The total is set at 162.5 points.
Here’s my Oklahoma State vs. FAU predictions and college basketball picks for November 21, 2024.
Oklahoma State vs FAU Prediction
My Pick: FAU ML -102
My Oklahoma State vs FAU best bet is on the Owls moneyline, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Oklahoma State vs FAU Odds
| Oklahoma State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1 -112 | 162.5 -108 / -112 | -118 |
| FAU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1 -108 | 162.5 -108 / -112 | -102 |
- Oklahoma State vs FAU spread: Oklahoma State -1
- Oklahoma State vs FAU over/under: 162.5 points
- Oklahoma State vs FAU moneyline: Oklahoma State -118, FAU -102
- Oklahoma State vs FAU best bet: FAU ML -102
Spread
I don't see a real reason to take +1. You may as well just take the moneyline.
Moneyline
I'm going with FAU moneyline.
Over/Under
Both teams play fast tempos and regularly finished with 80+ points early on. With the tempo and defensive concerns, I like the over 162.5 here.
My Pick: FAU ML -102
Oklahoma State vs FAU College Basketball Betting Preview
Oklahoma State Basketball
Oklahoma State looks a lot different than it did last year when it won just 12 games, leading to Mike Boynton Jr.'s firing.
New head coach Steve Lutz quickly re-tooled Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Western Kentucky, so the fans in Stillwater must have similar hopes.
I'm not as optimistic about the Cowboys turning it around in one year. Though Lutz's coaching principles will lead to some wins in Big 12 play, it could be a bumpy road. Lutz's style includes a up-tempo attack, starting with defensive pressure and leading to a turnover rate around 25%.
The problem is that Oklahoma State's defense ranks just 75th in defensive efficiency, so it feels like the Cowboys need a turnover or teams will hurt it with a bucket. Green Bay and Southern Illinois notched more than 1.00 PPP, scoring 75+ points in narrow losses.
Another troubling sight for betting purposes: Oklahoma State failed to cover the spread in any of the first three games. The Cowboys still rank inside KenPom's top 100, but a rough stretch in this MTE could change that.
Offensively, Oklahoma State lacks a true No. 1 option, a guy who wants the ball and defenses fear in the late seconds.
Feeding the ball to forwards Abou Ousmane and Marchelus Avery worked versus smaller mid-majors, but FAU's length can negate some of the post-scoring.
How will the Cowboys respond? They need scoring from the guards, but I don't know who has the talent to score in bunches besides Bryce Thompson. He's the only perimeter player averaging double-digit points.
They will need more from Brandon Newman or Arturo Dean.
And also, does Oklahoma State have enough offense to keep pace with the Owls?
FAU Basketball
Similar to Oklahoma State, Florida Atlantic brings in a new coach in former Baylor assistant John Jakus.
Unsurprisingly, Jakus brought an elite offense to Boca Raton, just like he saw for years under Scott Drew in Waco.
The Owls' problem is similar to Baylor's: FAU struggles defensively.
On defense, Florida Atlantic ranks 164th in defensive efficiency (per KenPom) and it allows opponents to shoot nearly 40% from 3. In both of the Owls' losses, they allowed 100+ points — UCF scored 100 and Charleston scored 119 in double overtime.
The good news is Oklahoma State isn't in the same ballpark offensively as Charleston and UCF.
Jakus did some terrific work in the portal. He brought in six scorers who averaged nine-plus points per game.
The best performer so far has been Louisville transfer Kaleb Glenn, who's a human highlight reel with elite shooting ability. He leads the team with 16 points per game.
A quartet of guards imports — KyKy Tandy, Leland Walker, Ken Evans Jr. and Niccolo Moretti — have morphed the Owls into one of the best shooting teams in the sport. Each of the four is converting on over 40% of their shots from 3 and can attack in catch-and-shoot spots or off the bounce.
The worrisome part for Cowboys backers is FAU's ability to play a smaller lineup with 6-foot-11 Baba Miller at the five and Glenn at the four. That lineup has five shooters on the floor, and Ousmane and the other Oklahoma State bigs must defend in space against quicker shooters.
FAU vs OK State Betting Analysis
With the way Oklahoma State defends, it leads to vulnerability versus faster teams with ball-handlers and shooters.
That describes this Florida Atlantic team perfectly, which worries me in this spot for the Cowboys.
I don't have a ton of hope in the Cowboys remaining inside KenPom's top 100 much longer, so I'm looking to fade Oklahoma State before the market catches onto its problems.
