Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Oklahoma Sooners Preview
Where: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
When: Saturday, December 3, 2016, 1:30 PM ET
Line: Oklahoma State Cowboys (+11) vs Oklahoma Sooners (-11) – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
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Betting on the Oklahoma State Cowboys (+11)
Everybody knows about the Cowboys’ offense (40.4 PPG – 13th in the nation), so their defense is also screaming for some recognition. The unit came up quite big last week, as they held a TCU team that averages 34 PPG to only six points.
Vincent Taylor (11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks) and Tralund Webber (eight tackles for loss and five sacks) are leading the charge in the front seven, while safety Jordan Sterns and corner Ramon Richards are headlining the secondary (both d-backs have three picks). These guys, along with the entire Cowboys D, will pose a great challenge to Sooners’ prolific QB, Baker Mayfield.
They’ll have to keep in mind, though, that containing the run is something they have to be a dozen times better on, because they are giving up 192 rushing YPG (81st in the nation).
The offense, meanwhile, particularly the passing attack, is having another explosive season thanks to Mason Rudolph, who got even better from last year’s great showing. The junior is averaging 326.4 passing YPG, and has 25 touchdowns and only four picks. It is also helping that he has a receiver like James Washington, who has 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns this season (19.3 yards per catch).
The backfield tandem of Justice Hill and Chris Carson will also look to provide damage. The two are combining for 122.7 yards per game on 5.8 yards per catch, along with 12 TD runs.
Oklahoma State is 8-2 SU (6-4 ATS) in its last 10 games on the road.
Betting on the Oklahoma Sooners (-11)
The similarities go past the name, as the Sooners are also offensive juggernauts who have mediocre defense that are showing some improvements over the past few weeks.
For one, the last three QBs they faced (Baylor’s Seth Russell and Zach Smith, and West Virginia’s Skyler Howard), all finished the game with a below 50-percent completion rate.
Pass rushers Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Jordan Evans are sure to deliver the pressure on Rudolph and the Cowboys’ O-Line. Okoronkwo has taken the spot as the team’s new “sack master,” his eight sacks are second-most by any Sooner in the last five years, while Evans is arguably their most versatile player on D (7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and four interceptions).
That said, there’s no debating that entering Week 14, it’s the offense that will lift the team to a victory. Led by touchdown and yards machine Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma is second in scoring (45.3 PPG) and 10th in passing yards (322.7 passing YPG). He and receiver Dede Westbrook are still the most productive passing combination in the nation, as they have hooked up for over 1,200 yards and 15 TDs (19.3 yards per catch).
Another similarity they have with their Oklahoma neighbors is having a great pair of running backs. For the Sooners, it’s Joe Mixon (1,084 rushing yards and TDs) and Samaje Perine (754 rushing yards and seven TDs). The two should be able to continue being productive decoys to the potent passing game.
The Sooners are 4-6 in their last 10 games as 11-point favorites.
Writer’s prediction:
The Sooners (-11) win a close one and doesn’t cover the spread.
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