The #12 Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) and #25 Texas Longhorns (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) square off this weekend in Big 12 Conference action. Texas is coming off a devastating collapse last weekend against the Oklahoma Sooners, while the Cowboys enjoyed a week off from play.
Saturday’s Big 12 showdown kicks off at 12 p.m. EST inside DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. The Longhorns are a 3.5-favorite over the Cowboys, and the over-under total is at 60 points.
What to Know – Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys are undefeated and playing a different style of football than we are accustomed to under head coach Mike Gundy. Oklahoma State is one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the Big 12, and a win Saturday would further cement themselves in solidifying a spot in the Big 12 Championship.
Okie State generates 378.4 yards of total offense and is averaging 25.4 points per game. Quarterback Spencer Sanders can make plays through the air and on the ground. The signal-caller has thrown for 781 yards and five touchdowns and added 196 yards and two scores on the ground.
Defensively, the Cowboys are surrendering 18.6 points per game and haven’t allowed a team to score more than 23 points this year. OSU is holding opponents to 305.2 yards of offense and just 91.0 yards per game rushing.
Oklahoma State is 5-2 against the spread over their last seven games and 4-2 ATS in their last six against the Longhorns.
What to Know – Texas Longhorns
Texas had a double-digit halftime lead over rival Oklahoma before the Sooners mounted a second-half comeback to defeat the Longhorns in another classic Red River rivalry. A win against the Cowboys puts the Longhorns in position for a potential rematch with Oklahoma in the conference championship.
Texas has no trouble scoring points, ranking fifth in the nation averaging 44.5 points per game. Quarterback Casey Thompson has thrown for 1,095 yards and 14 touchdowns, and running back Bijan Robinson has tallied 795 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Robinson has seen his name shoot up Heisman boards this season.
While the Longhorns’ offense is operating at a high level, the defense is surrendering 29.2 points and 439.0 yards of offense to their opponents. Texas ranks 106 nationally in total defense and has allowed 300 yards or more on the ground in two games this year.
The Longhorns are 6-2 ATS over the last eight meetings and 6-2 ATS against Big 12 opponents.
The Pick is In
How is Texas going to respond after the second-half collapse over their rival? Can Oklahoma State contain the play of Robison and keep the Longhorns’ offense in check? Those questions will be exciting storylines for Saturday’s game.
Oklahoma State’s defense will be the difference in the contest, doing enough to keep Longhorns in check. With an extra week to prepare, look for the Cowboys’ offense to control the ball and use their ground game to move the chains and keep the ball away from the UT offense.
Betting Pick: Oklahoma State Cowboys +3.5
