The second contest of Wednesday’s First Round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament features in-state rivals the Oklahoma State Cowboys (17-14, 8-10 Big 12) and Oklahoma Sooners (15-16, 5-13 Big 12). The Cowboys won both matchups during the regular season, defeating the Sooners by double digits each time.
Oklahoma State is the seventh seed in the tournament while the Sooners are tenth. Wednesday’s winner will move on to face the two-seeded Texas Longhorns in the quarterfinals.
The rivalry tilt tips off at 9:30 p.m. EST inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Oklahoma State is a one-point favorite, and the over/under total is 135.5 points.
What to Know – Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys come to Kansas City after a season finale victory over TCU, 74-60. OSU’s 14-point triumph was their second win in three contests by double digits and over a ranked opponent. A deep run into this week’s tournament could be enough for the Cowboys to earn an at-large bid into the Big Dance.
Offensively, OSU ranked eighth in the Big 12 averaging 69.5 points per game while shooting 43.9% from the floor and 31.8% from beyond the arc. On defense, the Cowboys were second in the league holding opposing teams to 66.8 ppg, 40.3% shooting from the field and 32.0% from the 3-point line.
Oklahoma State finished the season with a 15-16 mark against the spread and 1-3 record ATS in neutral matchups. The Cowboys went 1-5 ATS over their final six games of the regular season.
What to Know – Oklahoma Sooners
Head coach Porter Moser’s second season on the sideline wasn’t exactly what the fans in Norman were looking for after finishing the 2021-22 year at 19-16 and a trip to the NIT. Without a conference tournament title, the Sooners will fail to land in the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.
The Sooners offense finished last in conference play scoring 68.3 ppg, backed by 46.5% shooting from the field and 35.4% from deep. Oklahoma’s defense was third in the Big 12, surrendering 67.9 ppg, 43.5% shooting from the floor and 31.4% from three.
Oklahoma closed out the regular season 14-15-1 ATS and 4-1 ATS on a neutral court. The Sooners owned a 4-2 record ATS over their last six games.
The Pick is In
Oklahoma has covered the spread in seven of its last eight neutral site contests while the Cowboys have failed to cover in their last four. What has plagued the Sooners all season has been the inability to win close matchups with a 1-5 record in games decided by three points. Expect Wednesday’s tilt to be a narrow battle throughout the forty minutes of action.
The old saying goes that it is hard to beat a team three times in a season, but the Cowboys are on the fringe of a NCAA Tournament berth for just the second time in six seasons. We like Oklahoma State to knock out their rivals and advance to face the Longhorns.
The Pick: Oklahoma State Cowboys ML
