Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Odds, Picks, and Predictions (02/26/22)

Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Odds, Picks, and Predictions (02/26/22)

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are headed to Norman, Oklahoma, for the rematch of the Bedlam game of the 2021-2022 season. Prior to this matchup, the Sooners took a 64-55 loss to their brother-rivalry school back in early February. This defeat was one of many that has left the Sooners desperate for a win to give them a chance at the postseason. A win against the OK State Cowboys would bring an end to their four-game losing streak and keep the flame alive. The Cowboys are unable to participate in the postseason, but they are more determined than ever to beat the Sooners again. The Cowboys are coming off a very marginal loss to the Baylor Bears, which is a showcase of their ability. If they play at that same level, the Sooners will fall again. This matchup will take place this Saturday, February 26th, with tipoff at 11:00 AM CST on CBS.

Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Betting Odds

This rivalry has such a history of competitive spirit and high stakes. The Sooners and Cowboys are the two big Oklahoma schools that will only play each other for a few more years before the Sooners head to the SEC in the coming years. This rivalry will be one to cherish while we still can. The Oklahoma State Cowboys have emerged victorious in the last three meetings, so it’s about time for a Sooner win. The odds are standing in favor of the Sooners as they prepare to walk into this matchup at Lloyd Noble Center. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Sooners a victory prediction with a 63.9% confidence interval. This comes at a bit of a shock after knowing the Cowboys walked away with a 64-55 victory earlier in the season. However, the Sooners have recently beaten and had close games with several more ranked competitors compared to the Cowboys. The spread has been placed at -3.5 for the Sooners, proving they are an overall favorite. The Cowboys are left with an underdog spread of +3.5. The Oklahoma State Cowboys are the notorious worst team in the Big 12 against the spread, going 10-16-1. They only have one more loss on their record compared to their Sooner rivals, but they have failed to keep their wins marginal and losses tight. This matchup will come down to which team has the best play under the basket, and like everyone else, I’m rooting for the Sooners. 

My Prediction: Oklahoma Sooners Win 61-57, Sooners cover

Oklahoma State Cowboys Odds

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are playing their last few games of the 2021-2022 season over the next week. Their last matches are against the Oklahoma Sooners, the Iowa State Cyclones, and they end the season against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at home. Due to some violations of their former assistant coach, Lamont Evans, for a bribed-agent scheme. However, this punishment has not stopped the Cowboys team from playing their hardest to secure wins for the team. If the ban were not in place, the Cowboys would have a solid chance at making it into the postseason bracket due to their sixth-place position in the Big 12. For this matchup, the Cowboys will need to continue to apply defensive pressure on the Sooners and keep them at their low shooting percentage we have seen over the past few weeks.

Although the Cowboys are walking into this meeting as the underdog, they have the offensive weapons that have proven to make the Sooners crumble. In their last meeting, Rondel Walker was the key offensive player, scoring 13 points against the Sooner defense. Walker averages only 4.6 points per game and shoots 34.4% from the field. He found his groove against Oklahoma but has been somewhat absent over the past few games. He may be more quiet this time around, but he obviously has the poise that leaves the Sooners on their heels. 

The team’s top scorer Avery Anderson III will be a key player to track on the court. He averages 11.7 points per game, but his average drops to 7 PPG against OU and when away. Although he is not the most confident player when on the road, he can cause a lot of damage to a defense by drawing fouls and completing the play. Sophomore guard Bryce Thompson follows closely behind with an average of 11 PPG. In the previous game against OU, Thompson sank six points for the Cowboys, making all three of his shots. This combination will be huge in this matchup and could give the Sooners their fifth loss in a row.

Oklahoma Sooners Odds

The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the most inconsistent teams in the Big 12. They were once a fierce competitor with an impenetrable defense but now stand sloppy with turnovers and low shot percentages. Last weekend, they played the infamous Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock, which is known to be the most difficult arena to play in this season. The game resulted in poor play by the Sooners, an 0-18 point streak, and shooting 7% at the start of the second half. The Sooners have also had a severe turnover problem that has continued through most of their season. In the last game against Oklahoma State, they turned the ball over 17 times which led to easy points by the Cowboys. In that game, they shot only 37.7%, which is significantly lower compared to their average of 54.4%. The home-court advantage of this matchup isn’t as significant for the Sooners due to their continuous loss ratio at home, but it may give them a little boost as they prepare to take on their Oklahoma rivals.

Senior forward Tanner Groves continues to be the team’s leading scorer with his recent inconsistent play. He averages 12.1 points per game with a 54.3% field goal rate. He has been a leader of this team that dominated earlier in the season but has recently fallen to be a quieter offensive player. In his last five games, he averaged 7.4 points per game, which is significantly lower than his 13.1 PPG start to this season. Against OSU, Groves was able to get out of his funk and helped keep the team alive by putting up 23 out of 55 of the team’s points. If the Sooners want to secure this win, they need to make Groves a key part of their offense again. Elite ball screens and mismatched coverage is going to be a necessity for this team to give Groves the opportunity to score the points crucial to winning this game.

Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Picks and Predictions

Both teams have struggled to put major points on the board throughout the past few weeks. Compared to other Big 12 competitors, the combined point totals have been much lower for these Oklahoma teams. Their best shooters also have a lower average than their competitors, and shot percentages have been down; therefore, the under on this game should be a safe bet. However, the deep competitive history of these teams could lead to bigger point values, but it may be a risk to follow the team’s hearts instead of looking at their stats. I’m taking an under bet, but it may be a close call by the time the final buzzer expires.