The Oklahoma State Cowboys are on probation in 2015 for violations of the NCAA's drug testing policy.
That said, they still have the potential to play the role of spoiler for a lot of the Big XII's top teams.
2015 SCHEDULE
9/5: at Central Michigan
9/12: vs. Central Arkansas
9/19: vs. Texas-San Antonio
9/26: at Texas
10/3: vs. Kansas State
10/10: at West Virginia
10/24: vs. Kansas
10/31: at Texas Tech
11/7: vs. TCU
11/14: at Iowa State
11/21: vs. Baylor
11/28: vs. Oklahoma
First of all, what business does Oklahoma State have playing against two teams starting with the name "Central" to start off the season? And what's up with that game at Central Michigan in Week 1? Odd.
When you get past the peculiarities, you've got a schedule with a lot of tough patches in it once we hit the end of September. Playing against Texas, K-State and West Virginia in three consecutive weeks isn't favorable, and the end of season home games against TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma have an away date with Iowa State jammed in the middle.
SEASON WIN TOTAL
The Pokes have a season win total of seven this year, which feels just about right to us. They are -230 to exceed that seven.
The reason for the high number certainly isn't because there are a ton of wins forecasted in the Big XII. The fact of the matter though, is that there is no excuse to not start 3-0 with three cupcakes on the docket, and a home game against Kansas should certainly lead to a fourth win.
From there, 4-4 with the rest of the schedule will get the job done, something which seems doable for Mike Gundy, one of the best young coaches in the nation.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
It was so unlike Okie State last season to struggle offensively. This is a team which routinely put up 40+ points over the course of the last few seasons, and averaging just 27.6 points per game last year was a disappointment.
Then again, quarterback play was a joke. Daxx Garman had to play in place of an injured J.W. Walsh for most of the year, and he threw for just 2,041 yards with 12 TDs and 12 picks.
Garman is going to be a real problem again this year, especially after Walsh transferred to Maryland in the offseason.
The big issue though, could be at tailback. Desmond Roland and Tyreek Hill are both gone, and we're really not sure where the Cowboys are turning from here to get excitement on the outside.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Emmanuel Ogbah is a legitimate force at the defensive end spot for the Cowboys, but we're not sure that this defense has much else to offer.
Remember that last year, the Pokes allowed 42 points or more to TCU, Kansas State and Baylor, though it should be noted that all three of those games occurred away from Stillwater.
SEASON PREDICTION
Oklahoma State started off last season by nearly shocking Florida State in Arlington, and from there, it won five games in a row.
Once the club was beaten 42-9 at TCU though, it all went downhill from there, and only an upset in the Bedlam Rivalry over Oklahoma sent it to a bowl game.
Sure, some momentum was really built up from there by beating Washington in the team's bowl game, but we just aren't all that sure that that is going to continue.
In fact, we see the same sort of script happening this year. The Cowboys will start 3-0, and they could legitimately be 7-1 by the time November rolls around, but we aren't all that sure there's another win on the schedule after that.
We would prefer the under seven wins just because of the vig, and we know that Garman is capable of losing any game which he plays.
You'll find better things to do with your money than to invest in the Cowboys at 100 to 1 to win the National Championship or 7 to 1 to win the Big XII.
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