An offensive explosion is expected between these two teams and it should be fun for both those in attendance and the fans watching on television from home. Tulsa had an impressive year in 2016 but is still the small-school program in this matchup. Oklahoma State is from the bigger conference and has the better collection of talent. Add in home field advantage and it’s easy to understand why the Cowboys are favored in this matchup.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 1 game is set for Thursday, August 31, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Boone Pickens Stadium.
NFL Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Tulsa +17
Oklahoma State -17
Over/Under 72
Odds Analysis
Oklahoma State is the large home favorite and 70 percent of the early action has picked the Cowboys to cover. The scoring total is the highest among any of the games on the day, and yet that hasn’t discouraged bettors, who are banging the over at a 70 percent clip.
Tulsa is a +733 underdog on the moneyline and would pay off handsomely if it can manage to pull off the upset. Oklahoma State is listed as a -1150 favorite, so the downside is a little scary for those not ultra-confident that the Cowboys will have no problem taking care of business at home.
Key Stat
324. That’s how many passing yards per game Oklahoma State averaged last season, which was a big reason for its big-time offensive production. Quarterback Mason Rudolph is back after throwing for 4,091 yards with 28 touchdowns against only four interceptions a season ago.
He has top receiver James Washington back in the fold. Rudolph hit Washington with 71 passes for 1,380 yards and ten touchdowns a season ago and the two will aim to light it up again. Tulsa has a decent team but it is going to be hard-pressed to slow down this duo.
Player to Watch
Chad President -- The Golden Hurricane lost star signal-caller Dane Evans to graduation. He threw for 3,348 yards with 32 touchdowns against 12 interceptions a year ago to help Tulsa reach double-digit wins. Evans was a three-year starter who also saw time as a freshman, and replacing all of that experience will be tough.
Enter President, who seems likely to grab a hold of the starting job. He is a third-year sophomore with a pretty big arm who has gotten a little bit of experience the past two seasons. He is hoping to beat out redshirt freshman Luke Skipper, who was a dual-threat star in high school.
Whichever quarterback is under center, he will be tasked with keeping a high-octane offense rolling. The Golden Hurricane should have a solid offensive line, and that will help, but it’s a tough task.
Free ATS Pick
Tulsa might improve as the year goes on, but bringing a new quarterback into this environment right away is tough. Unless Tulsa has another star-in-the-waiting, this one shouldn’t be too close. However, the Golden Hurricane should make enough big plays to hang around enough to cover the spread.
A late touchdown won’t matter to the final result but it will change the tune of the bettors.
College Football Odds: Oklahoma State 41, Tulsa 27
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