The emergence of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in recent years has turned their match-up with the Oklahoma Sooners into something of national importance rather than just another game in the Bedlam rivalry. Oklahoma has an overwhelming 85-18-7 lead in the series, but Oklahoma State has been much more competitive as of late and last year’s game was the de facto conference title game. Will Oklahoma emerge victorious again this season or will Oklahoma State be able to re-capture the magic that lifted the Cowboys over the Sooners in Norman two years ago?
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Oklahoma State Cowboys +11.5
Oklahoma Sooners -11.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
The underdog has covered three of the last four between these two sides and has won outright twice as a double-digit underdog in that timeframe. Oklahoma State’s stunning victory over Oklahoma as a 21 point underdog two seasons ago still stings for the Sooners and is a loss Bob Stoops will want to avenge.
WHO TO WATCH
Mason Rudolph provided stability to the quarterback position for the first time in a few seasons in 2015 and put up solid numbers. He threw for 3770 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and led the Cowboys to a 10-0 record to start the year. However, Rudolph was barely able to step on the field against the Sooners for the meeting in Stillwater last season and Oklahoma State got demolished by 35 points as a result. He will be eager to show what he has against OU this time around.
There’s going to be a familiar name in the backfield for Oklahoma State in 2016. After backing up Christian McCaffrey at Stanford for the last couple seasons, Barry Sanders Jr. came to the Cowboys as a graduate transfer and will look to shine in his final season. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry last year and would be the starter for most teams in the country and Oklahoma State is fortunate to have him.
The Sooners gashed Oklahoma State on the ground last season and will try to do that again in this one. Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine were unstoppable and carried the ball 31 times for 269 yards and four touchdowns between them. Each had a run of over 65 yards and showcased their talents against an outmatched defense. Even Baker Mayfield got in on the act, rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown to add insult to injury for Mike Gundy’s boys.
Jordan Thomas was a Second Team All-Big 12 cornerback in 2015 and had his best game of the season against Oklahoma State. Thomas picked off both Rudolph and JW Walsh and took one of his interceptions all the way to the house for six. He will be matched up with superstar James Washington and if he can limit Washington, the Sooners will have a great chance to get the win.
LIVE BETTING
These two teams both have plenty of offensive firepower and questions on defense, so the over should be a good play. Each of the last four meetings of Bedlam have went over the total and the least amount of points the winning team has scored this decade was 33.
QUICK PICK
This series has produced some very memorable games and surprising results recently, but this one shouldn’t be a shocker. Oklahoma State is talented, but Oklahoma is on a different level than anyone else in the conference and barring injuries shouldn’t drop more than a game in Big 12 play. The Sooners should get a big win on the way to another conference crown this year.
College Football Odds: Oklahoma 44, Oklahoma State 20
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