BYU vs. Oklahoma State: Preview, Prediction, and Game Odds
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the matchup between the BYU Cougars and the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
GAME INFO
Saturday, November 25; 2:30 p.m. CT; Boone Pickens Stadium; Stillwater, OK
TV: ABC
Radio: BYU Radio (Greg Wrubell, Hans Olsen, Mitchell Juergens); Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb, and Robert Allen)
Records: BYU 5-6 (2-6); Oklahoma State 6-2 (4-1)
Last Week: Oklahoma 31, BYU 24; Oklahoma State 43, Houston 30
Rankings: Oklahoma State No. 23 (CFP); BYU not ranked
Series History: Oklahoma State leads, 2-0-0
Last Meeting: Oklahoma State 49, BYU 21 (1976)
Line: Oklahoma State (-17.0)
Fun Fact: Oklahoma State and BYU have played twice in their history, and both matchups came in a three-year span in bowl matchups. In 1974, the Cowboys and Cougars met in the Fiesta Bowl, a 16-6 win for Oklahoma State in Tempe, Arizona. The second meeting, in 1976, came in the Tangerine Bowl, a 49-21 win for OSU in Orlando, Florida.
KEY PLAYERS
BYU Cougars
RB Aidan Robbins
Last week against Oklahoma, BYU running back Aidan Robbins turned in his best game of the season with 182 yards on 22 carries. For much of the season, BYU had struggled to get the ground game going but seemed to find space against the Sooners, who’ve been better than average against the run. After finding success with the read option and speed option, among other things, I’d expect more of the same this weekend in Stillwater.
DL Tyler Batty
The best disruptor on BYU’s entire defense, Tyler Batty is going to have to make big plays against the Oklahoma State Cowboys if BYU is going to find its way to a bowl game. With 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery on the year, Batty has shown flashes and needs to show it consistently to keep OSU quarterback Alan Bowman from getting into a rhythm with the play-action pass.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
RB Ollie Gordon
The NCAA’s leading rusher through 12 weeks, Ollie Gordon has been on quite a tear with a nation-leading 1,414 yards on the ground. Gordon also leads the FBS in nearly every other major rushing category, rushing yards per game (128.5), 200-yard rushing games (2), and carries of at least 20 yards (18), 30 yards (14), 40 yards (7) and 70 yards (2). Against BYU, the Cowboys are going to do exactly what they’ve done all season long: hand the ball to Gordon and let him work.
LB Nickolas Martin
The Big 12’s leading tackler with 112 stops on the year, Nickolas Martin has become a do-it-all linebacker for Oklahoma State in just his sophomore year. Martin also leads Oklahoma State in sacks (6.0) and tackles for loss (14.5), ranking seventh in the Big 12 in sacks and third in the league in TFLs. After BYU’s offense found a rhythm against OU last week. it’ll be up to Nickolas Martin to make sure that doesn’t continue on Saturday.
KEY STORYLINES
BYU Cougars
Can BYU replicate its offensive success against Oklahoma on the road? BYU is 4-2 at home and just 1-4 on the road this season, its lone win coming against Arkansas early in the year. The Cougars must win this game, if they hope to get to a bowl game, and will come into the contest as more than two touchdown underdogs. Stillwater has been a tough place for teams to come and have success, but we have seen this Oklahoma State team fail to show up a few times this season. If BYU can bring it a game and Oklahoma State looks like the team it did against UCF or South Alabama, the Cougars can throw the big 12 race into pandemonium.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State’s offense has run exclusively through Ollie Gordon throughout conference play, and to this point, nobody outside of UCF has been able to slow him down. BYU’s defense allows 177.3 yards per game on the ground, good for 12th in the Big 12. If Gordon can chew up yards on the ground and help the Pokes control the clock, this should be a fairly easy win for the Cowboys. However, if BYU can find a way to limit his success and force Alan Bowman to win the game with his arm, there’s a chance BYU can hang around. BYU ranks third in the Big 12 with 12 interceptions on the year, and its secondary is good enough to challenge OSU’s passing game.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 34, BYU 27
Given what is on the line in this game for both teams, I expect it to be closer than the line shows and for both teams to leave everything they have on the field. With that being said, Oklahoma State is just too potent on the ground for BYU to keep up with, and that will allow the Cowboys to control the pace of this game. Ollie Gordon will cap off his amazing regular season with yet another game over 150 yards on the ground and Oklahoma State will clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship with the win.
