Before we lay down the pick, gotta give you some numbers from last season when Oklahoma State beat BYU in Stillwater, 40-34 in double-overtime. The visiting Cougars took a 24-6 lead into halftime, but took their foot off the gas, allowing the Cowboys to come back and tie the game at the end of regulation. Both teams scored in the 1st OT but the 'Y' didn't score in the second and flew back to Utah with a big fat L.
This time around, FanDuel has the BYU as the 9.5-point favorites with the total settling in at 54.5 with the OVER juiced slightly at -115.
Oklahoma St. vs BYU odds
Oklahoma State vs BYU Matchup, 10:15 pm ET
Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Totals |
---|---|---|---|
Oklahoma State Cowboys | +9.5 (-108) | +255 | O54.5 (-115) |
BYU Cougars | -9.5 (-112) | -320 | U54.5 (-105) |
Odds as of Oct. 15 at FanDuel
Oklahoma State vs BYU picks -- Week 8
BYU -9.5 (-112) at FanDuel
Okay, be honest and tell me if anyone of my millions out there, ANY ONE, had BYU at 6-0 straight up and 6-0 against the spread to start the 2024 season? ANY ONE? If you did, I am now bowing from the waist and need your Venmo information. Always have room in my office for a talented intern.
So, where does the SIX & OH come from? Start with the Cougars second year QB Jake Retzlaff. The kid played junior college ball with the Golden West Rustlers and the Riverside Tigers and was the No. 1-rated junior college QB in the country. Why? How about 67 TDs and just 19 INTs in two years.
His first season in Provo was kinda yuck. He played four games and BYU lost 'em all. This season, he is PERFECT. He has doubled his air yardage in just six games, and his completion percentage has gone up 10 points (50.4 to 60.3). He played against Oklahoma State last season and was on the losing end of the 40-34 score, but note that the game was AT Stillwater.
Not sure what's happening at Oklahoma State, but it's UGLY. Last season, RB Ollie Gordon led the nation in rushing yards with 1,732 and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. This season, Ollie has been limited to only 383 yards on an average of 3.8 yards per carry. YUGE problem. And the QB, Alan Bowman, has also been on a downward spiral. Okie State was 3-0 to open the season with Bowman slinging TDs all over the field. However, the last three games, he has more INTs (six) than TDs (four), which is he was benched twice in the last three games. As a result, the Cowboys are turning to Garret Rangel to make his first career start Friday night.
Rangel has appeared in three games this season completing 45.8% of his his 24 pass attempts for 141 yards and one touchdown -- but hey, he hasn't thrown a pick.
If you're into comparative scores, check this out. BYU rocked a very good Kansas State team 38-9 in Provo, while the Cowboys lost to K-State 42-20 in Manhattan. Also note that the Cougars have been RIDONKULOUS at home so far, outscoring the opposition 120-41.
Not sure if it's an omen, or a portend of things to come, but State head coach Mike Gundy was head-butted by a cow on his farm this week, and is sporting a gorgeous black eye. From this keyboard, we have never been impressed with Gundy's coaching decisions, and now he says, "I’ve got a bad eye, but more importantly, it’s full of blood and I get dizzy, so it’s not easy to be upright and be in a normal function." UH OH!
As we mentioned, revenge is on the table in Utah after last seasons' 40-34 double-OT loss. Laying 9.5 is a big ask, but these Cougars have their claws out at home every game so we'll throw handful of chips at BYU.