Kickoff: 2:30 PM CT
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium (Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Television: FS1
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live-tweets during the game
The no. 7 Oklahoma State Cowboys are in the driver seat as favorites to win the Big 12, but the season is really just now getting started. After a big win last weekend in Waco over the Baylor Bears, the Cowboys now play host to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Despite their two losses, Texas Tech should not be overlooked. They tout one of the best offenses in the country so far this season, particularly at throwing the ball. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is aware of the challenge that his secondary is facing. “This will be a different challenge this week,” said Gundy. “This team is throwing it 60-ish times a game. It’s a different look for our defense.”
On the flip side of things, the Cowboys have a pretty solid offense as well, and they’re a bit more balanced. Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s defense is average at best, so I anticipate this one to a be a high-scoring affair.
How the Cowboys Can Win
Oklahoma State needs to enter this game with a similar mindset to the Baylor game last weekend, and that means controlling the tempo. Unlike Baylor, however, the Red Raiders lead the nation in plays per game at 92.8. The Cowboys cannot afford to let Texas Tech control the tempo, which means taking care of the ball on offense and trying to force turnovers on the defensive side. If Oklahoma State can win the turnover battle, I think they win this game easily.
How the Red Raiders Can Win
Texas Tech enters the game averaging 362.2 passing yards per game (4th in the NCAA). Meanwhile, the Cowboys give up an astounding 285.2 passing yards per game (122nd in the NCAA). If the Red Raiders can break loose for a couple of big plays, then Oklahoma State could find themselves on the wrong side of this one.
Staff Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Craig | 35-23 Oklahoma State |
| Matt | 41-29 Oklahoma State |
| Zack | 45-27 Oklahoma State |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Make the Cowboys 5-0 for the second straight season and for the sixth time in the Mike Gundy era.
- Improve the school-record home winning streak to 12 games.
- Improve their regular season conference winning streak to seven games, matching the third-longest streak in school history and the longest since the seven-game streak from Oct. 1 – Nov. 19, 2016.
- Improve their record against Texas Tech to 24-23-3 and their record against TTU in Stillwater to 14-8.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Texas Tech to 14-4.
- Make the Cowboys 19-2 in its past 21 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season. It would mark the third time in school history that OSU has won at least 19 games in a 21-game stretch.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- OSU has won a school-record 11 consecutive home games.
- OSU has held nine of its past 16 opponents under 100 yards rushing.
- OSU has held 20 consecutive opponents under 200 yards rushing.
- OSU has held 23 of its past 25 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
- OSU has won 81 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active stretch of time in the FBS and longest since at least 1980.
- OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 26 of its past 35 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 28 of its past 29 games.
- OSU is 32-12 in its past 44 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 43-6 in its past 49 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016. Dating back to 2005, OSU is 44-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 71-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won three of its past four overtime games.
- OSU has forced 33 turnovers in its past 22 games.
- Over the past 29 games, OSU has held opponents to 118-for-432 (27.3%) on third down.