Kickoff: 3 PM CT
Location: TDECU Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Television: ESPN
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
Just one week after a highlight of a win over the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys laid a real goose egg last weekend as they were embarrassed by the UCF Knights 45-3 in Orlando. It was a rainy day, and the Cowboys came into the game without much of a game plan, it appeared, as they were unable to get anything done. The Knights dominated from the first snap of the game, and Oklahoma State looked shell-shocked.
Even after the loss, the Cowboys still have a pretty solid chance at making the Big 12 Championship as long as they take care of business. Today they are in Houston as they prepare to take on the Cougars. Houston has been pretty bad this season, and they are fresh off a loss to Cincinnati, who hadn’t won a conference game all season long.
Regardless of records and statistics, the Cowboys have to come in today with a renewed focus and energy so they can get back on track in a season that should already be viewed as a success.
How the Cowboys Win
Oklahoma State is going to have to play a lot cleaner game than they did last weekend, and considering the weather should be much better, there’s a good chance of that happening. The Cougars are pretty bad on both sides of the ball, and the Cowboys need to get into an offensive flow early. When you have American’s best running back, it might be a good idea to get it to him early and often. Ollie Gordon needs to start off strong, which would give Alan Bowman an opportunity to do some damage through the air. Above all, take care of the ball, and the Cowboys should come away with a win.
How the Cougars Win
Houston is not very good, plain and simple. Their best chance at winning this one is making the game ugly by forcing some turnovers. If the Cougars can win the turnover battle, they’ll have a chance at getting a win over the Cowboys.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Craig | 33-25 Oklahoma State |
| Matt | 32-25 Oklahoma State |
| Zack | 35-24 Oklahoma State |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Give the Cowboys at least eight wins for the 13th time in Mike Gundy’s tenure as head coach.
- Give the Cowboys wins in six of its past seven games.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 101-63, moving him closer to matching Bill Snyder’s
104 wins for the second most in the history of the conference. - Improve OSU’s record against Houston to 10-10-1 and its record against Houston on the road to 5-5-1.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Houston to 2-2.
- Make the Cowboys 29-11 in its past 40 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
- Make the Cowboys 9-7 in its past 16 road games.
- Make the Cowboys 155-73 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
- Make the Cowboys 142-44 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
- Make the Cowboys 92-24 in its past 116 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in six of the past seven games.
- Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 270 yards in two of the past four games.
- OSU has forced 14 turnovers and surrendered nine turnovers in the past six games.
- OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in four of its past six games.
- OSU has held 34 of its past 40 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
- OSU has won 85 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. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, the streak begins at the same date and includes 92 games.
- The Cowboy defense has produced a shutout half in two games this season.
- OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 37 of its past 54 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 44 of its past 48 games.
- OSU is 37-16 in its past 53 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 48-8 in its past 56 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 48-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 79-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won three of its past five overtime games.
- Over the past 46 games, OSU has held opponents to 219-for-716 (30.6%) on third down.
- OSU has held its opponents to just 3-of-20 on fourth down attempts this season – the No. 2 percentage in the nation.