Kickoff: 11 AM CT
Location: Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium
Television: ESPN2
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
After surviving with a 39-31 double overtime victory last weekend, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are focused on their first road game of the season as they travel close to home to take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Tulsa is 1-1 after dropping a 28-24 decision to Arkansas State last weekend.
The Cowboys enter the game as a 17.5-point favorite, but they have plenty of areas that need work based on last week’s matchup with the Razorbacks. Oklahoma State did a great job of capitalizing on Arkansas mistakes, and the Cowboys need to do some of that today in order to interrupt Tulsa’s offense.
Tulsa quarterback Kirk Francis opened up the season with a big day against Northwestern State, tossing 4 touchdowns and 299 yards through the air, but he struggled a bit last week, completing just 16-of-28 passes for 199 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. As for the ground game, the Golden Hurricane have had a host of runners through the first two games with 3 different running backs totaling at least 11 carries so far. Overall, the offense is pretty balanced.
Defensively, Tulsa has given up 28 points each week through two games, but the Cowboys hope to score even more than that. The Golden Hurricane has a knack for giving up big plays on defense and particularly special teams. In each game so far they have allowed a return of some sort for a touchdown.
While an inter-state rivalry should never be overlooked, Oklahoma State should come away with an easy win as long as they take care of business from the start. No need for another week of a second half comeback.
How the Cowboys Win
Oklahoma State should win this game outright by simply taking care of business and doing what they do. Ollie Gordon II needs the ball early and often, and Alan Bowman needs to make easy, efficient decisions with his passes. Defensively, the Cowboys need to avoid giving up any of those big plays that they gave to Arkansas last week. It’s not going to take a bunch of forced turnovers or a defensive/special teams touchdown to win this game, but it might be necessary if the Cowboys want to cover the spread.
How the Golden Hurricane Win
Tulsa is likely going to need a lot of help to pull off the upset, and the best way to do that is by forcing turnovers. If they can get pressure in the backfield by slowing down Ollie Gordon and hurrying up Alan Bowman, perhaps they can force some mistakes and flip those into points. I don’t see them getting a win any other way.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Staff | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Caleb | 45-17 Oklahoma State |
| Craig | 40-20 Oklahoma State |
| Matt | 38-27 Oklahoma State |
| Zack | 37-17 Oklahoma State |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Make the Cowboys 3-0 for the seventh time in the past eight years and for the 14th time in the Mike Gundy era.
- Give the Cowboys wins in 11 of its past 13 games.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in September games to 58-14.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in non-conference games to 67-16.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against teams not currently in Power 4 conferences to 47-3.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against current members of the American Athletic Conference to 14-0.
- Improve OSU’s all-time record against Tulsa to 45-27-5 and its record at Tulsa to 17-21-2.
- Mark OSU’s 10th straight over Tulsa and its 14th win in the past 16 meetings with TU.
- Make the Cowboys 28-5 in its past 33 non-conference games and 50-11 in its past 61 non-conference games.
- Make the Cowboys 34-12 in its past 46 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 of the past 13 games.
- OSU is 12-0 in the past 12 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
- OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in eight of its past 12 games.
- OSU has held 34 of its past 43 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 93 games.
- OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 42 of its past 60 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 48 of its past 54 games.
- OSU is 40-16 in its past 56 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 50-8 in its past 58 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 49-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 82-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.
- Over the past 51 games, OSU has held opponents to 254-for-801 (31.7%) on third down