Kickoff: 3 PM CT
Location: Acrisure Bounce House (Orlando, Florida)
Television: ESPN+
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
The exhausting season that the Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-9) and fans have experienced is nearing the end, but before they play the finale in Stillwater next week, the Cowboys travel to Orlando, Florida, to take on the Central Florida Knights (4-6). While the Knights have had a challenging season themselves, it’s nowhere near what Oklahoma State has dealt with. Still, this might finally be the opportunity the Cowboys have been waiting for to get their first conference win in the last two seasons.
Like Oklahoma State, UCF has not had a great time in conference play, winning one game against the lowly West Virginia Mountaineers. They’re coming off a 48-9 thrashing by Texas Tech, and while the Knights have a pretty outside shot of getting bowl eligible with BYU on the schedule next week, they still want to take care of business in their home finale against the Cowboys. The Knights don’t have a great offense at all, but they have a solid defense, which will likely cause problems for the worst offense in the Big 12.
While there are still 2 games to be played, the season has been over for the Cowboys for a while now. This game still matters, though. Regardless of who leaves and who stays after the season, today is another step towards the future, and it would be nice if—win or lose—Oklahoma State put up a fight.
How the Cowboys Win
The key for Oklahoma State today is to keep the ball moving. Last week, the Cowboys did ALMOST enough to beat Kansas State, but they were unable to keep the ball moving in order to turn it into points. Too many mistakes in the form of turnovers deep into possessions left Oklahoma State with no points when there should have been at least a field goal, and in a close game, you just can’t have that. If the Cowboys can keep the ball moving without giving it away on busted plays, I think they might have a shot.
How the Knights Win
UCF has a pretty solid defense, so if they turn the Cowboys over, it could be over quickly. Still, the offense isn’t great, so the Knights are going to need to move the ball, which honestly shouldn’t be too hard against this Oklahoma State defense. UCF isn’t quite as big a favorite as recent Cowboy opponents, but they’re still obviously supposed to win this game. Play it clean and efficiently, and they should win.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Staff | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Caleb | UCF 27 – Oklahoma State 10 |
| Craig | UCF 28 – Oklahoma State 14 |
| Matt | UCF – Oklahoma State |
| Zack | UCF 24 – Oklahoma State 17 |
An Oklahoma State Win Would …
- Mark Doug Meacham’s first career win as a head coach.
- Improve OSU’s all-time record against UCF to 1-1.
- Improve OSU’s record against UCF in Orlando to 1-1.
- Make OSU 36-30 in the past 66 games overall, dating to 2020.
- Make OSU 99-35 in the past 134 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- Oklahoma State has not turned the ball over in four of its 10 games this season.
- Oklahoma State has converted 5 of its past 7 two-point conversion attempts dating to last season.
- OSU is 14-8 in the past 22 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 83-13 when winning the turnover battle.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 50-7 when not committing a turnover.
- OSU has held 37 of its past 59 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
- OSU has won 87 of its past 89 games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating
back to Sept. 13, 2003. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, OSU has
won 95 of its past 97. - OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third-down conversion rate in 58 of its past 72 games.
- OSU is 40-21 in its past 61 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 52-9 in its past 61 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.