The Oklahoma State Cowboys have been consistently better than the Texas Longhorns the past few years. They have sometimes been better than the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 standings, though OU has had the Cowboys’ number in most seasons and has won the last two Big 12 titles. One can make a case that Oklahoma State has been the most consistent Big 12 program this decade. The Cowboys always seem to be in the thick of the Big 12 title chase in late November. Will that change this season?
How Did They End 2016
The Cowboys played archrival Oklahoma for the 2016 Big 12 championship. This was not an official “Big 12 Championship Game,” because it was played on a campus site in Norman. The Big 12 once had a neutral-site conference championship game from 1996 through 2010, but it discontinued it when the league was reduced in size from 12 teams to 10 by the departures of Nebraska (to the Big Ten) and Missouri (to the SEC). Now, though, the Big 12 – perceiving the need to give its conference champion an extra quality win in the hope of making the College Football Playoff more often – has reinstituted the Big 12 title game on a neutral field. Therefore, what happened at the end of 2016, with OSU and Oklahoma playing for the conference title, will not happen in 2017 – not at a campus site. Oklahoma State could never get going on offense, and as a result, the Sooners were able to storm to a quick lead and steadily hold off the Cowboys. OSU’s whole season was a study in overachievement. The Cowboys knocked off West Virginia when the Mountaineers were unbeaten. Yet, the loss to Oklahoma put a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. The Alamo Bowl blowout win over Colorado did restore some of the satisfaction created by the season.
Offseason Changes
The Cowboys lost running back Chris Carson, whose value lay in the fact that he backed up Justice Hill ad kept Hill fresh over the course of the season. Jhajuan Seales was a wide receiver who took a defense’s attention away from star receiver James Washington, dividing the field and making it harder for secondaries to devote all their resources to Washington. A few components here and there will cut into Oklahoma State’s offensive depth, but the front-line starters are excellent. The ability of OSU to avoid injuries will be critical this season, more than in other seasons, because the depth is more of a concern than it was in the past.
Team X-Factor
The Cowboys play in a pass-happy, high-octane Big 12 where points are scored in bunches. In this context, it is highly concerning that OSU must replace four of its top six defensive backs from a year ago. Oklahoma State is in position to be the team that’s impossible to stop but very easy to score on.
What To Expect From The Cowboys This Year
When a team has a tremendous offense and a horrible defense, the ability of the offense to get the job done will usually save the day – at least if the star players are veterans, as is the case with OSU quarterback Mason Rudolph and veteran receiver James Washington, not to mention Justice Hill in the backfield. However, the weaknesses on defense will probably be just enough to cost the Cowboys the Big 12 title.
Record Last 5 Seasons
2016: 10-3
2015: 10-3
2014: 7-6
2013: 10-3
2012: 8-5
Schedule & Outlook
The Pokes have a very easy start to the schedule. Assuming they can win at Pittsburgh, at home to TCU and at Texas Tech – all reasonable projections – this team be 6-0 to star the season. Things get challenging from there as they have three road games in their next four – including road trips to West Virginia and Texas – followed by a home game against the Sooners. However, getting the Sooners at home is a big boost.
The Big 12 involves a complete schedule – every team in the league plays everyone else. Oklahoma State should be good for seven Big 12 wins, but if the Pokes don’t get number eight – which is likely going to need to come against Oklahoma – they won’t win the Big 12. A 10-2 record is great, but it might not be enough to win the conference.
Regular Season Win Total Prediction: Over 9
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