Oklahoma State vs BYU Week 8 Picks: Bet Cougars on Oct 18, 2024
- We give you the best Oklahoma State vs BYU prediction for Oct. 18.
- Oklahoma State hits the road looking for its first Big 12 victory of the season.
- BYU is perfect for 2024, including a 3-0 record in conference play.
- Cougars in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Big 12 standings.
- Check the latest college football odds and make your bets on this game.
The No. 13 BYU Cougars have been a pleasant surprise this season, beginning with six straight wins and heading into Week 8 in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Big 12 standings. BYU will get a test on Friday night when the Oklahoma State Cowboys come to town desperate for their first conference win of the season.
The Cowboys have lost three in a row, and the last two haven’t been close. Meanwhile, the Cougars are on a roll, topping their last four opponents by double-digit margins and looking like a contender for the newly expanded College Football Playoff field.
BetUS Sportsbook has BYU as a 9½-point favorite at home in this one. If you bet on the moneyline, you can get the Cougars at -330 for a straight-up win, while the Cowboys are +270 to earn the upset victory. The total for this contest has been set at 53 points.
Let’s take a closer look at this contest to help you determine your college football picks today.
Oklahoma State vs BYU Game Information
- Game: Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12) vs BYU (6-0, 3-0)
- Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 18, 10:15 p.m. ET
- Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
- Oklahoma State vs BYU Live Stream: ESPN
Oklahoma State vs BYU Odds and Spread
Top 2 Factors to Consider When Betting Oklahoma State vs BYU
1. Cougars Getting Great Play From Retzlaff
He’s not currently listed among the betting favorites for the Heisman Trophy, but if BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff keeps leading his team to wins, he’ll be there soon enough. The junior is tied for third in the Big 12 with 14 touchdown passes, as he’s passed for 1,426 yards this season.
Retzlaff is also the Cougars’ leading rusher with 184 yards, though the team isn’t exactly dedicated to the ground game. It’s still a threat, though, with five different players scoring rushing touchdowns.
Still, it’s Retzlaff that has helped the Cougars be as effective offensively as they’ve been. He had 218 yards and two touchdown passes in BYU’s win over Arizona last week, the fourth straight game he’s thrown for multiple scores, helping the Cougars become bowl-eligible after they missed the postseason in 2023.
“It’s cool, but a bowl game is not what we want,” sophomore wide receiver Parker Kingston said. “We want to go to the playoff and we want to go to the national championship. That’s what we’re looking forward to, and not really settling on a bowl game this year.”
Kingston had a touchdown catch and a touchdown pass against the Wildcats, showing the versatility of the Cougars’ offense. Retzlaff allows that with his player and leadership, which is why the college football predictions favor the BYU Cougars in this one.
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2. Cowboys Struggling to Score
After putting up 42.6 points per game in three non-conference tilts, including 39 against SEC member Arkansas, Oklahoma State’s offense has struggled in Big 12 play. The Oklahoma State Cowboys have scored a total of 53 points in three losses against conference foes, managing just 227 total yards in a loss to West Virginia prior to last week’s bye.
Starting quarterback Alan Bowman had two interceptions before he was benched against the Mountaineers, with Garret Rangel replacing him. Coach Mike Gundy wasn’t sure at the time who his starter would be against the Cougars.
“We need to look and evaluate,” he told NCAA football news outlets. “I don’t want to make a decision and say something now and then it maybe not be true. But we’ll need to look and see where we’re at.”
Rangel, a sophomore, was 4-for-5 for 75 yards and a touchdown against West Virginia, but even a change at quarterback likely isn’t going to revitalize the Cowboys’ offense.
BYU is second in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing just 16.3 points per game, and just reaching that amount would be a win for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State’s lack of offensive punch is yet another reason you should be taking BYU when doing your online sports betting this week.
NCAAF Prediction: BYU Keeps Climbing the Rankings With a Win
The Cougars have playmakers on both sides of the ball, which is why they’re a legitimate contender for the Big 12 title this season. Head coach Kalani Sitake has his team playing with a ton of confidence, and both the offense and defense have been playing at a high level all season.
NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK 🤙@isaiahglasker 🤝 @MaxwellFootball pic.twitter.com/77eneIHECt
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 15, 2024
On the other side of the coin, Oklahoma State is in a bit of disarray. The Cowboys have not lived up to their preseason expectations, especially in conference play, and Gundy has to get his team back on track in a hurry.
That’s not a good state to be in heading on the road against a ranked team like the Cougars. It would be surprising if Oklahoma State can keep this one competitive for very long.
We like BYU to move to 7-0 with an easy victory led by Retzlaff. Put one of your college football bets on the Cougars to win and cover the 9½-point spread on Friday night.
Bet on BYU (-330) to win Against Oklahoma State
Question of the Day
What is the all-time series record between Oklahoma State and BYU?
The Cowboys have a perfect 3-0 record all-time against BYU, though last season’s win was a 40-34 double-overtime affair.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
