The college football regular season comes to an end with rivalry week, and one of the top matchups of the final weekend will be Bedlam, which matches a pair of Top 10 teams in Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. With the Sooners headed to the SEC, the future of this game is in doubt, so both teams will be looking to post a win in what might be one of the last few meetings. Which way to lean at BMR’s best sportsbooks?
Saturday, November 27, 2021 – 07:30 PM EST at Boone Pickens Stadium
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State may be playing part one of a two-week Bedlam special. The two teams are tied atop the Big 12 with twin 7-1 conference records.
OSU has already clinched a spot in next week’s Big 12 Championship Game, and the Sooners are the likely opponent, although Baylor, one game back in the standings, could knock Oklahoma out of the game if OSU wins.
The Sooners have won the last six Bedlam games, and, with both teams 10-1, this is the most combined wins Oklahoma and OSU have produced heading into the game in the history of the series.
A key for Oklahoma will be keeping its offense on the field. The Sooners have lost the time of possession battle in each of the last four games, and in the past week, the margins were particularly lopsided.
Baylor had the ball 35 minutes to 24 and change for Oklahoma, and Iowa State had the ball more than 38 minutes, a near 17-minute edge. The Sooners converted just 3 of 19 third downs over the last two games which kept the offense from sustaining drives.
Oklahoma’s offense has its work cut out for it, against the nation’s top ranked team in third-down defense. The Cowboys have allowed opponents to convert just 24.5 percent of third down attempts this season. Oklahoma State is also No. 2 in scoring defense and ranks in the top 10 in rushing, passing and total defense.
“I don’t know what else to say about the defense,” Gundy said. “I’m kind of running out of things to say about them on Saturdays. Hopefully they can just stay the course.”
The defense appears to be peaking in the stretch run. In the current four-game winning streak, Oklahoma State has allowed one offensive touchdown and an average of 5.75 ppg, outscoring opponents 165-23. That margin ranks best in all of football, as does the points allowed. OSU also leads the nation in sacks and tackles for loss.
The offense has also been producing. In conference games, Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 in total offense and rushing and is No. 3 in scoring. Over the last four weeks, the Cowboys have produced more than 480 yards a game and scored more than 41 points.
The Cowboys are battled tested, with three wins over ranked opponents this year and five against FPI top-50 foes, by an average margin of more than 12 points.
The Sooners have faced their two toughest defenses of the season the past two weeks, and the offense has struggled. Oklahoma State presents an even stiffer test.
For your NCAAF picks, look for the Cowboys to control the ball on the ground, keep the Sooners off the field and win the time of possession battle on their way to taking Bedlam. With that said, lean on their NCAAF odds at one of our top-rated sportsbooks.
NCAAF Pick: Oklahoma State -3.5 (-118) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.