Big 12 Over and Under Numbers Out, Oklahoma State Right Where We Predicted
STILLWATER – There is no doubt that the folks in the desert, in this case, Las Vegas, know a lot about professional and college sports. If they didn’t how could you explain all those fance hotels, casinos, and mini arenas that they’ve built and the acts and expense they put into the show that is Las Vegas? They don’t know everything. I have no doubt that folks at various sports books and internet gambling outfits have made phone calls and tried to lock in on how spring practice went across the landscape of Division I and, in particular, Power Five college football. I’m willing to bet that Oklahoma State is one of the schools that Vegas may know the least about. I said after the vision of the end of the 2022 season that Las Vegas would have the over/under number on wins for Oklahoma State in 2023 at 6-to-6.5. The money line odds on the Cowboys and all other Big 12 schools and more came out last week and they further pointed to my prediction being spot on.
Hey, no complaints here. Head coach Mike Gundy does a good job of keeping his practices in the spring under wraps inside the Sherman Smith Training Center and with few witnesses. There were former players, recruits, parents, media for the first 30 minutes each Monday. However, the lengthy 11-vs-11 team periods with first, second, and third teams getting loads of reps had fewer witnesses and we’re always conducted with doors closed. Pokes Reports readers may have a feel for how the Cowboys came out of spring from our series here. However, no formation, play construction, fronts, covers, blitzes, stunts or anything close is included.
This does remind me some of when Mike Yurcich came in and everybody was curious what offense he would run. Gundy has made it clear since hiring new defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo that he was looking for the odd-man front 3-3-5 and keeping some four-man material to make up his defense. Gundy and offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and players did speak of using more gap scheme (counters, pin and pull, and cross blocking concepts.
Then there is always how the injured players returning, the incoming transfer portal players, and the new freshmen look in spring and how prepared they are to contribute at what degree? Lots of questions and without even a spring game, little to go on for answers.
Draft Kings came out first with their over/under numbers for college football including the Big 12 and Oklahoma State was right where we projected at 6.5.
Here are the Big 12 over/under win totals for the 2023 season and our thoughts.
| School | Draft Kings Over/Under Number | Our Thoughts |
| Texas | 9.5 | Remember, Texas has to go to Alabama in the non conference, but that looks winnable now. If, and that is always a big if with Texas, they play to their talent. I see them at 9-10 wins. |
| Oklahoma | 9.5 | Oklahoma’s spring game was just ok, but more important than that has been the portal activity and what they’ve added tells me they have some hole. Not buying 9.5. |
| Kansas State | 8.5 | New raise and contract extension fro Chris Klieman and the schedule shows this is doable. They must beat Missouri and go 3-0 in non conference. |
| Texas Tech | 7.5 | They have Oregon in non conference in Lubbock. They finish at Texas. Games at Baylor, Kansas State, at BYU in a row, in the middle of the schedule will decide. |
| TCU | 7.5 | Defending 12-0 regular season finisher in the Big 12 last season lost plenty. Final four games are at Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor, and at Oklahoma. |
| Baylor | 7.5 | This one really doesn’t make much sense to me. Baylor lost a lot including nose Siaka Ika. Non conference includes a visit from Utah but the conference schedule is manageable. |
| Oklahoma State | 6.5 | I don’t gamble on college sports and I don’t endorse it, but I believe Oklahoma State is better than Vegas thinks. I also like the schedule a lot. The last five games are OU at home Nov. 5 and the four new schools. |
| UCF | 6.5 | I think the Knights are the most talented of the new schools and Gus Malzahn has plemty of Power 5 experience. The schedule is more than fair. |
| Kansas | 6.5 | Big jump as this number was 1.5-to-2 last season and Kansas was clear of both by week three. Illinois at home in the non conference is critical. KU is at Texas and at OSU. |
| BYU | 6.0 | Last non conference game at Arkansas and first Big 12 game at Kansas will speak loudly. Later they are at TCU, at Texasm and at Oklahoma State. |
| Iowa State | 5.5 | Two years ago, Iowa State was the popular pick in the Big 12. Conference schedule is rough with dates at OSU, at OU, at Baylor, and at Kansas State. TCU and Texas come to Ames. |
| West Virginia | 4.5 | The Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown needs a lot better than 4.5 wins this season. WVU starts with a double dip in non conference of Penn State and Pitt. They avoid favorite Texas but still play Tech, TCU, OSU, OU, all the new teams and finish at Baylor. Who did they tick off? |
| Houston | 4.5 | Dana Holgorsen knows all these teams, new and old. He knows how tough this league is. He knows he wishes he had his 2020 Cougars team. That team went 12-2 and beat Auburn in a bowl game. |
| Cincinnati | 4.5 | I think the Bearcats have a chance to go 3-0 in non conference, which means winning at Pittsburgh, then win a couple at home with OU, Iowa State, Baylor, UCF, and Kansas. |
Oklahoma State still needs to improve on the offensive line. They were improved in spring and need to get even better. The skill players were all performing well, especially the last two weeks. Yes, a new defensive coordinator and new tricks to learn for “old/young” defensive stalwarts like Collin Oliver at linebacker and Kendal Daniels to “rover” safety.
Honestly, I think Oklahoma State over and Oklahoma under are my two best bets. I know that skeptical Oklahoma State fans and Oklahoma fans that hate Robert Allen will say sure those are his two best bets. Sorry, they are and I will be here at the end of the season for a good old fashioned session of “I told you so” or to be picked on and ridiculed by the masses.
Now, for some fun, lets check out a few of the other conferences and the over/under numbers placed on teams in those leagues. I’ll start with this one: Colorado and Coach Deion “Prime” Sanders and the 61 players from CU that went into the portal and the 26 that have come out of the portal and landed at Colorado. The over/under is 3.0.
| School | Conference | Draft Kings Over/Under Number |
| Arizona State | Pac-12 (OSU plays them in Tempe Sept.9) | 5.0 |
| Alabama | SEC (Host Texas Sept. 9) | 10.5 |
| Georgia | SEC (2-time defending CFP Champ) | 11.5 |
| Michigan and Ohio State | Big Ten | 10.5 |
| Florida State | ACC | 10.0 |
| Clemson | ACC | 9.5 |
| Pittsburgh | ACC (They play WVU and Cincinnati) | 6.5 |
| Arkansas | SEC | 7.5 |
| Southern Cal | Pac-12 | 9.5 |
| Oregon | Pac-12 (They play at Texas Tech) | 9.5 |
Plenty of opportunity to discuss and debate, and insn’t that what the summer is for?