Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State Odds, Pick for Saturday

Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened. The Bedlam rivalry is over as we know it, with Oklahoma moving to the SEC next season and Oklahoma State remaining in the Big 12.

While Oklahoma is significantly better on paper, it could be a closer battle than most would think.

Oklahoma knows how it wants to play and win. In the first meeting against Oklahoma State, the Sooners snagged a four-point home win. Oklahoma shot the ball far better but sent Oklahoma State to the foul line 28 times.

Coach Porter Moser has preferred his team being more defensive focused, and he's found that style in Norman. Oklahoma ranks 24th in defensive efficiency and defends the 3-point shoot at an elite level, with opponents shooting just 28%. Teams won't find any easy baskets against the steady Sooners defense.

On the offensive end, things don't come as smoothly. A pair of talented guards in Javian McCollum and Otega Oweh dictate Oklahoma's offensive success. McCollum is a shifty guard with a lot of scoring and playmaking pop, while Oweh is a downhill driver.

Oklahoma State entered last week at 10-14 but has quickly turned into a tough squad after winning back-to-back games over Cincinnati and BYU.

Coach Mike Boynton faced a tough task between the team's youthfulness and injuries, but the teams play is improving as pieces fall into place.

Javon Small is one of the top guards in the best conference in America. He flashes elite shooting ability while setting up teammates as a floor general. The Cowboys didn't make a ton of portal move, but Small is an all-conference caliber player.

The biggest difference in the Cowboys last two games is Jamyron Keller emerging into a suitable scoring option. Keller, a gifted freshman, is surging since Bryce Thompson suffered a season-ending injury, scoring 37 total points in the past two games. He should continue scoring as the coaches begin to trust him more and more. Having a secondary scorer next to Small is something Oklahoma State hasn't had all season until now.

Oklahoma State is very reliant on 3-point shooting, taking 44% of its shots from deep. The game sways in the Cowboys' favor if the shots fall, but it's a long road ahead if they shoot below 30% from 3. In the wins over Cincinnati and BYU, they connected on 40% or better from deep. That number is key.

There's a ton of value on the road Sooners, who enter play as 1.5-point favorites. KenPom tabs Oklahoma as four-point favorites, so perhaps the recent winning surge from the Cowboys has shifted the market's thoughts on Oklahoma State.

We can't forget how mediocre the Cowboys are when the perimeter shots don't fall, and Oklahoma owns the perimeter. I think we'll see a tight game, but I love the Sooners in this get-right spot.

Pick: Oklahoma +1.5 (Play to -2.5)