Oklahoma State vs BYU Odds, Pick: Back This Trend

The upcoming Big 12 matchup between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the BYU Cougars is a tale of two vastly different teams, which explains the large point spread.

This game pits BYU's aggressive offense against Oklahoma State's mid-tier defense, creating a scenario that beckons a deeper look into their seasonal performances as we look to glean insights for potential betting angles.

The Cowboys have had a season of ups and downs, but mostly downs. Their offense ranks 114th in adjusted efficiency and 132nd in effective field goal percentage. Their struggle with turnovers (295th) highlights a significant challenge in maintaining possession and maximizing scoring opportunities.

Additionally, their offensive rebounding and free-throw rates have been less than stellar, ranking 222nd and 129th, respectively. Those challenges have caused the Cowboys to fail to remain competitive in their matchups.

Defensively, the Cowboys have fared about the same, holding a mid-range position at 122nd in adjusted efficiency. Their defensive strategy has struggled somewhat to contain opponents' effective field goal percentage (211th) and force turnovers (177th).

However, their relative strength in limiting opponents' free-throw opportunities (50th) showcases their ability to play disciplined defense without conceding easy points at the line.

BYU's offense has been a force to reckon with this season, ranking 13th in adjusted efficiency, thanks in part to some sharpshooting that places them 23rd in effective field-goal percentage. Their proficiency in maintaining possession (66th in turnover percentage), combined with a strong presence on the boards (45th in offensive rebounding), has made them a formidable opponent.

Despite a surprisingly low free-throw rate (352nd), their efficiency when they do get to the line (128th in free-throw percentage) shows that they capitalize on scoring opportunities when they occur.

Defensively, the Cougars rank 45th in adjusted efficiency and a commendable 50th in effective field goal percentage allowed. While their ability to force turnovers hasn't been a standout (244th), their rebounding prowess on the defensive end (22nd) limits second-chance points, a critical factor in their defensive strategy.

Given the statistical analysis, the best bet for this matchup seems to be taking BYU to cover the -13.5. With BYU's offensive efficiency, Oklahoma State's mediocre defense likely doesn't have enough potential to disrupt BYU's rhythm. As such, it'll be tough for the Cowboys to keep this game close.

Additionally, this game is at BYU and that home-court advantage will make it even tougher on Oklahoma State.

Take the Cougars to cover the spread and come away with a dominant home victory. After all, BYU is 15-2 straight up and 12-5 against the spread at home this season.

Pick: BYU -13.5