College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions for Texas vs. Oklahoma State (Saturday, Jan. 8)

Texas vs. Oklahoma State Odds

Saturday, Jan. 8

2 p.m. ET

CBS

Texas Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
-2.5 -115	128 -115o / -105u	-145

Oklahoma State Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
+2.5 -105	128 -115o / -105u	+125

Odds via PointsBet. Get up-to-the-minute college basketball odds here.

The Cowboys will look to wrangle in the surging Longhorns in this Big 12 matchup. These two teams enter this game trending in opposite directions, though a more profound look may reveal that this matchup could be closer than anticipated.

Chris Beard's Texas team is rolling into this showdown after cruising through the first two games of conference play. Those two victories only added to their win streak, which is now at six.

The Longhorns' run has been built on stifling defense and an offense that seems to have found its identity.

Oklahoma State is in the midst of a downward spiral, as it has lost four of its last five games. However, the Cowboys showed signs of life in their most recent matchup against the mighty Kansas Jayhawks.

The two teams were tied at the half, but ultimately, the Jayhawks' offense broke out while the Cowboys continued to struggle from the field.

Though they ultimately fell short, the Cowboys should gain confidence from their effort, and now, the Longhorns present a less potent offense.

Can the Cowboys get right and knock off the Longhorns? Let take a deeper look.

Longhorns Are on a Carr Ride

While winning does cure everything, there was an extended stretch where the Longhorns struggled to maintain consistency on the offensive end. With the start of conference play, those days seem long gone.

The big spark for the Texas offense has been the play of Marcus Carr. The senior transfer from Minnesota took a while to get going as he struggled with his shot.

However, he broke out of his slump against a rugged West Virginia defense, as he poured in 20 points while going 7-for-11 from the field. Carr followed up that performance with a 19-point effort against Kansas State.

Carr's breakout is exactly what this Texas team needed, as it now has a reliable guard to create a formidable trio (Carr, Timmy Allen and Tre Mitchell) on the offensive end.

While Texas has seems to have gotten right on offense, this matchup against Oklahoma State will be no walk in the park.

The Cowboys are currently 12th in adjusted defensive efficiency while having the size and length to match up well with the likes of Allen and Mitchell down low.

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Are the Cowboys Due to Bounce Back?

The offensive struggles for Oklahoma State are glaring, as it is 180th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 206th in effective field goal percentage. Those struggles have been amplified over the last two matchups (Kansas and Houston), as the Cowboys' leading scorers have been non-existent.

These numbers are flooring and cannot continue if Oklahoma State wants to have a chance against the Longhorns.

Avery Anderson III scored a combined 14 points while shooting 28% from the field and committing five turnovers in the last two games. Bryce Williams scored 24 points during the same stretch, but shot 15.7% against Houston and only put up seven points against Kansas.

These two both average double figures in scoring and have to be frustrated with their recent performances. Positive regression is coming for Anderson, Williams and the entire Oklahoma State offense.

There's identifying positive regression and then determining if it will happen in this matchup. Texas is the seventh-best defensive team in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency.

The Longhorns also thrive in a problematic area for the Cowboys. The Longhorns are second in defensive turnover percentage, whereas the Cowboys are 305th in offensive turnover percentage.

Turnovers could undoubtedly loom large for the Cowboys and significantly impact the scoreboard.

Texas vs. Oklahoma State Betting Pick

As I said in the open, this is going to look like a matchup of two teams heading in opposite directions. But all streaks are made to be broken.

The Cowboys should get right offensively, though it may not be coming against this Texas team. I'll be looking to play the Longhorns as a short favorite.

Pick: Texas -3.5 or better