Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State Odds, Picks and Predictions: Uzan Stars for Sooners

It's Bedlam to close out day one of the Big 12 tournament when Oklahoma meets Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys have been a curious team this season. They've had the highs of sweeping the regular season series against this same Oklahoma team. They've also had the lows of dropping absolute stinkers, like when TCU beat them by 25 points near the end of last month.

Oklahoma State has a chance to make March Madness, and doesn't necessarily have to win this tournament to get there. However, it has to win today if it even wants to think about getting there.

After failing to make the NCAA Tournament a season ago, head coach Porter Moser will likely not make it this go around. The Sooners come into this tournament one game under .500 and have, by and large, had a disappointing season. It did manage to end its regular season on a high note when it hammered TCU over the weekend, though.

What's the best bet for this one? Find out in our college basketball picks and predictions for Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State on Wednesday, March 8.

Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State best odds

Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State picks and predictions

This game is a really difficult one to call. My projections make this a virtual toss-up, with a slight edge toward Oklahoma State. Thus, I won't pick a side because I don't think there's an edge. So instead, I'll look at the prop market for my best bet.

That bet will be focused on the play of Oklahoma's Milos Uzan, specifically his continuing to stuff the stat sheet like he has to end the season. We're taking the Over on his Points + Rebounds + Assists prop at DraftKings at a reasonable line of 15.5.

Uzan has really come on strong at the end of the season. He's a freshman that has started to make a leap, as all of his numbers have gone up. He's eclipsed this Points + Rebounds + Assists number four of the last five games, and did it once against Oklahoma State earlier this season.

The first aspect of this game that makes me like Uzan's prop is that it should be low-scoring. Thus, there should be ample opportunities for rebounds. Both teams have defenses that hold their opponent to less than a point per possession, and both could be more efficient on the other end. In many ways, they mirror each other.

I'm projecting a game where both teams struggle to reach 70 points. If that happens, I'd expect Uzan to improve on his two games of four rebounds in each of the previous two meetings. That will go a long way to getting this wager home.

The other part of this bet is obviously the points. While I anticipate a low-scoring game, there are some excellent paths to Uzan hitting double-digits there. He did it in the most recent matchup between these two teams, when he scored 11 points.

Oklahoma State has few defensive flaws, as they are particularly elite on that end of the ball. They do struggle in one area, though, and that's in transition defense.

They've allowed a shot quality rating of 1.15 there. Anything over 1.0 is considered a great look, so to put it briefly, the Cowboys allow many great looks in transition.

Uzan is the best transition scorer on the Oklahoma roster. He capitalized on this in the last matchup, and I expect him to do it again.

In a game with little value on the traditional sides, this is one of the best bets on the board. Uzan has been one of the better players over the past month for the Sooners, and I look for him to continue that ascension today.

My best bet: Uzan Over 15.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-120 at DraftKings)

Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State spread analysis

Again, this one is tough for me to call. I give a slight edge to Oklahoma State, but it's not much.

The coaching matchup is very even, the offenses are nearly identical, and Oklahoma State has a slight defensive edge.

However, there is an injury question mark for the Cowboys in the form of Avery Anderson. If I knew he was in the lineup, I'd feel more confident backing Oklahoma State. He's given the Sooners troubles in the last two meetings, scoring 12 and 14 points, respectively.

If we get the "ok" on him before tip, I may make a small wager on the Cowboys, but otherwise, I'll stay away.

If you're handicapping motivation, then you have to like Oklahoma State. They are squarely on the bubble, and much like the West Virginia team playing in the first game of the night, they know that one win could get them in. Unlike that game, though, these two teams are much more even in terms of talent and coaching.

Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State Over/Under analysis

My projections make this total 132.5, which is entirely too close to the actual total to have a play on this game.

If I'm leaning anywhere, it's the Over. I wrote about this game being low-scoring, and it will be, but it's also a low total on the college basketball odds board. This figures to be a closely fought game, which means there's an increased chance for a good amount of late-game fouling.

Determining what this total will do is predicated on figuring out if Oklahoma can speed this game up. They haven't done it a ton this season, but they'll want to today. The Sooners have struggled regularly in the halfcourt to generate scoring. It's not going to come any easier against Oklahoma State. Likewise, if they can speed the game up, they can attack the Cowboys' weak point: transition defense.

Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State betting trend to know

Oklahoma is 7-1 ATS in its last eight neutral site games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State game info

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