Oklahoma State Cowboys vs West Virginia Mountaineers Picks and Predictions October 5th 2024

ESPN2 will be covering the West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State matchup this Saturday, October 5th, with a 4:00 ET kickoff. The game is being played at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, where the Oklahoma State Cowboys are the -4.5 point spread favorites. The over/under line is currently set at 65.5 points. The Cowboys come in with a 3-2 record, while the Mountaineers are 2-2 on the season.

West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State Key Information

West Virginia enters Week 6 against Oklahoma State with a 2-2 record and is ranked 51st in our power rankings. They have a 46.7% chance of becoming bowl-eligible this season. So far, the Mountaineers are 1-1 at home and 0-1 on the road.

Their average scoring margin is +3.2 points per game, and they are 1-2 against the spread. West Virginia has been favored in two of their four games, going 1-1 ATS as the favorite.

This week’s over/under line is set at 65.5 points, higher than any of their previous games. West Virginia’s over/under record is 2-1, with their games averaging 60.2 points and an average line of 55.3 points.

West Virginia’s offense is averaging 31.8 points per game, placing them 42nd in the nation. However, they are ranked 19th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 6. The Mountaineers have been more effective on the ground, averaging 186.5 rushing yards per game on 36.2 attempts.

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CJ Donaldson Jr. leads the rushing attack with 284 yards, averaging 5 yards per carry, and has scored three touchdowns. Quarterback Garrett Greene has thrown for 902 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. West Virginia ranks 81st in passing yards per game. Hudson Clement leads the team with 231 receiving yards.

West Virginia’s defense has allowed an average of 28.5 points per game this season, including 28 points in their recent win against Kansas. They gave up 347 total yards, with 168 rushing yards on 33 attempts and 179 passing yards, while also forcing one interception.

Opponents have averaged 159.5 rushing yards per game on 37.2 attempts against West Virginia’s defense. Through the air, they’ve allowed 256.5 passing yards per game, ranking 135th nationally, with quarterbacks completing 60.7% of their passes and posting a passer rating of 111.5.

Oklahoma State enters Week 6 with a 3-2 record, facing West Virginia at home. They are ranked 32nd in our power rankings and have an 84.6% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. So far, they are 0-1 at home and 1-1 on the road this season.

The Cowboys have been favored in just one of their five games, going 1-0 as the favorite and 0-2 as the underdog. Their average scoring margin is +8.4 points, and they are 1-2 against the spread this season.

This week’s over/under line is 65.5, higher than any of their previous games. Oklahoma State’s average over/under line has been 59 points, with their over/under record at 1-2 and an average total of 58.4 points per game.

Oklahoma State’s offense is centered around their passing game, as they lead the nation in passing attempts, averaging 43 per game. They are 7th in passing yards, with 325 per game, and 9th in completions. Heading into week 6, they are 35th in scoring, with 33.4 points per game, and we have them ranked 50th in our offensive power rankings.

Quarterback Alan Bowman has thrown for 1,559 yards, completing 60.2% of his passes, with 12 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has a passer rating of 93. De’Zhaun Stribling leads the receiving corps with 502 yards and 3 touchdowns on 27 catches. The Cowboys’ run game is struggling, averaging just 99.6 yards per game.

Oklahoma State’s defense struggled in their recent game against Kansas State, allowing 42 points in a 42-20 loss. They gave up 559 total yards, including 300 rushing yards on 34 attempts and 259 passing yards, though they did manage to force one interception.

For the season, Oklahoma State ranks 146th in rushing yards allowed per game (204.4) and 152nd in passing yards allowed (276.4). Opponents have averaged a passer rating of 80.2 and completed 56.6% of their throws against the Cowboys.

We’re projecting a 35-28 win for Oklahoma State in their week six matchup against West Virginia. The Cowboys are -4.5 point favorites, and we expect them to cover the spread.

With the over/under line set at 65.5 points, our projection of 63 total points suggests that taking the under is the best play.

West Virginia Enters Oklahoma State Game with ‘Confidence,’ Not ‘Momentum’

Coming off its first conference win of the season, West Virginia would love to carry its positive energy into Saturday afternoon’s Big 12 road game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.

However, Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown doesn’t believe in carrying over “momentum” after a bye week. Instead, he emphasizes the value of confidence as his team prepares for the next challenge.

Neal Brown Focuses on Confidence, Not Momentum

After West Virginia’s thrilling 32-28 victory over Kansas on Sept. 21, Brown is cautious about the idea of momentum lasting through an off week.

“How we finished the game defensively, we definitely have some confidence. How we finished the game offensively, we definitely have some confidence,” Brown said. “And I think that (confidence) continues to build as you go through your bye week, but I don’t know if the momentum from the win actually does.”

The Mountaineers (2-2, 1-0 Big 12) hope that confidence translates to a strong performance against a struggling Oklahoma State team on Saturday.

Garrett Greene and Hudson Clement Lead the Offense

Quarterback Garrett Greene was the star of the Kansas game, throwing two late touchdown passes in the final 3 1/2 minutes. The highlight was a 15-yard strike to wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III with just 26 seconds left, sealing the Mountaineers’ victory.

In addition to his passing heroics, Greene was the team’s leading rusher with 87 yards and also scored a rushing touchdown. His dual-threat ability will be a key focus for Oklahoma State’s defense, as will the performance of wide receiver Hudson Clement, who had seven catches for 150 yards against Kansas.

Oklahoma State Looks to Rebound After Consecutive Losses

The Cowboys (3-2, 0-2 Big 12) are aiming to bounce back after two straight losses, including a 42-20 defeat at then-No. 23 Kansas State last weekend. Oklahoma State’s defense struggled mightily, allowing 559 total yards, with 300 coming on the ground.

“Just have to have a short memory. You can’t dwell on it,” said Oklahoma State offensive lineman Cole Birmingham. “You can’t change the past — it’s happened. We got to focus on what’s ahead. We’ve got to focus on this game.”

Oklahoma State, which dropped out of the AP Top 25 poll following their recent losses, will need a better showing on both sides of the ball to get back on track.

Ollie Gordon II Looks to Reignite the Cowboys’ Run Game

One of the key players to watch for Oklahoma State is running back Ollie Gordon II, who has yet to find his groove this season, averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Despite his slow start, Gordon has shown his capabilities in the past, including a standout performance against West Virginia last year.

In that game, Gordon rushed for 282 yards and scored four touchdowns, leading the Cowboys to a 48-34 victory.

“He’s special,” said West Virginia’s Brown. “I don’t know if we’ve tackled him yet from last year’s fourth quarter.”

Key Matchup and Playoff Implications

Both teams are looking for a pivotal win to boost their Big 12 standings. For West Virginia, the goal is to continue building confidence as they aim for another victory. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State will try to put its recent struggles behind and reestablish itself as a conference contender.

This showdown in Stillwater could serve as a turning point for both teams in the Big 12 race.