Texas vs OK State Odds, Lines, and Spread
- The Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-5, 4-5 Big 12) host the Texas Longhorns (11-4, 5-3 Big 12) Saturday, Feb. 6
- Both teams are scuffling of late, with OSU splitting its last four and Texas losing three of its last four
- Read below for odds, analysis, and our best bet for this matchup
The Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-5, 4-5 Big 12), coming off a narrow loss to TCU that completed a season sweep by the Horned Frogs, host the #6 ranked Texas Longhorns (11-4, 5-3 Big 12) Saturday, Feb. 6 in Stillwater. Tip time is set for 3 p.m. ET at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
UT knocked off the Pokes 77-74 in Austin Dec. 20. At the time, Shaka Smart’s club was in the midst of winning 10 of its first 11 games of the season and climbing to a season-high ranking of No. 4 in the AP poll. But over the last few weeks, the Horns have been hit with COVID issues and come back to earth a bit.
#6 Texas vs Oklahoma State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| #6 Texas Longhorns | -1.5 (-114) | -126 | Ov 147.5 (-110) |
| Oklahoma State Cowboys | +1.5 (-106) | +108 | Un 147.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Feb. 5 at FanDuel
Smart was back on the sideline for the Burnt Orange Tuesday in their game against Baylor. Unfortunately for Texas, his return — after battling the coronavirus — didn’t result in a positive outcome. The Bears beat the Longhorns 83-69 that was closer than the final score indicated. UT’s leading scorer, Andrew Jones, had a team-high 25 points in defeat.
Meantime, Oklahoma State nearly salvaged a season split against TCU. But likely Big 12 Freshman of the Year and potential No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft Cade Cunningham opted to attempt a contested layup with time left on the game clock of a 78-all tie. The Horned Frogs were able to break the tie in the remaining time and tack on a free throw to clinch the 81-78 victory.
Mike Boynton’s boys enter their rematch with the Horns as slight underdogs in Stillwater.
Achilles Heel
Texas has enjoyed a true renaissance this season under Smart — who was very much on the hot seat entering this odd, COVID-influenced campaign. But after getting out to a 10-1 start, UT has had to deal with the effects of the coronavirus recently. Texas was down two starters and coach Smart in a loss to Oklahoma last week and also had a pair of games postponed and another canceled. Those missed games and lack of practice time for the Longhorns was on display against Baylor.
Sure, Jones actually gave Texas a brief lead in the second half. But outside of the junior guard, the Longhorns looked sluggish. Even more concerning was their performance at the charity stripe.
Texas was a ghastly 3-of-14 from the foul line against the Bears. The most concerning thing? This is not a new issue. UT ranks eighth among Big 12 teams in free-throw shooting percentage on the season. The inability to make free throws could come back to bite the Horns yet again in what could be a relatively close game at Gallagher-Iba.
Learning Experience
Another factor to watch in Saturday’s potentially tight tilt is how Cunningham responds from his mental error in the waning moments Wednesday.
Cunningham, the mega-talented 6-foot-8 freshman guard, scored 15 of his 19 points in the final 10 minutes. But his decision to go for the win — with time still left for TCU — was a clear freshman mistake.
He nearly redeemed himself with a potential game-tying, half-court shot as time expired that ultimately rimmed out.
The conference’s leading scorer (at 18.1 points per game) and Metroplex native is no doubt licking his chops to avenge that three-point loss from a month-and-a-half ago in the state capital — and get the taste of Wednesday’s bitter defeat to TCU out of his mouth.
Energy Will Be Key
Which team displays the most energy Saturday will likely be victorious. We noted UT’s lack of time together adversely affecting their efforts against OU and Baylor. But the Longhorns aren’t the only team playing in Stillwater to be sleepwalking recently.
Boynton was critical of the Cowboys’ lack of urgency — especially on the road in a revenge game — against the Horned Frogs.. The Pokes got solid efforts from Cunningham and fellow freshman Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, who finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. But they lacked the consistent intensity they normally feature.
The group that answers the starting bell — and doesn’t get overwhelmed by the moment (either at the foul line or in their decision-making) — is my pick. And to me, that feels like the Cowboys in this spot.
Pick: Oklahoma State +1.5 (-106)
Blair Johnson is a veteran journalist and seasoned sports content creator. He has been writing and producing content as long as he can remember, with such familiar names as CNN, NFL Media and Yahoo. Blair currently lives and works in the greater Los Angeles area.
