Central Michigan vs Oklahoma State Odds & Picks
- The Central Michigan Chippewas visit Oklahoma State in a Week 1 matchup
- Oklahoma State finished a remarkable 10-2 against the spread in the 2021 regular season
- Read below for Central Michigan vs Oklahoma State odds, trend, and best bets
Week 1 of the College Football season gets off to a roaring start on Thursday night as Central Michigan makes the trip to take on Oklahoma State.
The Chippewas will look to break Oklahoma State’s home winning streak, as the Cowboys went 7-0 at home last year.
Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm ET from Boone Pickens Stadium, with Fox Sports Networks carrying the broadcast.
Central Michigan vs Oklahoma State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan | +21 | +850 | Over 59.5 (-110) |
| Oklahoma State | -21 | -1667 | Under 59.5 (-110) |
Odds as of August 29th at BetMGM.
As of Tuesday, OK State is a 21-point home favorites for Thursday’s contest, while the total is sitting at 59.5. If Central Michigan manages to pull the upset, they would payout at +850.
Can Oklahoma State Be the New Top Dog of the Big 12?
Head coach Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys have an awfully large opportunity sitting in front of them. Big 12 stalwarts Texas and Oklahoma are looking to make the move to the SEC in 2024. Thus, with a couple of successful seasons, Oklahoma State could become the new rulers of the Big 12.
The Cowboys took the first step in that direction in 2021, romping to a 12-2 record. Mike Gundy’s men should have won the conference title last year, but surprisingly were upset by a veteran Baylor squad, whom they had beaten in the regular season. Nonetheless, a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame has this team fired up entering 2022.
Senior quarterback Spencer Sanders returns to try and lead this offense to glory. He will be looking to make amends after his four-interception meltdown against Baylor in the Big 12 Championship game.
Having said that, Sanders threw for over 2,800 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. He also led the team to the aforementioned Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame.
On the other side of the football, all new defensive coordinator Derek Mason has to do is maintain the status quo. The Cowboys were quietly a defensive juggernaut last season. Ranking 1st in the nation in sacks, 2nd in tackles for loss and pacing the Big 12 in total and scoring defense. This veteran, battle-tested unit will be a tough nut for an overmatched Central Michigan squad to crack.
Does Central Michigan Have a Chance?
Former Florida Gators head coach McElwain leads the Chippewas into 2022 with more questions than answers. Unfortunately, because of the transfer portal and NFL losses, McElwain’s job just got a whole lot more complicated.
The Chippewas ended up losing both their starting tackles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-rounder Luke Goedeke and Indianapolis Colts third-rounder Bernhard Raimann, to the NFL, while top receiver Kalil Pimpleton is trying to make the Detroit Lions.
Great to get some in-stadium work done to wrap up Week 2 of fall camp! #FireUpChips 🔥 ⬆️ 🏈 pic.twitter.com/HzJT1C5szD
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) August 14, 2022
Having said that, veteran quarterback Daniel Richardson returns to lead this team. He may not be a running threat, but Richardson knows how to take care of the football. The Miami native played in all thirteen games last season, throwing for 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Surprisingly, the Chippewas finished with the 29th ranked passing offense in 2021. CMU also ranked 35th in the nation in points per game, averaging 32.3 a contest.
Regrettably, the defense lost even more talent. Central Michigan’s defense was raided in the transfer portal, as the team lost five starters to larger programs. Additionally, top tackler Greg Kreski and leading pass-rusher Troy Hairston departed for the Houston Texans.
With the sheer amount of talent that departed from Mount Pleasant this off-season, its tough to see the Chippewas hanging with a Power 5 staple like Oklahoma State.
Central Michigan vs Oklahoma State Prediction
As noted above, with Mike Gundy’s men come into this one ready to make a statement, look for Oklahoma State to roll. Central Michigan has no business winning this football game. Yet, that spread is awfully high for a week 1 game. Oddsmakers may be hoping for a late Oklahoma State cover on Thursday night.
Remember, the Chippewas can score points in bunches, and with a new defensive coordinator, Oklahoma State may see some regression on that side of the football. Stick with our predictor tool and take the points in this Week 1 matchup.
Pick: Central Michigan +21 (-110)
A sports betting aficionado and graduate of Toronto Film School, Nick covers the NFL, NBA, Soccer, and MMA for SBD. He is also an avid NBA podcaster, and sports betting TikToker. Nick's work has been featured on Bleacher Report.
