Oklahoma State is hosting Arizona on Saturday afternoon of Week 6. The game will take place at 3:00 p.m. ET in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The Wildcats are 20.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 55.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this Oklahoma State vs. Arizona Big 12 conference matchup.
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona prediction, preview
Oklahoma State Preview
Things could not be going any worse for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are 1-3, with their lone win coming against an FCS team, UT Martin. They were demolished by Oregon, beat by Tulsa, and then blown out by Baylor. Long-time head coach Mike Gundy has been fired, along with defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The team did not rally after Gundy’s firing, either; they continued to put forward a poor effort in the game against Baylor. Oklahoma State is horrific on both sides of the ball, and things are likely to only get worse. The interim defensive coordinator, Clint Bowen, was an offensive quality control coach prior to this promotion, and spent several years coaching high school prior to this season. This team is devoid of talent, and could start to see players taking redshirts to save a year of eligibility. This is a lost season for Oklahoma State, and it is unbettable moving forward.
Arizona Preview
The Arizona Wildcats have played solid football so far this season. They dominated their two out-of-conference games, got a respectable Big 12 win against Kansas State, then suffered their first loss to a good Iowa State team. Arizona has a veteran quarterback, Noah Fifita, who is capable of airing it out. It also has a strong running game, led by Ismail Mahdi. It is also underrated on the defensive side of the ball, and should play strong defense against an Oklahoma State team that tries to play at a fast pace. This is a must-win game for Arizona if it plans on competing in the Big 12 this season.
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is for Arizona to cover the 20.5-point spread. The Wildcats played two inferior opponents in non-conference play, beating Hawaii 40-6 and Weber State 48-3. Oklahoma State is a Big 12 team, but based on the numbers, it is much closer to Hawaii than it is to the Big 12 teams that Arizona has faced this season. The Cowboys rank 134th out of 136 FBS teams in net EPA/play. They are a disaster on offense, ranking 122nd in EPA/pass. Arizona ranks fifth in the nation in defensive EPA/pass, so it should completely shut Oklahoma State down. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State ranks 128th in defensive EPA/drive. Noah Fifita and the Arizona offense should light the Cowboys up.
