#7 Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State Road to March Madness

Want to see the best freshman in the country and the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft? Tune into Monday’s matchup between No. 7 Oklahoma and unranked Oklahoma State, which is led by super-frosh Cade Cunningham. The Sooners are short favorites in the immediate rematch for the Big 12 matchup and OU is +2600 to win a national title. OSU is not a betting option because it might not be allowed in the Big Dance due to a previous NCAA violation.

How to Bet Oklahoma at Oklahoma State NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

When: Monday, 9 PM ET
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN app
Radio:com
Opening NCAAB Lines: Oklahoma -1 (total 142.5)

Last Meeting in Stillwater

When Oklahoma visited OSU last season, the Cowboys rolled 83-66 behind 28 points from Cameron McGriff, who is no longer with the program. Sooners star Brady Manek, still with the team, had just two points on 1-for-8 shooting. McGriff made 11 of 17 shots, grabbed seven rebounds and harassed Manek. Austin Reaves had 24 points to lead the Sooners and he’s still there. Oklahoma State outrebounded Oklahoma 43-30 and held the Sooners to 38% shooting.

Why Bet on Oklahoma? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

The Sooners (14-7) will not be ranked No. 7 when the new polls come out Monday as they were shocked at horrible Kansas State last Tuesday and then upset at home by Oklahoma State 94-90 in OT on Saturday. Cowboys freshman star Cade Cunningham lit up OU for 40 points, 10 coming on OT. De’Vion Harmon matched a career high with 23 points and Austin Reaves had 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Oklahoma, which had won 18 of the previous 20 at home vs. Oklahoma State. Monday will mark the first time since 2009 that OU will face its rival in back-to-back games.

Oklahoma owns a 140-101 all-time advantage in the series. The Sooners’ 140 wins over OSU are their most over any opponent in program history. Oklahoma is 22-13 in Bedlam games since 2006 and has won at least one game against Oklahoma State in all but one season since 2005. The Sooners have swept the Cowboys seven times since 2006 (OSU has one regular-season in that span).

OU is now 9-1 when scoring at least 78 points. OU is averaging 80.4 points per game in victories and 62.2 in losses. Over the last two seasons, the Sooners are 27-2 when they have a better field goal percentage than their opponents. Oklahoma is committing only 10.7 turnovers per game – the fewest in the Big 12 and 15th best in Division I.

The Sooners also lead the league in fewest fouls committed per game, fouling an average of 14.6 times – the 15th-fewest in the country. OU opponents are shooting an average of 13.2 foul shots per game, compared to OU’s 18.0 free throw attempts. OU is making the most of its trips to the line, ranking second in the Big 12 in free throw percentage with a 74.4% rate.

Why Bet on Oklahoma State? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

Cunningham’s previous scoring high was 29 points. In his first Bedlam rivalry game, he made 12 of 21 field goals and 13 of 14 free throws. He also finished with 11 rebounds three steals and two blocks.

It was the first 40-10 game against an Associated Press top-10 team since Marquette’s Steve Novak (41-16) on January 3, 2006 against No. UConn. It was just the eighth 40-point game in Oklahoma State history, and the third mo ,st ever in a Bedlam game (most in a victory). Cunningham is the first freshman to score 40 points in a Division I game this season. The last 40-point performance from a Cowboy also came in a Bedlam game when freshman Jawun Evans scored 42 points in GIA on Jan. 13, 2016.

The Cowboys are building one of the nation’s most impressive NCAA Tournament resumes. Oklahoma State owns seven N.E.T. Quadrant-1 victories, which is tied for the second-most nationally behind only Illinois. The Cowboys also own five wins over Associated Press top-25 squads, which is tied for the 4th most. OSU’s seven road wins are also tied for the 8th most among N.E.T. top-100 squads.

However, there’s a chance that OSU will not be allowed to play in the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA hit Oklahoma State with a postseason ban last summer for recruiting violations committed by a former assistant coach, but the school has appealed. If that verdict does not arrive prior to the NCAA tournament, Oklahoma State will be eligible to compete. The chaos of the pandemic has caused major delays for NCAA rulings, which could work in Oklahoma State’s favor.

Oklahoma State owns a 64-47 all-time advantage in Bedlam games played in Stillwater, but Oklahoma has won four of the last seven meetings at Gallagher-Iba Arena.