#21 Oklahoma State Cowboys at West Virginia Mountaineers
Milan Puskar Stadium – Morgantown, West Virginia
Saturday, October 10, 2015, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: West Virginia -6 1/2
Current Line: West Virginia -5
Opening Total: 58
Current Total: 61 1/2
Opening Money Line: West Virginia -260 / Oklahoma State +220
Current Money Line: West Virginia -225 / Oklahoma State +185
The 5-0 Oklahoma State Cowboys travel to the 3-1 West Virginia Mountaineers Saturday. Oklahoma State is 2-0 in the Big 12 and West Virginia is 0-1. The Mountaineers lead the series 4-2 against Oklahoma State including 2-0 in Morgantown. The Mountaineers won last year in Stillwater 34-10.
Oklahoma State is coached by Mike Gundy. The Cowboys have road wins over Central Michigan 24-13 and Texas 30-27, along with home wins over Central Arkansas 32-8, UTSA 69-14, and last week against Kansas State 36-34. OSU was a 7 point favorite against Kansas State and the total was 47. Kansas State took a 28-20 lead into halftime. The Cowboys scored a touchdown midway through the third but missed a two point conversion to pull within 28-26. The Cowboys had missed an extra point earlier. OSU would take a 33-28 lead in the fourth. Kansas State regained the lead on a touchdown run with 3:10 left. The Wildcats missed a two point conversion and the lead was 34-33. Oklahoma State drove down the field and for the second straight week kicker Ben Grogan kicked the game winner with less than a minute left. The Cowboys escaped with the 2 point win to remain undefeated. OSU is 2-3 ATS and the total is 2-3 this season.
West Virginia is coached by Dana Holgorsen. The Mountaineers have home wins over Georgia Southern 44-0, Liberty 41-17 and Maryland 45-6. West Virginia lost last week at Oklahoma 44-24. The Sooners were 6.5 point favorites and the total was 61. West Virginia trailed 24-7 at halftime but pulled to within 27-24 late in the third. However, Oklahoma would score the last 17 points of the game, including a defensive touchdown. West Virginia was doomed by 5 turnovers including 3 in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers are 2-2 ATS and the total is 1-3 this year.
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Oklahoma State is outscoring teams 38-19 this season. The Cowboys are #33 or better in both categories nationally. OSU averages 482 yards per game including 345 passing and 137 rushing yards. The Cowboys are in the top 22 nationally in total and passing offense but #106 in rushing. On defense, Oklahoma State is allowing 310 total yards per game, including 178 passing and 132 rushing yards. The Cowboys are in the top 40 nationally in all three categories. OSU is +3 in turnovers with 10 takeaways. Oklahoma State averages 56 penalty yards per game and opponents average 68. The Cowboys are 37/74 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 29/83. OSU has forced 22 sacks and allowed 11 this season. The Cowboys are 23/24 scoring in the red zone with 14 touchdowns. Opponents are 12/14 with 9 touchdowns. The Cowboys have two defensive touchdowns and have allowed two as well this season.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph has completed 65.9% of his passes for 1,674 yards with 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and has a rushing touchdown. J.W. Walsh has come in a few times in red zone and short yardage situations. He has four touchdown passes, and has 17 carries for 73 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
Running back Chris Carson has 65 carries for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 4 catches. He missed the K-State game with an ankle injury, but is probable against West Virginia. Rennie Childs has 42 carries for 177 yards and a touchdown, plus 2 catches. He also missed the last game and is probable this week for undisclosed reasons. Raymond Taylor has 12 carries for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jeff Carr has 16 carries for 66 yards.
Receiver David Glidden has 23 catches for 407 yards and 3 touchdowns. Marcell Ateman has 19 catches for 403 yards and 3 touchdowns. James Washington has 19 catches for 255 yards and a touchdown. Jalen McCleskey has 8 catches for 125 yards. Brandon Sheperd, Jeremy Seaton, Jhajuan Seales, and Austin Hayes will also get some catches.
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West Virginia is outscoring teams 39-17 this season. The Mountaineers are #21 in scoring and #21 in points allowed nationally. West Virginia averages 500 yards per game on offense including 286 passing and 214 rushing yards. The Mountaineers are #25 or better in all three categories nationally. On defense, WVU is allowing 337 total yards including 196 passing and 142 rushing yards. The Mountaineers are in the top 50 in all three categories. West Virginia has forced 13 turnovers and has 7 of their own. The Mountaineers average 83 penalty yards per game and opponents average 69. West Virginia is 32/66 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 14/61. The Mountaineers have forced 8 sacks and allowed 14 this season. WVU is 20/22 scoring in the red zone with 14 touchdowns, and opponents are 4/7 with 2 touchdowns.
Quarterback Skyler Howard has completed 64.7% of his passes for 1,089 yards with 10 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and also has 45 carries for 101 rushing yards and a touchdown. Back-up William Crest, Jr. has seen some action in the three blowouts so far. He has thrown for 53 yards, and has 12 carries for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Wendall Smallwood has 70 carries for 442 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 13 catches for 78 yards. Rushel Shell has 54 carries for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 3 catches for 44 yards. Receiver Shelton Gibson has 15 catches for 364 yards and 4 touchdowns. Jovon Durante has 16 catches for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. Daikiel Shorts has 12 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown.
Oklahoma State is 10-1 ATS after rushing for less than 100 rushing yards, 39-19 after passing for 280 yards or more, 2-5 after failing to cover, 3-8 against teams with winning records, 3-9 after gaining more than 450 total yards, 2-7 on fieldturf, and 0-4 in October.
West Virginia is 4-1 after allowing more than 280 passing yards, 5-12 in Big 12 games, 2-5 after a straight up loss, 5-18 against teams with winning road records, 1-4 against teams with winning records, and 2-8 in October.
Oklahoma State has forced 22 sacks and West Virginia has allowed 14 sacks this season. Still, Morgantown is a tough place to play. Oklahoma State has escaped unbeaten so far but has had some close calls. I think the Mountaineers win a close game at home.
