On Saturday, February 1, the Utah Utes take the court against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a very important Big 12 game, which is crucial for both of them to get some traction in conference play. After an amazing and distinct game against Cincinnati, Utah now stands at 12-8 (4-5 Big 12) and desires to set the stage while poor Oklahoma State (10-10, 2-7) tries to overcome a three-game failure. Home teams usually have an advantage in games, but the Cowboys would face resistance from the better team, obviously, Utah.
In the game dated January 11, Utah earned a blazing 83-62 victory, which was triggered by a 12-0 starting run and a 46-24 paint-scoring dominance. The Wildcats were roughed up by the Utes as they managed to shoot only 33.3% from the field. EzAusar, Keanu Dawes, and Jake Wahlin, the top three players in the Utes’ frontcourt, together contributed 41 points, proving that the Cowboys’ defense was not efficient enough. Oklahoma State’s turning the ball over as many as 21 times in the last game with Kansas State illustrates humanitarian problems.
The Utes are scoring an average of 76.5 points per game, with Gabe Madsen (14.9 PPG) being the provider and Ausar playing a more prominent role. While they have consistently struggled with their three-point shooting (31% as a team), and the Utes’ control of the pace as well as minimal turnovers a (12.1 per game) could prove a game-changer. Defense-wise, it is evident that despite 70.1 points being scored by Utah in every game which is the 135th place in stats, they favor their interior defense.
The Cowboys losing streak tickets are a result of inefficiency on the offense side. They are currently at the 239th position in terms of scoring (72.5 PPG), and they also have only a 42.3% success score of field goals (311th). Marcellus Avery (12.5 PPG) and Bryce Thompson (11.4 PPG) are supposed to be the carriers, but the Cowboys play it the other way around, too much using the perimeter (32.6% from three), which is exactly what Utah likes. As for the defense, with the pirates, they are allowing 74.9 points per game, and by the way, they are finding it hard to contain physical opponents.
Turnovers and paint dominance one more time. Utah is sitting at +6.4 points in the scoring department, which is far from Oklahoma State’s -2.5. The 16 first-half turnovers on the Cowboys’ part in the game against Kansas State make it clear that they are prone to pressure. Should Utah both withstand the onslaught of @teams/@teams@’s grunters and be able to make good presses as they did to make a 53.1% from the field against Cincinnati, the visitors’ lack of muscle, along with the fact that Ousmane will help OK?St, will in all likelihood be the root cause for their loss.
Betting markets show that Oklahoma State is given a 1-point edge over the fellows, but based on recent results, Utah seems to be undervalued. Utah, with a 4-2 record in their last six games, is not in a much worse position than Oklahoma State’s 3-7 over their past 10. The total expected number, 141, favors over to some extent considering recent scoring by both sides, the poor record of the free throw shooters who only make 62.6% of them, which in turn might decelerate the game.
Utah’s road record (4-5 away) would be the turning point in the game if defensive discipline and the fact that Oklahoma State struggles on offense were not a fact. With a home advantage of 7-2, the Cowboys would seem to have some firm ground, but it seems that their leaders do not have an answer to the intense interior attack by Utah. The game is likely to be a low-scoring, physical battle during which the Utes’ consistency will supersede Ok-St’s desperation.
Final Score Prediction: Utah 71, Oklahoma State 68. The Utes cover the spread, and the game goes under the 147.5-figure limit. Have segments of 2 sentences, 50 words, max., to describe backs and scolds, or empowers and disempowers, using gambling referrals. Utah will rely on their defense to stop OK.St from scoring big and will thus earn a narrow road win through rebounds and second-chance points.