Colorado Buffaloes vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Colorado Buffaloes and the Oklahoma State Cowboys will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Oddsmakers currently have the Cowboys listed as 19-point favorites versus the Buffaloes, while the game's total is sitting at 49.
Tyler Hansen led Colorado with one touchdown pass and one interception in a 17-10 loss to Iowa State in Week 11.
The Buffaloes did not cover the 4.5-point spread, while the final score played UNDER the day's posted total of 49.
Oklahoma State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to close out a 24-17 victory over Texas Tech in Week 11. Oklahoma City covered the 5.5-point spread, while the teams played UNDER the posted total of 60.
Zac Robinson completed nine passes for 90 yards with a touchdown in that win.
Current streak:
Oklahoma State has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Colorado: 3-7 SU, 5-5 ATS
Oklahoma State: 8-2 SU, 5-3-1 ATS
Colorado most recently:
When playing in November are 3-7
When playing on turf are 2-8
After outgaining opponent are 5-5
When playing within the conference are 3-7
Oklahoma State most recently:
When playing in November are 5-5
When playing on turf are 6-4
After being outgained are 9-1
When playing within the conference are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Colorado's last 9 games on the road
Colorado is 6-15 ATS in its last 21 games on the road
Colorado is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games
Colorado is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Oklahoma State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Oklahoma State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma State's last 5 games
Oklahoma State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Next up:
Colorado home to Nebraska, Friday, November 27
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, Saturday, November 28
COLORADO (3 - 7) at OKLAHOMA ST (8 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in road games when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA ST is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 1-0 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA ST over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA ST is 1-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
Colorado is 6-15 ATS in its last 21 games on the road
Colorado is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Oklahoma State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Oklahoma State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
COLORADO at OKLAHOMA ST
COLORADO: 0-6 ATS Away playing w/ 6 or less days rest
OKLAHOMA ST: 11-3 ATS as a favorite
What Bettors Need to Know: Colorado at Okie State
By Marc Lawrence
The Big 12 Conference is on display Thursday evening when 13th ranked Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-1) hosts Colorado (3-7, 2-4) in a non-division contest at Boone Pickens Stadium. The game is televised on ESPN.
The Cowboys opened as 14.5-point favorites and the line has since moved to –18.5 with some books even dealing -20.
Still weather
Partly cloudy with a zero percent chance of rain. Temperature in the mid to low 50s with winds 5 mph out of the east.
Cowboy clamor
Despite an NCAA-forced suspension that curtailed the collegiate career of All-American WR Dez Bryant, plus a foot-and-ankle injury that has slowed star RB Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State continues to win.
Its only two losses on the season occurred in its second game against Houston and three weeks ago to Texas, a game in which OSU held the Longhorns to a season-low 275 yards of offense.
Under the guidance of first-year coordinator Bill Young, the Cowboys rank 32nd nationally in total defense, allowing 334 yard per game and seventh against the rush – surrendering just under 90 ypg.
Oklahoma State, winners in six of its last seven games, is seeking a sixth conference victory, which would be the most ever for the Cowboys.
QB Zac Robinson, who set an Oklahoma State record last season when he completed 65 percent of his passes, has a shot at eclipsing that mark having completed 158 of 249 passes for a .635 completion percentage in 2009. Robinson has 1922 passing yards, good for 15 TDs and 7 INTs.
RB Keith Toston (958 rushing yards) assumed the starting spot in Hunter’s absence and continues to start as Hunter gains additional playing time.
"Since that Houston loss we've bounced back and people haven't really heard of us. We kind of fell off the map. This game (versus Colorado) is just an opportunity for us to get some exposure to show that we've bounced back from that loss,” contends Oklahoma State LB Andre Sexton.
Buffalo chips
The Buffaloes are playing the fourth of five games they'll play in 2009 on a day other Saturday. So far they're 0-3 in such matchups, losing to Colorado State, Toledo and West Virginia in non-conference games.
A switch at quarterback from head coach Dan Hawkins' son, Cody, to Tyler Hansen has failed to ignite the Buffaloes.
WR Markques Simas had back-to-back 100-yard reception games against Texas A&M and Iowa State. He caught 14 passes for 263 yards.
WR Scotty McKnight became the fourth receiver in Colorado history with 60 or more catches in a season. He has 62 receptions, with a CU record of 34 consecutive games with a catch.
SS Ray Polk and LBs B. J. Beatty and Jeff Smart are questionable with injuries. Polk and Beatty missed the Iowa State game last Saturday while Smart played limited minutes because of a stinger that’s bothered him the last three weeks.
Hawk sighting
Coach Dan Hawkins is rumored to be on the coaching cut list. Colorado is assured of missing out on postseason play for the third time in four seasons under Hawkins, who is 16-31 overall, including 2-17 SU and 6-12-1 ATS as a visitor.
Hawkins is also 3-14-1 ATS in straight-up losses as a dog in his career.
The Buffaloes continue to be plagued by fundamental breakdowns and rank next to last nationally in penalties averaging 9.3 per game. Colorado's minus-7 turnover margin ranks last in the Big 12.
“It's not all on the coaches. There also has to be some accountability from us. We just flat out have to play better," said LB Smart.
Looking back
Since 1989, Oklahoma State is 3-11 SU versus Colorado – with one win by more than 13 points.
Favorites of more than five points are 1-9-1 ATS on Thursdays this season.
Colorado (3-7, 5-5 ATS) at (12) Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-3-1 ATS)
Colorado will attempt to snap an 11-game road losing skid when it travels south to Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., for a Big 12 battle with the 12th-ranked Cowboys, who will be without starting quarterback Zac Robinson.
The Buffalos are coming off Saturday’s 17-10 loss at Iowa State, failing to cover as a five-point road underdog. Colorado had a huge 390-310 edge in total offense, but committed three turnovers as it fell to 2-4 SU (3-3 ATS) in Big 12 play. The Buffaloes have followed up a 4-0 ATS run by failing to cover in three of their last four.
Oklahoma State outlasted Texas Tech 24-17 on Saturday Night, cashing as a 4½-point home favorite. The Cowboys rolled up 251 rushing yards on 60 carries, which helped them hold the ball for more than 37 minutes. However, Oklahoma State still got outgained overall (357-341), and it also lost Robinson, who had a team-high 99 rushing yards, to a head injury after a hard collision in the final two minutes. Robinson, a senior, has been ruled out of his final home game, leaving the offense in the hands of junior Alex Cate, who will be making his first collegiate start.
The Cowboys (5-1, 4-1-1 ATS in conference) will be trying to keep alive their slim hopes for a Big 12 South title. Oklahoma State trails third-ranked Texas by one game in the standings, but needs to win out and have the Longhorns lose their final two games to steal the division title, as Texas has the tiebreaker edge based on a 41-14 win over the Cowboys three weeks ago.
Robinson (217 passing yards, one passing TD, one rushing TD) guided the Cowboys to a 30-17 win at Colorado last year, but the Buffs covered as a 17-point home underdog. The road team has won the last four meetings in this rivalry going back to 2001, and Colorado has covered in the last two after going 1-6 ATS in the previous seven meetings. The Buffs are 6-1 SU in their last seven trips to Oklahoma State.
Colorado has been outscored by an average of 14.4 points per game in its five road defeats this year (32.8-18.4), and the Buffs have produced a total of 30 points in their three Big 12 road losses (Texas, Kansas State, Iowa State). On the other hand, the Cowboys are 5-2 at home (4-2 ATS in lined action), with the four wins against Division I-A competition coming by an average of 13.5 ppg, while the two losses – to Texas and Houston – were by margins of 27 and 10 points.
The Buffaloes have covered in four straight games as a double-digit underdog and they’re 6-2 ATS in their last eight against winning teams and 4-1 ATS in their last five after a SU defeat. However, they’re also in ATS declines of 6-15 on the road, 4-13 as a road pup and 3-7 after a non-cover.
Oklahoma State is on pointspread surges of 4-1-1 overall (all in Big 12 play), 37-16-2 as a favorite, 9-2 as a home chalk, 21-6 as a favorite of more than 10 points, 14-5 against losing opponents and 8-3 when coming off a spread-cover.
The over is 9-3 in Colorado’s last 12 November outings, 6-2 in its last eight after a SU loss and 4-0 in its last four games on field turf. For the Cowboys, the “over” is on streaks of 32-13 at home and 8-3 versus losing teams, but the under is 4-1 in their last five overall and 4-0 in their last four as a favorite.
Finally, the under is 3-1 in the last four meetings in this rivalry (2-0 in Stillwater).
ATS ADVANTAGE: OKLAHOMA STATE
Colorado at Oklahoma St.
By Christian Alexander
For the second time on a Thursday night this season we get a chance to take a look at coach Dan Hawkins and the Colorado Buffaloes. Earlier this year, Hawkins took his program to West Virginia to face the Mountaineers and put up a good fight before losing 35-24 as 17.5 point underdogs.
That’s just about the spread this time around as Colorado travels to Stillwater, OK to face the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. The road has not been kind to the Buffaloes lately as this program has dropped 11 straight away from home. Even worse, Colorado has rarely been competitive during that streak, especially this year, losing by an average of just over two touchdowns in the five losses away from home this season.
And it could very well be more of the same this Thursday as Oklahoma State will be looking to finish the season strong in case they can get a chance to sneak into a BCS bowl. The key this week for the Cowboys will be the health of QB Zac Robinson. The senior collided with a Texas Tech defender in the final two minutes of last week’s game over Texas Tech and had to be helped from the field.
The good news for Oklahoma State fans is that Robinson has responded well this week, but all indications are that coach Mike Gundy will sit his veterany signal caller. Therefore, Alex Cate will get the nod and he's a considerable drop off from Robinson considering the junior has never started a game.
With 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions so far in 2009, Robinson hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations that were placed on him coming off his previous two seasons in which he threw 48 touchdowns and just 19 interceptions. Part of that blame can be placed on the fact that Robinson hasn’t had his main weapon, WR Dez Bryant, basically all season after he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA.
Of course, if any Cowboys fans want to complain about Robinson’s stats and play this season – and it’s doubtful they would – they should check with Hawkins first. Something tells me he would take a paycut just to get half of Robinson’s production from the QB position.
As if dealing with a losing program weren’t enough, Hawkins had to remove his son from the starting QB role because he wasn’t getting the job done. Hawkins replaced his son Cody with QB Tyler Hansen, who immediately led Colorado to an upset of then 17th-ranked Kansas last month but has since cooled off, throwing four interceptions and three touchdowns as the Buffaloes have lost three of their last four since that win.
If Colorado is going to have any chance this Thursday, Hansen is going to have to lead the Buffaloes to more than the combined 30 points they have scored in their previous three losses.
Last season Robinson led Oklahoma State to a 30-17 win over Colorado as he threw for 217 yards and accounted for two touchdowns (one passing, one running). This will be the first time Colorado has played at Oklahoma State since demolishing the Cowboys 34-0 in 2005. Since that point the Buffaloes are a horrible 3-21 on the road.
So far this season Colorado is 5-5 against the spread but as mentioned the road trends are horrible as the Buffaloes are 6-15 ATS in their last 21 away games. On the other side, Oklahoma State is 5-3 ATS so far in 2009 and the Cowboys are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games as a home favorite and 37-16-2 ATS in their last 55 games as a favorite.
Cowboys favored to crush Colorado
By Doug Upstone
Among the surprises in college football this season is Oklahoma State. Not in the traditional sense, though the possibility of the Cowboys finishing in second place in the Big 12 South does carry some shock value. It is how Oklahoma State has compiled 8-2 record, having a solid defense that is the cause for surprise.
Oklahoma State's season has been startling, considering their terrific trio has been reduced to basically just one, with quarterback Zac Robinson carrying the burden. All-America receiver Dez Bryant was lost because of a NCAA suspension and running back Kendall Hunter has been slowed by a nagging ankle/foot injuries and only recently has come back to play, lacking his usual explosiveness.
The Cowboys (6-3 ATS) are ranked fourth in the Big 12 in defense and 32nd nationally, surrendering 333.9 yards per game. Okie State has been incredibly stingy on the ground, allowing 89.6 yards per game, good for sixth nationally. Linebacker Patrick Lavine is among those who accepted the challenge once the offense lost several weapons. He's a great playmaker for us, said teammate Andre Sexton, another senior linebacker. He steps up and makes game-changing plays when we need it.
Oklahoma State has lost only to Texas in last eight games and is 22-8 ATS in home games after covering the spread in two out of their last three contests. The Cowboys will take on Colorado (3-7, 5-5 ATS), who might have another coach on the sidelines next season.
Dan Hawkins is dismissing reports he's under fire despite 16-31 record in Boulder. Though Hawkins was brought in to help clean up the program from the scandal-laden days under Gary Barnett and succeeded, big time football isn't just about getting the players to go to class and keep trouble to a minimum, it's about winning. This will be the third time in four years with no bowl game for Buffs under Hawkins, who are plagued with inconsistencies and penalties.
This is a burdensome spot Colorado, having lost at Iowa State 17-10 on Saturday and having to playing another road game on a short week. Under Hawkins, the Buffs are 4-12 ATS after scoring 14 points or less and 4-13 against the spread after playing their last game on the road.
Betonline.com has Oklahoma State as 18.5-point home favorites with total of 48, suggesting a final score of roughly 33-15. If that score appears to low, than the fact the Cowboys are 11-3 ATS as a favorite over the last two seasons and 13-4-2 ATS at home in November should be more comforting. Colorado doesn't look to be in a very good situation and 6-15 ATS road record backs up that point up. However, for those that see the glass half full as opposed to half empty, the Buffalos are 4-0 ATS catching 17 or more points in last four tries.
ESPN of course will have this telecast at 7:45 Eastern, with Chris Fowler watching his alma mater. (Colorado if you didn't know) In the last 17 encounters between these squads, the SU winner has won by 10 or more points 14 times.
Tips and Trends
Colorado at Oklahoma State
Colorado: Colorado just wants this season over, just ask head coach Dan Hawkins. Colorado has struggled all season, especially away from home. Colorado has lost 11 consecutive road games SU, and have been outscored by almost 15 PPG over their road games this season. The Buffaloes have only scored 30 PTS in their last 3 road games. QB Tyler Hansen will look to improve on his ball security, as he has more INT's than TD's. Colorado has been an opportunistic defense this year, as they come up with big plays when they need to. This defense will need to play their best game of the season in order to upset the nationally ranked Cowboys on Senior Night.
Colorado is 4-13 ATS last 17 games as a road underdog.
Under is 6-2 last 8 games as a road underdog.
Key Injuries - S Ray Polk (foot) is questionable.
LB B.J. Beatty (concussion) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 20 (Side of the Day)
Oklahoma State (-17, O/U 47.5): This is the last home game for the 12th ranked team in the country. QB Zac Robinson has been ruled out for today's game, so in steps QB Alex Cate. The junior has never started a college game. The Cowboys will look to run the football behind Cate. The Cowboys have run for a combined 575 YDS the last 2 games. Oklahoma St. is ranked 32nd in the country in total defense. The Cowboys have only allowed 1 opponent to score more than 17 points in their last 5 games.
Oklahoma St is 9-2 ATS last 11 games as a home favorite.
Under is 4-0 last 4 games as a favorite.
Key Injuries - QB Zac Robinson (head) is out.
S Victor Johnson (knee) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 31