College Basketball Preview & Pick: #9 Baylor @ Oklahoma State

We get our final Big Monday of the season in college basketball, as the Oklahoma State Cowboys are presented with a massive opportunity with the Baylor Bears coming to town. To prepare you for the action, we look at the game and how you can find value in the matchup.

No. 9 Baylor @ Oklahoma State Game Information

• Location: Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater, OK
• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN

It’s a golden opportunity for the Pokes. Bracketmatrix.com, a site aggregating the world’s best bracketologists, has Oklahoma State as one of the last four heading into this matchup. They’ll look to snap a four-game losing streak and remain on the right side of the bubble.

Baylor still has plenty to play for as they continue to vie for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a high slot in the Big 12 Tournament. They enter after notching a key win against Texas at home over the weekend, giving them a quick turnaround to head to Stillwater for this matchup.

No. 9 Baylor @ Oklahoma State Game Odds on FanDuel

• Spread: Baylor -1.5 (-110) | Oklahoma State +1.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Baylor -122 | Oklahoma State +102
• Total: Over 140.5 (-115) | Under 140.5 (-105)

The Cowboys have struggled this season when they have gone up against elite-level competition during Big 12 play. They have yet to notch a win against an opponent within the top 20 of KenPom and are 0-5 against the Big 12’s top three in Baylor, Texas, and Kansas.

Oklahoma State’s shortcomings come on the offensive end of the floor. They rank second-to-last in the conference in offensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage, and free-throw percentage. They make up for these deficiencies through a stout defense that ranks 12th in the country.

Baylor has shown they can be poised and consistently beat lesser opponents this season. They are a perfect 7-0 against the bottom four teams in the league by sweeping Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and West Virginia.

OSU’s offensive struggles lower their ceiling, even at home. Baylor’s high-powered offense, through efficient guard play and elite game planning from head coach Scott Drew, make it difficult to fade the Bears on such a short number. It’s scary to do in the Big 12, but back the road favorite in this spot.

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