College Football Predictions – Oklahoma St Cowboys 2020 College Football Preview
August 14, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 8-5
ATS – 10-3
The Pokes had an up-and-down season. For the most part, they beat who they should have beaten, and lost the games you figured they would drop. They rolled through the CUPCAKES in non-conference play but lost three conference tilts in a four game stretch mid-season, and that was all she wrote.
Things just might be lining up for a special season in 2020. Let’s take a look and see what they’re bringing to the table.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Big 12 – #2
Oklahoma St Cowboys 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Pokes held their own on offense LY considering they were breaking in a young quarterback. They finished #4 in the Big 12 in total offense and #4 in scoring offense and promise to be LETHAL this year. QB Spencer Sanders has a license to improve off his first season that was cut short due to injury (63%, 16-11 TD to INT, 628 rushing yards) and the first order of business will be to cut down on the INTs. Sanders will have his top-three WRs back in the mix including star Tylan Wallace who tallied 903 yards in just eight games (knee injury), and recall that Wallace booked 1,491 yards and 12 TDs in a phenomenal 2018 campaign. Oklahoma St also boasts one of the most explosive players in all of college football with the return of 2,000 (!) yard RB Chuba Hubbard who is a threat to take it the distance every time his touches the football. Hubbard had 21 rushing TDs and caught 23 passes in his spare time. The offensive line is one of the best in the Big 12 and returns three starters including star tackle Teven Jenkins. Hopefully, they can do a better job of preventing negative plays (#8 Big 12 TFL/game LY).
The Cowboys tallied 32.5 PPG LY and we expect this offense to post numbers closer to what they accomplished in 2018 (38.4).
DEFENSE
Oklahoma St made fine strides last year cutting their PPG mark from 32.5 in 2018 to a respectable 26.8 in 2019 (#5 Big 12). This might be their best defense since the 2013 season (21.6 PPG) given that they return 10 (!) starters to the stop unit. In fact, almost the entire two-deep returns in 2020. They finished LY ranked #6 in the Big 12 in rushing defense and #5 in pass efficiency D. With so much experience on board they have a legit shot to address a few weak areas, that being the run defense, and the lack of negative plays (#7 Big 12 TFL/game LY). They will miss star CB A.J. Green who is off to the NFL (Browns) but still have a good-looking secondary that features safety Kolby Harvell-Peel who is one of the best at his position in the Big 12.
This looks like a good enough defense on paper to support a run at the Big 12 title.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This could be a trouble spot. They need to replace reliable PK Matt Ammendola who hit 20/26 FG attempts LY and they were mediocre in the punting game in 2019. The return game could use a bit more spice.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The Pokes non-conference game goes as booked on September 12th when they open with Tulsa. They have every opportunity to get off to a hot start (Tulsa, West Virginia, at Kansas) but will need to earn it in November when they play three tough road games (Wildcats, Sooners, Horned Frogs).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Kansas St (November 7th)
This game is sandwiched between their yuuuuuge tests with Texas and Oklahoma and they’ll be the betting favorite. Not a spot we’ll likely be eating road chalk.
Season Win Total
Over 7 -125
Under 7 -105
MEGALOCKS says:
We really like the ‘over’.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
You know we love ourselves some Mike Gundy. The Cowboys had a losing record in Gundy’s first season (2005) but since then have rattled off an impressive 14 (!) consecutive winning seasons.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
There can’t be any excuses this year. The offense should be fantastic and the defense has the potential to be one of their better stop units in recent times. Special teams are a bit of a concern, but you can’t have everything. You know Gundy will COACH EM UP but can they avoid those puzzling losses that seem to haunt them from time to time? We call for them to find a way into the Big 12 Championship Game.
#GoPokes!
Want more Oklahoma St football ?
WEBSITE
https://okstate.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma-state/Board/Cowboy-Corner-103592/
https://www.orangepower.com/forum/osu-sports-forum.4/
https://oklahomastate.forums.rivals.com/forums/the-corral.28/
NEWS
http://www.pistolsfiringblog.com/category/football/
https://www.cowboysrideforfree.com/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/197/oklahoma-state-cowboys
TWITTER
Hashtag – #GoPokes, #okstate
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