The cream is starting to rise to the top of the Big 12, and aside from a loss on a 61-yard field goal, the Kansas State Wildcats are quietly putting together another successful season. On the other hand, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are spiraling after losing back-to-back games to South Alabama and Iowa State.
Here, College Football Network gives a Kansas State vs. Oklahoma prediction and a full breakdown of DFS, spread betting, and odds.
Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Middle Tennessee vs. Jacksonville State odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page.
- Spread
Kansas State -11.5 - Moneyline
Kansas State -425, Oklahoma State +330 - Over/Under
53.5 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK - Predicted Weather at Kick
65 degrees, 12-14 mph winds, mostly clear - How to Watch
FuboTV, ESPN
On paper, Kansas State has a distinct advantage here. Aside from being a 60-yard field goal away from 4-0, the Wildcats have been excellent on offense this year, despite losing several key playmakers from last year’s team.
However, this is the road Big 12 opener for the Wildcats and they’ve struggled mightily in Stillwater over the last few years. The Wildcats have lost 7 of their last 8 in Stillwater, allowing over 37 points a game in those contests.
The trends are muddled here, as Oklahoma State is 1-3 against the spread this season and Kansas State has covered convincingly in all three of its wins. Unders have hit in three of the Cowboys’ games, but the over has hit three of four times for Kansas State.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
All values below come from FanDuel’s multi-team entries for the weekend.
For each team’s depth chart:
Kansas State Depth Chart | Oklahoma State Depth Chart
- QB Will Howard, Kansas State ($12,000)
- QB Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State ($7800)
- RB DJ Giddens, Kansas State ($9,500)
- RB Treshaun Ward, Kansas State ($9,000)
- RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State ($6,800)
- RB Jaden Nixon, Oklahoma State ($6,000)
- RB Elijah Collins, Oklahoma State ($5,000)
- WR Phillip Brooks, Kansas State ($9,200)
- WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Oklahoma State ($6,900)
- WR Jadon Jackson, Kansas State ($6,700)
- WR Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State ($6,200)
- WR Jaden Bray, Oklahoma State ($6,000)
- WR Keagan Jackson, Kansas State ($5,600)
- TE, Ben Sinnott, Kansas State ($7,000)
You’re going to want to stack up on players from this one given that the only alternative is starting several Nebraska or Illinois players.
You’ll have more than enough money for the Will Howard-Phillip Brooks combination and you can add Treshaun Ward to that if you’re confident in the Wildcats’ ability to score on Oklahoma State’s uncharacteristically porous defense.
Ward missed last week and Giddens exploded in his stead. However, Ward should be back and this is his backfield. Expect him to get the bulk of the carries, making Giddens and his $9500 salary a tad unnecessary.
I think Oklahoma State can move the ball on the Wildcats, who gave up nearly 300 yards through the air last week. Because of this, I like Bowman as a Superflex (as long as Mike Gundy doesn’t get weird and play the other quarterbacks again) and wouldn’t hate starting one of Stribling, Presley, or Bray as a receiver.
If I had to pick one of those three receivers to have a breakout game, I’d guess Bray, who leads the Cowboys in targets and first downs, despite not having a touchdown this season.
Prediction for Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State
After giving you the odds, trends, and DFS picks, it’s time to close out with a prediction. Where you fall on this line probably depends on your reliance on trends or the eye test. Kansas State has often underperformed on the road under Chris Kleiman, but the Cowboys are the superior team.
If this game were at home, I’d take the Wildcats in a blowout. However, I think the Cowboys have found something with Bowman at quarterback and are entering a “do or die” portion of the schedule. There’s a distinct possibility that the Cowboys collapse down the stretch, but I think they’ll put up a fight in this one.
Expect the Wildcats to get off to a sluggish start in a hostile road environment. Bowman should be able to hit a few big throws like he often did at Texas Tech and the Cowboys should get a few scores.
If you were able to get in when this opened at +12.5, you’ll feel great with the line movement and I still like the Cowboys against the spread here. It would not surprise me to see the Wildcats come out and blow the Cowboys out, but I think a closer game is more likely.
Both teams should score as I’m not sold on the Wildcat defense, so expect this one to go over the total, especially if Howard and Bowman heat up.
Oklahoma State’s offensive line has struggled mightily this season, but the Cowboys have three talented running backs in Gordon, Nixon, and Collins. Expect the Wildcats to win this one, but take the Cowboys to cover in another entertaining Friday headliner.
Prediction: Kansas State 31, Oklahoma State 27