It is often said that football is the ultimate team sport. And one coach that might get that more than most is the Oklahoma State Cowboys Mike Gundy.
His Cowboys have now gone 16 straight seasons without a losing season. And that is quite an accomplishment in the Big-12, competing against the likes of Oklahoma, Texas and Baylor.
Last year, his team famously lost the Big-12 Championship to Baylor by mere inches on the final play of the game.
Their 11-win season still earned them a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and a meeting against 1-loss Notre Dame. And all they did there is come roaring back from a 28-7 first half deficit for the 37-35 victory.
They did it without any Heisman contenders or the best of the best at any position. Just a solid team on both sides of the ball, including one of the best defensive lines and offensive lines in the nation.
Some of the stars of last year’s team have moved on, but quarterback Spencer Sanders returns along with three starters from the o-line. They’ll have a well-rounded position group at both running back and wide receiver as they wait for one or two players to separate from the pack.
This was the best team in the nation at sacking the quarterback last year and one of the top defenses. And even with a new defensive coordinator they should be great again. Many of the top players will be back, including Collin Oliver, Tyler Lacy, Brock Martin and Trace Ford returning from injury.
Where so many teams are looking for big improvements through the transfer portal, this is a team that just keeps chugging along, building from the ground up.
2022 Oklahoma State Cowboys NCAA Football Futures Odds
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 90/1
- Odds to win the 2022 Big 12 Conferences: +500
- 2022 Regular Season Win Total: Over 8½ (-120)
- Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +1400 | No -10000
- 2022 Heisman Contenders: Spencer Sanders +8000
- Official website: okstate.com
- Twitter Account : @CowboyFB
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 90/1
These are terrific odds for a team flying under the radar. They are clearly a notch below the Alabama and Ohio States of the field, but this is a team that showed a lot last year, with one of the best coaches in the nation, and a great returning cast who should justifiably be hungry for more.
The Verdict: Worth a small bet
Odds to win the 2022 Big-12 Conference: +500
The two teams who underwent the biggest makeovers with the help of the transfer portals, Oklahoma and Texas are the strong favorites to win the conference. I think that is even more fuel for the fire here and a good coach will use that as motivation to help his team find an extra gear.
It’ll also be fascinating to watch, with no end to the story lines given how the favorites are also on their way out.
The Verdict: Worth a bet
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Over 8½ (-120)
The Cowboys get three powder puff teams to start the season, before the Big-12 journey begins with a rematch at Baylor. Oklahoma State won the regular season match up last year and they’ll be helped by Baylor visiting Iowa State the week before their game with the Cowboys enjoying their bye week.
Having Texas at home and having their hardest games spread out helps as well.
The Verdict: Over 8½ (-120)
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +1400 | No -10000
This team should be in the mix to make the playoffs. It really is that simple. They stay healthy and they have what it takes to be a top-eight team in the nation. Win the Big-12 and have their much-improved competitors turn in a good season as well to help strengthen their strength of schedule and that puts them in top-four company as a solid long shot.
The Verdict: Yes with a small bet +1400
2022 Heisman Contenders: Spencer Sanders +8000
Sanders is not a flashy quarterback. He passed for 2,800 yards with 20TDs and 12 INTs. He also ran for 668 yards and six TDs. The numbers would have to take a huge jump to put him in the mix, for a team that builds from the lines and rushing game out.
The Verdict: Skip it
Odds According to Bovada as of August, 2022
Oklahoma State Cowboys 2022 Schedule
| SEASON | |||
| Date | Time | Opponent | TV |
| 1-Sep | 7:00 p.m. | Central Michigan* | FS1 |
| 10-Sep | 7:30 p.m. | Arizona State* | ESPN2 |
| 17-Sep | 7:00 p.m. | Arkansas–Pine Bluff* | ESPN+ |
| 1-Oct | at Baylor | ||
| 8-Oct | Texas Tech | ||
| 15-Oct | at TCU | ||
| 22-Oct | Texas | ||
| 29-Oct | at Kansas State | ||
| 5-Nov | at Kansas | ||
| 12-Nov | Iowa State | ||
| 19-Nov | at Oklahoma | ||
| 26-Nov | West Virginia | ESPN | |
Home stadium: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK
*Non-conference game – All times are in Eastern time
Bet on the Oklahoma State Cowboys 2022 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.
