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Jake Retzlaff Aims to Lead No. 13 BYU Past Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State and BYU will meet on the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium in a battle of Big 12 conference rivals.

(Photo by Getty Images) Jake Retzlaff

Oklahoma State (3-3-0) at BYU (6-0-0)

  • When: Oct 18 2024, 10:15 PM
  • Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
  • Where to watch: ESPN

Game Odds, Spread, Moneyline & Total

Oklahoma State @ BYU (#13)
Moneyline

Oklahoma State   +280
BYU (#13)   -360

Oklahoma State @ BYU (#13)
Point Spread

Oklahoma State   8.5 (-105)
BYU (#13)   -8.5 (-115)

Oklahoma State @ BYU (#13)
Total

Over   52.5 (-110)
Under   52.5 (-110)

Passing Team Leaders:
Oklahoma State: Alan Bowman 1675 Yds
BYU: Jake Retzlaff 1424 Yds

Team Stats

Oklahoma State   BYU
3-3 Record 6-0
1-1 Away & Home 3-0
2-4-0 ATS 6-0-0
3-3-0 O/U 4-2-0

Last Matchup:
Oklahoma State 40-34, November 25th, 2023

Game Preview

In July, BYU was projected to finish 13th in the revamped Big 12 Conference.

Fast forward to Sunday, and the Cougars have climbed to 13th in the AP Top 25 after a 41-19 win over Arizona, pushing their record to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play.

With a Friday night showdown against Oklahoma State in Provo, some BYU players are setting their sights beyond just bowl eligibility — they want a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff.

"We are bowl-eligible," said cornerback Jakob Robinson, "but I’m thinking about the national championship."

BYU’s performance backs up their ambition. The Cougars have outscored opponents 206-98, with key wins including a 38-9 victory over No. 17 Kansas State and an 18-15 win at No. 21 SMU, both 5-1 teams.

Quarterback Jake Retzlaff has thrown 14 touchdown passes with a 60.3 percent completion rate. Wide receivers Chase Roberts and Darius Lassiter form a strong duo, while the defense has shown its ability to pressure quarterbacks and force turnovers.

The only glaring issue is BYU’s low third-down conversion rate of 30.6 percent, one of the worst in the nation.

“I’m excited for what’s to come,” Retzlaff said. “We just want to keep improving, and we know we’re better than being ranked 13th.”

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-3) is looking to turn around a season that began with promise but has since unraveled. The Cowboys have lost their first three conference games by wider margins each time, including a 38-14 defeat at home to West Virginia on Oct. 5.

Their offense has struggled, with running back Ollie Gordon II on pace for fewer than half of last year’s 1,732 rushing yards and quarterback Alan Bowman throwing eight interceptions in six games.

Coach Mike Gundy has even benched Gordon twice recently and is undecided on starting him this week.

On defense, Oklahoma State has been vulnerable against the run, allowing West Virginia to rack up 389 rushing yards and Kansas State 300 in a 42-20 loss.

“We need to tighten up our run defense and limit the big plays,” Gundy said.

The Cowboys have won all three previous matchups against BYU, including a 40-34 double-overtime thriller last year.

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NCAA Football Parlay Picks & Predictions

Final Score: BYU 30-20
The Pick: BYU -8 (-115) & Under 52½
A $100 Parlay Bet will return $357

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