Game Prediction: #22 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Oklahoma Sooners

The Bedlam Series is back, but the 2022 version lacks some of the luster as the No. 22 Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-3) have been scuffling of late, and the Oklahoma Sooners have been struggling all season in year one of the Brent Venables era.

But don't be surprised if both teams bring their A game in this huge rivalry game.

Where: Memorial Stadium (Norman, Okla.)
When: 7:30 PM ET
Network: ABC
Line: Oklahoma -7.5, O/U 66.5

IB has broken down the game and it's time to make our predictions.

BRYAN DRISKELL, PUBLISHER

Prediction: Oklahoma State 30, Oklahoma 23

I must admit that I was quite surprised to see Oklahoma as a 7.5-point favorite in this contest. I realize the Cowboys haven't looked like world beaters of late, especially when Spencer Sanders was out of the lineup, but have you seen Oklahoma play?

Sanders came off the bench against Iowa State to lead the Cowboys to a victory, and reports are he is going to battle through his shoulder injury in order to start in what could be his final Bedlam game. As long as he can make it through the game I believe the Cowboys should be able to do enough to win this game.

The key will be the OSU pass rush, which has taken a huge step back this season despite the presence of Collin Oliver and Brock Martin. If Oklahoma can give quarterback Dillon Gabriel time to throw the Sooners have a chance to move the ball on what has been a wildly inconsistent Cowboy defense.

My prediction is Oklahoma State does enough defensively to make stops, Sanders grits through this game and the Cowboys earn back-to-back Bedlam wins for the first time of Mike Gundy's head coaching career. In fact, the last time OSU beat Oklahoma in back-to-back games (2001-02) Gundy was the offensive coordinator.

RYAN ROBERTS, DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING

Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Oklahoma 21

It’s hard to have much confidence in Oklahoma, even after playing slightly better after a terrible midseason skid. Oklahoma State has also been up and down while quarterback Spencer Sanders has dealt with injury.

With Sanders now back healthy, he is a tough fuel threat option for Oklahoma to deal with. The Sooners just don’t have quite the offensive consistency to keep pace in this one.

VINCE DEDARIO, FOOTBALL ANALYST

Prediction: Oklahoma 31, Oklahoma State 27

I am a little surprised that the Sooners are 7.5-point favorites in this one considering what has happened to them this season but the the defense has forced an awful lot of turnovers lately and the Cowboy offense loves giving the ball away. I like Oklahoma in this game because they can run the ball and create turnovers and the game is in Norman. Not sure I like them by seven though.

SHAUN DAVIS, RECRUITING ANALYST

Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Oklahoma 20

The Cowboys have struggled offensively for three consecutive games. However, the defense created enough turnovers last week against Iowa State to break their two-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Sooners defense can’t seem to stop anyone, and that could be the remedy for Oklahoma State’s offense to explode in Bedlam.

SEAN STIRES, STAFF WRITER

Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Oklahoma 27

Oklahoma State’s offense has disappeared over the last three games, scoring just 36 total points. Oklahoma’s defense has been a sieve all season, but the Sooners have forced eight turnovers in the last two games, even though they’ve lost both. The Cowboys are still in third place in the Big 12, with a chance at a repeat trip to the conference championship game if they win this week and next week and get some help from West Virginia and Kansas, who both play Kansas State.

ANDREW McDONOUGH, IB CONTRIBUTOR

Prediction: Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 31

Oklahoma State's victory last season in Stillwater broke a 6-game Sooner winning streak in the fierce Bedlam rivalry. The Sooners return the favor this season in Norman, taking back control of a rivalry they have owned (Oklahoma holds a 90-19-7 advantage).

After last season's Cowboy defense finished fourth in the country allowing only 297.6 YPG, this season's version is almost giving up that much through the air alone, ranking last in the Big 12 giving up 289.8 passing YPG. Even though Oklahoma has massively underachieved this season, when the Sooners can throw the ball effectively, they win. In 5 wins, Oklahoma is averaging 270.0 passing YPG with 12 touchdowns against just 1 interception.

In 5 losses, the Sooners are averaging just 199.2 passing YPG with just 6 touchdowns against 5 interceptions. Playing at home against an undermanned secondary, Oklahoma moves the ball all day and pulls this one out.

IB STAFF STANDINGS

Bryan - 39-13
Ryan - 36-16
Vince - 34-18
Shaun - 32-20
Sean - 31-21
Andrew - 30-22

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