No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 16 Baylor Odds, Prediction for Week 5

No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State is currently 3-0 on the season, with wins over Central Michigan, Arizona State, and Arkansas Pine-Bluff. If we're being totally honest here, this will be the Cowboys' first real test of the year. It'll also be their first road game of the year, so we will see just how good they actually are. Oklahoma State has averaged 51.7 points per game while allowing 22.7 points per game. The offense has churned out over 500 yards of offense per game, but they're also allowing nearly 400 yards on the defensive end.

QB Spencer Sanders has been great to start the year. He's thrown ten touchdowns along with just one interception through three games, and he's also capable of earning yards on the ground. WR Braydon Johnson has 14 catches and 300 yards with three touchdowns, so he has been absolutely dominating opposing defenses, and has been the safety blanket for Sanders. The offensive line hasn't been playing well at all, but the playmakers have offset the problems up there.

Meanwhile, the defense has looked terrific against the run but awful against the pass. Oklahoma State has allowed 265.3 yards per game in the air while only allowing 111.3 yards on the ground. The pass rush has been effective, but the secondary has broken down multiple times through three games this season, and that is against poor competition.

No. 16 Baylor Bears

The Baylor Bears lost their second game of the season to BYU in double overtime, but their hopes of making the College Football Playoff aren't completely dead yet. If they manage to win this game, they can revive themselves with a win over a top-10 opponent here in Oklahoma State. The Bears are now 1-0 in conference play heading into this game after an upset win on the road against Iowa State.

Baylor has averaged 431 yards per game while allowing 305.3 yards per game. The offense is better than last year with QB Blake Shapen under center. The sophomore has thrown seven touchdowns and just one interception through four games this season. Baylor is still overall a power rushing team, with RB Richard Reese already having 315 yards rushing and six touchdowns.

The defense has looked incredible against the run game, and the coverage in the secondary has been nearly as good. They've allowed under 80 yards per game on the ground this season, which is one of the best numbers in football.

My Prediction

I have been high on the Bears all season, and sometimes I think they don't get the respect they should. Baylor's run blocking has been much better than Oklahoma State's, and they are just the far more consistent team overall this season. I like Baylor to grab a win here over the Cowboys at home.