**3.3 Dime NCAAB POD- Texas vs. Oklahoma State

[Pick Bot]

Tonight we look to bounce back from our recent performances with a NCAAB POD. We will be conservative with our rankings for some time until things get back to normal.

Oklahoma State +2 (3.3 Dime Play)
Another big time Big 12 match up between two teams that need this win! They have had 5 common opponents so far in the conference play with similar statistics and records. The main differences are the opponents. Oklahoma State has faced Oklahoma and Missouri while Texas faced Iowa State. Oklahoma States stats are a little more impressive because they faced two top 100 teams while Iowa State is outside the top 100 of the RPI. The stats are still really similar with Texas outscoring conference opponents +4.8 and Oklahoma State out scoring opponents +2.7 ppg.

Again the stronger conference schedule thus far for Oklahoma State and the way that Texas has been playing offensively and playing on the road gives me reason to believe that the Cowboys will come up with the outright victory tonight.

Oklahoma State will have to play solid defense which they do far better at home than on the road and they'll have shoot well from the FT line and contain the offensive rebounds that Texas will get because there really is nobody that can match Pittman's 6'10 - 290 frame other than Moses who plays bigger than he really is. However, Pittman has been wildly inconsistent and the best player on the court will be on the Cowboys side in James Anderson. He's averaging 22.5 and 6 rebounds per game. He is coming off his best game yet and should be poised to do the same at home tonight.

Though Oklahoma State has struggled without their point guard Ray Penn particularly in turning the ball over I believe playing in their 4th game without him and at home where they are +2.5 in turnover margin will allow them to make the necessary adjustments with Gulley bringing the ball up. Texas also has turnover problems and averages about 15.4 on the road this year so I'm not so sure the advantage for turnovers would be on Texas' side to begin with. They just turned the ball over 18 times at home to Baylor and they are 318th in the nation in FT% while Oklahoma State has shot the ball well from the FT line at home and in conference play both over 70%.

A year ago Moses had a great game with 16 rebounds to Pittman's 5. Because, Pittman is so inconsistent I believe Oklahoma State can get away from being out matched down low and they'll be able to steal this one.