Utah vs. Oklahoma State: Prediction, Preview, Betting Odds
Week 4 of the college football season is here. Utah plays Oklahoma State, and Heartland College Sports has your game prediction, preview, and betting odds ahead of the matchup.
GAME INFO
Saturday, Sept. 21; 3:00 p.m. (CT); Boone Pickens Stadium; Stillwater, OK
TV: FOX
Records: No. 12 Utah (3-0); No. 14 Oklahoma State (3-0)
Last Week: Utah 38, Utah State 21; Oklahoma State 45, Tulsa 10
Series History: Oklahoma State leads, 1-0-0
Last Meeting: Oklahoma State 46, Utah 6 (1945)
Fun Fact: The only meeting between the programs was during the 1945 season, in which Oklahoma State has retroactively claimed a national title. That game occurred in late October and gave the Oklahoma A&M Aggies their fourth win of the season. They would finish the year at 9-0, including a win in the Sugar Bowl.
Utah vs. Oklahoma State Betting Lines and Odds
Opening Line: Oklahoma State (-2.5)
Over/Under: 51.5
Key Players
Utah Utes
QB Cam Rising
Rising’s status entering the game is up in the air after injuring his throwing hand against Baylor two weeks ago. However, given how important this contest is, if he’s got a chance to go, there’s probably a good chance he’ll make it work. With just five quarters of action in 2024, Rising has completed 18 of 29 attempts for 346 yards and seven touchdowns. Getting him back against Oklahoma State would be vital, and for the purposes of this preview we’ll assume its him rather than Isaac Wilson who takes the snaps on Saturday.
DE Van Fillinger
While Junior Tafuna gets most of the attention along the Utes’ defensive line, the man who’s played the role of “game-wrecker” for Utah to this point has arguably been defensive end Van Fillinger. Through three games, Fillinger has 16 tackles and 3.5 sacks, recording at least a 0.5 sack in every game thus far. If Oklahoma State’s passing game is going to play a factor in this game, Fillinger will need to be disruptive.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
WR De’Zhaun Stribling
It took a few games into his second season, but former Washington State transfer De’Zhaun Stribling got going on Saturday against Tulsa and he was impressive. Stribling led all Pokes receivers with seven receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns, while Talyn Shettron also broke out (3 rec, 110 yds, 1 TD) and provided some big-time weapons for Alan Bowman on the outside. If Stribling can continue to stretch the field for Oklahoma State’s offense, other playmakers, like Ollie Gordon and Brennan Presley, will be even more effective.
S Kendal Daniels
Assuming Cam Rising is able to go on Saturday, Oklahoma State’s defense — particularly its pass defense — will be put to the test. However, with how balanced the Utes are offensively, they won’t be able to afford to forget about the run either. That’s where Kendal Daniels comes in. A versatile safety, Daniels is the kind of player who can be a force in the run fits as well as operate in open space as a pass defender. He ranks third on the team in tackles through three games and leads all defenders with four PBUs.
KEY STORYLINES
Utah Utes
Will Cam Rising play, and if he does, how effective is he? “Utah’s offense will be defined by how healthy Cam Rising is this season.” If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times. Yet, just into his second game of the year, Rising sustained an injury that’s already forced him to miss a game. Yes, Isaac Wilson looks like he might be the quarterback of the future, but it’s Rising’s time to shine. Having him at 100% for what looks like one of Utah’s toughest tests of the year will be vital to their chances of winning.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Can Oklahoma State find the offensive balance to get Ollie Gordon going? Since starting off the season with 126 yards and three touchdowns against South Dakota State, Gordon has been held under 50 rushing yards in back-to-back contests. Luckily, the Pokes have seen their passing offense pick up the slack in both cases and have found a way to put up points against Arkansas and Tulsa. Now, they’ll face one of the best defenses in the country, and it’ll force them to be creative offensively. If Gordon can get rolling in this game, Oklahoma State could keep Utah’s defense on its heels more often than not.
PREDICTION: Utah 30, Oklahoma State 27
Assuming Rising starts, I expect this game to be one of the best that we see all season long. These teams match up incredibly well statistically and should provide a true coin-flip game that will have huge implications in the Big 12 race.
In a back-and-forth affair that remains within one score from beginning to end, I’ll take Kyle Whittingham and the Utes to win a close game in Stillwater and solidify themselves as one of the teams to beat in the Big 12.
