Virginia Tech vs. OK State Bowl Pick
Are the Virginia Tech Hokies a good underdog play Thursday evening when they visit the Oklahoma State Cowboys at 5:15 p.m. ET?
ODDSMAKERS LIKE: Oklahoma State. According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Cowboys are 6.5-point favorites to knock off the Hokies, who also opened as 6.5-point underdogs. As for the total, the number hit the board at 62.5 but was bet down to 61.5.
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THE PUBLIC LIKES: Oklahoma State. As of Thursday afternoon, 76% of betting tickets were on the Cowboys to cover the spread and 80% of the money was also on Oklahoma State.
INJURY REPORT: For the Hokies, Joey Slye (hamstring) and Mook Reynolds (illness) are both probable. Yosuah Nijman (leg), meanwhile, is doubtful, while Cam Phillips (hernia), Travon McMillian (personal), Vinny Mihota (knee) and Terrell Edmunds (shoulder) are all out.
For the Cowboys, Kenneth Edison-McGruder (undisclosed) and Darrion Daniels (upper body) are both questionable. Larry Williams (leg), Adrian Baker (disciplinary) and Kevin Henry (knee) are all out.
WHO WE LIKE: Virginia Tech. This is a lot of points to lay against one of the best defenses in the nation. The Hokies allowed just 305.2 yards per game this season, which ranked 11th in the country. They were also 24th in passing yards allowed (186.4), 15th in rushing yards allowed (118.8), and fifth in points allowed (13.5).
I’m well aware of Mason Rudolph and Oklahoma State’s ability to score quickly but how motivated will the Cowboys be for this meaningless bowl game after they believed they were a playoff contender this season. Plus, the two times they went up against quality opponents this year, they lost by double digits to TCU and Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, Josh Jackson had a solid season as a freshman for Virginia Tech and he will look to build on that year with a strong performance tonight. Jackson will find plenty of openings both on the ground and through the air against an OK State defense that allows an average of 30.1 points per game.
CAMPING WORLD BOWL PREDICTION: VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES +6.5