Missouri vs. Oklahoma State Bowl Pick
The Missouri Tigers can get to nine wins on the 2018 season with a victory Monday afternoon versus the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Autozone Liberty Bowl. But will the Tigers cover the nearly double-digit spread in the process?
Game Snapshot
263 Missouri Tigers vs. 264 Oklahoma State Cowboys
3:45 p.m. ET, Monday, December 31, 2018
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Tigers are 9-point favorites to beat the Cowboys. The total, meanwhile, sits at 72 points. As of this writing, 69% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Cowboys.
Missouri Tigers
The Draft Network’s Jon Ledyard projects the Broncos to take Missouri senior QB Drew Lock with the 12th pick in his two-round mock draft. Lock would be the second — and last — quarterback taken in the first round in this case, with Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State going fifth in this scenario. Case Keenum has not appeared to be a long-term answer for the Broncos, and Lock — though flawed — represents a potential answer. As Ledyard summarizes: “Lock’s accuracy and decision-making can be troubling at times, but he did show marked improvement over the last several weeks of the season in Derek Dooley’s offense.”
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State redshirt senior QB Taylor Cornelius accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game. Cornelius was a somewhat surprising starter for the Cowboys coming into the year, and while there were certainly highs and lows for the redshirt senior, he did show flashes of brilliance while leading Oklahoma State to a 6-6 record. There will be concerns about his arm strength and decision-making, but he can make plays with his legs, and a good showing at an event like this will help him get looks as a potential late-round pick or UDFA.
Betting Trends
Missouri
The Tigers are 1-4 against the spread in their las t five games against Big 12 opponents.
Oklahoma State
The Cowboys are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games versus a team with a winning record.
Prediction
The Tigers do have a clear weakness on defense and its their pass defense but they have an excellent rush defense and without star running back Justice Hill, the Cowboys could be too one-dimensional today offensively. With Lock set to play, Missouri should move the ball at will. The Cowboys rank 76th in the nation in yards per attempt allowed this season and Lock has carved up weak defenses the past three seasons. This spread looks high, which is why a lot of public bettors are on OK State today. But if Mizzou is on its game (and the Tigers will be motivated with Lock not skipping the game to prepare for the NFL), then Barry Odom’s team should roll.
Autozone Liberty Bowl Prediction: Missouri Tigers -9