Cowboys Eager to ‘Make a Name for Ourselves’ in Possibly Biggest Underdog Game of Gundy Era

Mike Gundy’s been the underdog before, but Saturday’s trip to No. 7 Oregon (1-0) could very well end up being the biggest Goliath his Cowboys have ever lined up against.

As of Monday afternoon, the Ducks are 28.5-point favorites this weekend, according to FanDuel.

“Now, you can’t not avoid it because if you’re just watching a game, they’re running at the bottom of the TV,” Gundy said. “But I’ve never been aware of spreads. I never pay much attention to them.”

If any coach in college football has the right to ignore the odds, it’s Gundy. Since taking over in 2005, Oklahoma State has ranked ninth in the nation against the spread, both overall and when facing ranked teams, according to TeamRankings.

According to Odds Shark, Oklahoma State has been an underdog of at least 15 points nine times overall during the Gundy era, but only four times since 2007. In all four of those games, the Cowboys have vastly overperformed expectations.

Gundy as a huge underdog

Although betting lines change, this game against the Ducks will almost certainly close with the Cowboys as at least three or four-touchdown underdogs.

“They’re gonna be, essentially, going up against players that what people would think are comparable to the best organizations in the country at this time,” Gundy said. “We’re aware of that. I don’t think that there’s any secret that they have really good players, but I feel like our players will be excited to compete.”

Since Thursday night, a few defensive players described the showdown against Oregon as a chance to make a statement. 

“It’s a big opportunity,” defensive tackle De’Marion Thomas said. “You’re talking about, possibly, a playoff contender. And we go in there and make a name for ourselves. And I say we haven’t made a name for ourselves yet, but just to prove our capability on a bigger stage versus capable playoff teams.”

For Thomas, games like this are nothing new. During his last two seasons at Vanderbilt, Thomas and his teammates were favored to lose by 17-plus points seven times.

Last October, Thomas celebrated when Vanderbilt upset Alabama despite being underdogs by as much as 23.5 points, according to Odd Shark.

“Highest of highs,” Thomas said. “It was pretty nice. The celebration after (with) the goal post and stuff was all good.”

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