OSU in Familiar Territory as Bedlam Underdog

Oklahoma State is an underdog on Saturday against rival Oklahoma, a position it has been in more often than not since the rivalry began (and since point spreads were tracked).

Just how often, you ask? I did it a little digging after writing about how the Pokes are 8-point underdogs this weekend, and only six times since 1983 (!) has OSU been the favorite. And in only half of those games — in 2011, 1998 and 1997 — has that resulted in a favorable outcome for the Cowboys.

Here’s a look at point spreads over the years in the rivalry. In some instances, OU being a single-digit favorite bodes well for it being a close game. But since 2000, OSU’s only four wins came when either it was a double-digit underdog (2001, 2002 and 2014) or as a favorite (2011). If that makes zero sense to you, then I cannot help you. That is Bedlam.

There’s not much to take away from this, but half of OSU’s wins since 2000 in this rivalry have taken place in Norman, and it’s been competitive there more often than not. The last time the two faced off on OU’s turf came in 2018, when a Taylor Cornelius-led Pokes squad fell 48-47 after just missing on a 2-point conversion attempt.