PFB Picks: Predictions for Oklahoma State’s Week 4 Game against Utah

This is a big one.

Oklahoma State hosts Big 12 newcomer Utah at 3 p.m. Saturday. Despite being the newbie, though, the Utes were picked to win the conference title in their inaugural season. But first, the Utes’ biggest conference matchup of the season comes in their first real Big 12 game.

Here’s how the PFB staff sees this one playing out.

Marshall Scott

Score: Oklahoma State 31, Utah 28

Game MVP: Alan Bowman

Uniform: Orange (Brand)-Orange-White

Thoughts: This game is a tough pick not only because it looks to be a tightly contested game, but also it’s tough to say what the Utes’ quarterback situation will look like. Say Cam Rising is 100% healthy — even then he would have taken only 65 live snaps in the past 600+ days. For that reason, I’m taking Oklahoma State. I think Alan Bowman and his receivers getting confident with each other in Tulsa last weekend will factor big into Saturday’s game and while Gordon’s numbers might not look outstanding given the excellent standard he has set, I think OSU he’ll get going a little against the Utes.

Kyle Cox

Score: Oklahoma State 35, Utah 28

Game MVP: Ollie Gordon

Uniform: White (Cursive Cowboys)-Black-White

Thoughts: As far as my MVP goes, see last week’s prediction. TL;DR: I’m picking Ollie until he proves he can’t be the MVP. Also, in order for my score prediction to be correct, OSU needs to be two-dimensional on offense. Utah’s defense is allowing an opponent passer rating of just 97.5 so far this year and a 1:1 TD-to-interception ratio. So, as good as Alan Bowman looked against Tulsa, this is a different animal. OSU needs Ollie to go off. I went B-W-B not only because it’s sexy but also it might be the safest bet if you’re superstitious about such things.

Dekota Gregory

Score: Oklahoma State 34, Utah 27

Game MVP: Alan Bowman

Uniform: Black (Cursive Cowboys)-Black-Orange

Thoughts: With the risk of putting my foot in my mouth, I think there’s a reason the Pac-12 is a dead conference, and that is why I believe Utah is overrated despite the success it had where it came from. This is the biggest non-Bedlam game in Stillwater in a very long time. And there’s just something about Boone Pickens Stadium. There just aren’t atmospheres like BPS out West. This is the Pokes’ conference after Saturday.

But in order for the Cowboys to win this one, it’ll have to come on the arm of Alan Bowman. Utah will do all it can to shut down Ollie Gordon. So if the Cowboys win, it’s because of Bowman.