PFB Predictions: Oklahoma State-West Virginia

The picks are in from our staffers, and … we’re all on the Oklahoma State side (shocker!) Understandably so as rain and cold are expected on Saturday morning in Morgantown — not exactly the best recipe for the best passing offense in the country.

Let’s get to the selections.

Kyle Porter

Pick: Oklahoma State 38-27
Spread: Oklahoma State covers
Player of the Game: Justice Hill

I … I don’t know what to expect this weekend. For the first time in a long time, the Oklahoma State offense has something to prove to all of us against WVU this weekend. It’s going to be cold and wet. Dana’s going to be slugging energy drinks. WVU might have a better QB-WR TD combo than OSU. WVU has the defensive blueprint. It doesn’t look great on paper.

Here’s the thing, though. We get so caught up in whatever happened most recently. For OSU that was a hideous 13-10 win. But that was one of only two times in the last 16 games that Oklahoma State has scored under 30 points in a game (the other being OU last year). I think this particular OSU team has enough capital built up that I still have to trust it. I’m wary, though, I’m very, very wary.

Kyle Boone

Pick: OSU 31, WVU 28
Spread: WVU covers
Player of the Game: Justice Hill

Coming off a close win over Texas in which OSU scored a season-low 13 points, I think the Pokes are in order to get back on track and get over the 30 point mark on offense— but it won’t be as simple as snapping the fingers. With potentially wet conditions and an offensive line that could be gaining more depth by kickoff, I expect a heavy dosage of Justice with J.D. King spelling him at a higher-than-usual rate. OSU might be a Big Ten team for a second consecutive week.

Phillip Slavin

Pick: WVU 34, OSU 31
Spread: WVU Covers
Player of the Game: Will Grier

I had this circled as OSU’s lone loss before the season and I’m sticking with it here. Injuries on Oklahoma State’s offensive line continue to make trouble for the OSU run game. The passing attack picks back up with a couple of long TD tosses to James Washington, but the cold weather causes the return of Small Hands Rudolph. Meanwhile, OSU’s secondary faces the best group of wide receivers they’ve seen so far this season, and have trouble slowing them down. It’s a close one throughout, but West Virginia wins with a late TD.

Kyle Cox

Pick: OSU 42, WVU 38
Spread: WVU covers
Player of the Game: Justin Phillips
Oklahoma State has an easier time moving the ball inside Milan Puskar than it did inside Darrell K Royal but the conditions are concerning. That’s why I picked a defender as POG. Phillips nabs one of those slippery footballs and makes his way to pay dirt for the third time this season to secure the win.

Hayden Barber

Pick: Oklahoma State 24-23
Spread: Oklahoma State does not cover
Player of the game: Ramon Richards

Mike Yurcich is normally good at covering from a bad game, but not in rain. I say more free cereal. Ramon gets another clincher, and the OSU offense goes full Bedlam, again.

Thomas Fleming

Pick: OSU 27-23
Spread: OSU doesn’t cover
PotG: Justice Hill

Rudolph struggles in weather, WVU leads at half. Justice Hill only gets PotG because he carries it 28 times. David sills scores twice but OSU’s red zone defense plays well in the second half.

Justin Southwell

Pick: Oklahoma State 36-33
Spread: Oklahoma State does not cover
Player of the Game: Justice Hill

What’s my prediction? Rain. I wouldn’t be surprised if OSU launches a deep ball to Washington or Ateman on the first play of the game. But if WVU lines up on defense like Texas did, OSU will run the ball. Not to worry, though. They will be able to run it against WVU. As good as OSU’s defense has been lately, I think WVU will score some points. Both teams will probably finish below their season averages due to the weather.

Nick Welch

Pick: OSU 21, WVU 20
Spread: WVU covers
Player of the Game: Marcell Ateman

Lower scoring than the experts predict. The rain will affect Rudolph’s ability to have a quality grip on the ball and lead to a similar shorter pass/run-heavy offense seen during the Texas game. Gundy decides to go for it on 4th down more frequently than last week out of kicker distrust. Glenn Spencer’s defense carries its momentum into Morgantown and somewhat contains Grier. Justice Hill has over 100 yards on the ground, but Ateman turns the tide of the game with some key 3rd down catches to silence the sellout crowd.

Matt Harris

Pick: OSU 34, WVU 28
Spread: West Virginia Covers
Player of the game: Marcell Ateman

Normally this is a game that would feature all of the points, but rainy conditions in Morgantown this weekend will put a cap on that. Justice and J.D. King will both have big days against a Mountaineer defense that allowed nearly 400 yards rushing to Kansas, but Marcell Ateman will step up and make a big catch late to push OSU over the top for a key road win heading into Bedlam.

Ryan Harris

Pick: Oklahoma State 28-23
Spread: West Virginia Covers
Player of the Game: Tyron Johnson

In cold conditions, Oklahoma State will get Tyron Johnson the ball in space through jet sweeps and screen passes. This will set up the deep ball with James Washington and Marcel Ateman. The Pokes will escape in a close one in Morgantown.