Picks, Point Spread, Preview: What to Know for OSU vs. K-State

Oklahoma State gets a crack at a bounceback Saturday. After (another) demoralizing second-half collapse on Monday, this time to West Virginia, the Pokes head to the Little Apple to take on a downtrodden Kansas State team that, like OSU, boasts a 1-3 Big 12 record and needs a win to snatch up some much-needed momentum.

Here are our picks for the game, both straight up and against the spread, as well as information on how (and when) to tune in.

Picks

• Spread (KenPom): Oklahoma State -8

Marshall Scott: Eight points seems like a lot for two teams that are 1-3 in Big 12 play. With that said, I think OSU covers. Kansas State is … well … not great. The Wildcats lost to a D-II team earlier this season. I don’t think there will be an issue of OSU overlooking K-State either, considering the Pokes are coming off a game they felt they should’ve won after squandering a 19-point lead. This could be like one of those MMA fights where the fighter A knocks fighter B out and continues to punch his unconscious head because OSU doesn’t want to feel the way it felt Monday.

Pick: Oklahoma State 84, Kansas State 68

Kyle Boone: Neither teams’ records are particularly inspiring, and so on paper, this looks like a pretty even matchup. It is not. Oklahoma State’s had some wonky second-half luck to be at 1-3 in league play, meanwhile, Kansas State fortunate to be at 1-3 and hasn’t been competitive in most of its conference contests thus far. Adding insult to injury, the Wildcats’ offense is a slog of epic proportions — which plays to OSU’s strength if it’s a lower-scoring, defensive battle. (I’m sure none of this comes back to haunt me, right?) I’ll take OSU to win and cover in a blowout.

Pick: Oklahoma State 77, Kansas State 64

Kyle Cox: Yes both teams are off to a slow Big 12 start but not all 1-3 records are created equal. The Wildcats dropped their three Ls by an average of 16 points, the Cowboys by just over two. I think the Pokes enjoy some chicken soup for Big 12 soul in Manhattan and avoid a second-half scoring drought for the first time in a couple weeks and cover.

Pick: Oklahoma State 82, Kansas State 70

Viewing information

• Tip time: 5 p.m. Saturday

• Location: Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas

• Channel: ESPN2