The Oklahoma State Cowboys are set to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders this weekend. Check out our college football odds series, which includes our Oklahoma State-Texas Tech prediction, odds, and pick.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are still alive in the College Football Playoff race. Why are they not being talked about much? First, most people who study college football odds think they will lose to Oklahoma. Lincoln Riley has had Mike Gundy's number in the “Bedlam” game. Second, it's true that the Big 12 sits behind Oregon (which beat Ohio State) and the Big Ten. The Michigan State-Ohio State winner has the true inside track to a playoff berth. Even if Oklahoma State wins out, it would likely need help from at least one source to make the playoff.

That said, Oklahoma State has a really good team. The win over Baylor earlier in the season looks better and better, given the rise of Bears head coach Dave Aranda in the coaching carousel. Oklahoma State will get its chance to prove how good it is in these next two weeks. Mike Gundy just wants to make sure his team doesn't look ahead to Bedlam. If you are making an Oklahoma State Texas Tech pick, you are surely wondering if the Pokes will be fully focused.

Texas Tech has had an interesting fortnight. The program fired Matt Wells in the middle of the season, despite having a winning record. Many people laughed at the Red Raiders for making that move, but if you ask fans and people close to the program, it was the obvious move to make. Wells was not making good personnel moves. He was not recruiting at the level needed to compete with the big boys in the Big 12. Wells never really hit it off with fans as an outsider; only when an outsider wins big is he loved by the community.

Texas Tech hired Joey McGuire, a Baylor assistant, to the head coaching position without waiting until the end of the season. McGuire isn't handling game-coaching duties — offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie is handling that piece of the operation — but he is already recruiting. He landed three prospects in his first week on the job, electrifying the fan base. There's more to this Texas Tech story which we'll share below, in the “why Texas Tech could cover the spread” section.

Here’s how the bookmakers have set the odds:

College Football odds: Oklahoma State-Texas Tech Odds

Oklahoma State: -9.5 (-118)

Texas Tech: +9.5 (-104)

Over: 56.5 (-110)

Under: 56.5 (-110)

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Why Oklahoma State Could Cover the Spread

The Cowboys have a strong defense led by coordinator Jim Knowles. Mike Gundy has remained relevant and a factor in the Big 12 for a number of reasons. One is that he keeps hiring good defensive coordinators to complement his offense. Knowles has been brilliant this season. No OSU opponent has scored more than 24 points. The Cowboys' loss to Iowa State was a 24-21 loss. The defense has carried this team, and it can certainly put the clamps on Texas Tech. If you are thinking about making an Oklahoma State Texas Tech pick, you have to account for that possibility.

Why Texas Tech Could Cover the Spread

The Red Raiders, after firing Matt Wells, made a change at quarterback. Wells wanted Henry Colombi at quarterback. As soon as he got fired, Cumbie put in redshirt freshman Donovan Smith. In last weekend's game against Iowa State (the one team which defeated Oklahoma State this season), Smith instantly upgraded the Texas Tech passing game, lending fresh firepower to an offense which scored 41 points and defeated the Cyclones on a walk-off field goal. The change at quarterback transformed the offense and validated everyone who felt Wells was holding the program back. Donovan Smith could give OSU problems.

Final Oklahoma State-Texas Tech Prediction & Pick

While Donovan Smith is indeed an upgrade for Texas Tech at quarterback, Oklahoma State's defense is too good to lose the game outright. Is Oklahoma State 10 points better than this improved version of Tech, in a night road game? Probably not. The fact that the Pokes have Bedlam next week probably means they won't play their best game. They will win, but it will be close. Pokes 27, Red Raiders 24.

Final Oklahoma State-Texas Tech Pick: Texas Tech +9.5