Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Baylor Bears Betting Preview
12 March 2021

The Big 12 Conference Tournament has just four teams left standing, and there are a pair of great matchups set for Friday. The Baylor Bears take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first of two semifinal games.
Oklahoma State upset West Virginia on Thursday afternoon, and the Cowboys are one of the hottest teams in college basketball. The Cowboys have now won seven of their last eight games, and they are peaking at the perfect time.
Baylor has just one loss the entire season, but things have not been as easy for the Bears of late. Baylor defeated Kansas State by a score of 74-68 in the quarterfinals, but they are looking to find the rhythm that they were playing with in January.
Baylor is a nine-point favorite over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Conference semifinal round.
Cunningham Carrying Cowboys
Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham will likely be the number one overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he has been carrying his current squad. Cunningham is averaging 19.6 points per game, and he is also capable of making plays to help his teammates' score.
The Cowboys are averaging 76.5 points per game this season while holding teams to 72 points per game. This team has been able to win a ton of close games of late, and that should give them some confidence against one of the best teams in the country.
Oklahoma State is shooting just 33 percent from deep as a team, and they will look to shoot the ball much better in this matchup.
Baylor Beating Teams With Depth
There are few teams in the country as deep as the Baylor Bears, and that is how this team has been able to go 22-1 this season. Baylor is scoring close to 85 points per game, and they just wear teams down with their depth and the fast pace at which they play.
Guard Jared Butler leads the team with 17.2 points per game, and Davion Mitchell sets the ton with 5.5 assists per game. Baylor has five guards that are all capable of taking over a game, and they will all be able to defend Cunningham as well.
Baylor is also allowing just 65 points per game, and they have shut down some terrific teams this season. If the Bears are making shots, they are nearly impossible to beat.
Baylor Blasts Oklahoma State
Baylor was not sharp in the Thursday win over Kansas State, but it doesn’t take much for the Bears to get things rolling. This is a team that can really score the basketball, and that defense is hard to play against.
Oklahoma State had to expend a ton of energy in the comeback win over West Virginia, and that will likely play a role on Friday night. The Cowboys are a team that can make some serious noise over the next few weeks, but Baylor is simply on another level.
Look for Oklahoma State to keep this game close for a half, but it will be all Baylor from that point on. The Bears cruise into the Big 12 title game with a statement win on Friday.
Bet the Baylor Bears -9.0 over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
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