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The 1-seed Oklahoma State Cowboys (17-16) meet the 8-seed Youngstown State Penguins (17-15) Wednesday in the 1st round of the NIT. Tip from Beeghly Center in Youngstown, Ohio, is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Oklahoma State vs. Youngstown State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Oklahoma State hits the road despite a No. 1 seed, as the school is hosting the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Stillwater this weekend. If it advances, it will host in the 2nd round. The Cowboys will be making their 13th appearance in the NIT and 1st as the No. 1 seed. It last appeared in the 2018 NIT, making its deepest run to the quarterfinals.
The Cowboys were the first team out in the NCAA Tournament selection process after going 18-15 straight up (SU), including 6 Quad 1 wins. But non-conference losses to Southern Illinois, UCF and Virginia Tech weighed heavily against the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State also struggled down the stretch, losing 5 in a row from Feb. 14-27, albeit against 5 NCAA Tournament teams. It didn’t fare well after G Avery Anderson III went down with an injury. He was averaging 11.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.4 APG and 1.5 SPG while hitting 82.3% of his free throws.
The Penguins won the regular-season title in the Horizon League, but it came up short against Cleveland State in the tournament semifinals, having to settle for an NIT bid. Youngstown State enters the NIT 0-4 ATS in the last 4 games, while scoring 71 or fewer points in 3 of the last 4 outings.
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Oklahoma State at Youngstown State odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 11:18 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Oklahoma State -260 (bet $260 to win $100) | Youngstown +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
- Against the spread (ATS): Oklahoma State -5.5 (-115) | Youngstown +5.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Oklahoma State at Youngstown State picks and predictions
Prediction
Oklahoma State 76, Youngstown State 69
Moneyline
Oklahoma State (-260) will cost you more than 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s too expensive for a standalone bet.
AVOID, and focus on the spread instead.
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Against the spread
OKLAHOMA STATE -5.5 (-115) is worth playing lightly, but go with a small-unit wager at best.
It’s a tough assignment for the Cowboys, hitting the road to face a 24-win team due to scheduling conflicts. Oklahoma State just missed being an NCAA Tournament team, and it has faced much larger obstacles than a trip to Youngstown, Ohio.
The Penguins have failed to cover the last 4 games, while the Cowboys have picked up covers in 2 of the previous 3 outings. Neither team has been hot against the number, but someone has to cover, so take the much better team.
Over/Under
UNDER 148.5 (-105) is lean, but again, go lightly with a half-unit play at most.
Oklahoma State’s offense has been a little erratic without Anderson running the point. It averaged just 52.0 PPG in 2 games in the Big 12 Tournament, and the Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 games overall for the Cowboys.
Youngstown State’s offense was also off in the Horizon League Tournament, going for 67.0 PPG in 2 games, which was well below the team’s regular-season average of 83.4 PPG. Facing a top-tier team like Oklahoma State won’t help snap YSU’s offense on track, either.
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