Game Day Vitals

• West Virginia Mountaineers (13-13, 6-7 Big XII) vs. #14 Oklahoma State Cowboys (19-6, 9-4 Big XII)
• Series Record - 1-1 all time, first time in Oliver Garden
• Location - Oliver Garden (Capacity: 14,000) Morgantown, West Virginia
• Vegas Lines - Lines released Saturday
  
• Date - February 23th, 2013 at 2:00 pm EST
• Television - ESPN2 / WatchESPN
  
• O/U on Forte jokes: 2.5
  
• Radio Affiliates

Opponent Information

• #14 Oklahoma State Cowboys (19-6, 9-4 Big XII)
• Conference - Big XII
• Head Coach - Travis Ford, 5th year as Oklahoma State head coach, 289-207 career (.586)
• O/U on T. Boone Pickens name drops: 2.5
  
• Last Result - Loss vs Kansas 2OT 68-67
• Official Cowboys athletics website
• BN Oklahoma State blog - Cowboys Ride for Free

Game Preview

Oklahoma State is good. The last time WVU saw them, the Mountaineers were riding high until the Cowboys started making their shots.... and the game eventually turned into a route. Along with KState last week, Okie State is right up there with Kansas for the conference title race and they would certainly like a win away from home to help their cause. Also similar to the Wildcats, the Cowboys are contending with the heavy hitters for a high seed in March with Lunardi placing them at a #4 a few days ago. WVU is in a little different situation.

The Mountaineers haven't had a quality win all season. The resurgence of Deniz Kilicli's play absolutely helps the cause, but most fair minded fans would say WVU is playing for an NIT spot. That being said, WVU could get Oklahoma State a game at home. The crowd isn't going to be the same jumping, rowdy Coliseum crowd we normally expect for a ranked opponent so close to March due to the pessimism surrounding this Mountaineers squad. If WVU gives their absolute best effort and the Cowboys have a horrid night shooting, WVU has a chance to get their first quality win of the season. Any outcome outside of those two prerequisites vastly favor OSU. I'm not one to play the odds, but...

Prediction:

Oklahoma State 73 - WVU 60