Cheez-It Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Miami Hurricanes Odds and Game Pick (2020)
The Big 12 and ACC are set to collide in the 2020 edition of the Cheez-It Bowl as the Oklahoma State Cowboys face off with the Miami Hurricanes. This year’s game has been moved from the usual location of Chase Field in Phoenix to Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Nonetheless, the matchup between a pair of talented ranked teams should not disappoint. The betting market narrowly favors Oklahoma State.
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Details
- Opening Lines: Oklahoma State -4; O/U 60.5
- Current ATS Line: Oklahoma State -2.5
- Current Over/Under: 58.5
- Location: Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020
- Start Time: 5:30 p.m. EST
- Television: ESPN
- Last Meeting: Oklahoma State and Miami have not faced each other in football dating back to 1995.
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Overview
Oklahoma State finished 70-3 on the year and was in the running for a Big 12 Championship Game birth most of the way. Given the injuries that the Cowboys were forced to contend with along the offensive line throughout the year, it was a pretty remarkable season. Star running back Chuba Hubbard announced that he would be stepping away from the team to prepare for the NFL Draft. That leaves receiver Tylan Wallace as the Pokes’ best offensive option and primary target for QB Spencer Sanders heading into the Cheez-It Bowl. OSU was a big part of reversing the narrative that the Big 12 doesn’t play defense this year. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez leads a unit that allowed 22.4 points per game.
Miami got some good news in the lead-up to the Cheez-It Bowl when transfer quarterback D’Eriq King announced that he would return for another year in Coral Gables. The dual-threat player was a huge part of the Canes’ success this season, passing for over 2500 yards and adding over 500 rushing. Outside of ugly losses to Clemson and North Carolina, Miami ran the table this season, although their play defensively was inconsistent. The Hurricanes’ ability to slow a depleted Oklahoma State offensive attack will prove vital on Tuesday.
Trends
- Oklahoma State 2020 Betting Trends: 4-6 ATS; 3-7 to the Over
- Miami 2020 Betting Trends: 6-4 ATS; 5-5 to the Over
- Oklahoma State has gone 6-2 ATS in its last eight December bowl games.
- Miami has gone only 2-10 straight up and ATS in its last 12 bowl games.
- 13 of the last 15 Cheez-It Bowl games have gone Under the total.
Line Movement
*Line movement analysis based on the DonBest Las Vegas betting market ticker*
The consensus opening line for the Cheez-It Bowl tabbed Oklahoma State as four-point favorites, according to DonBest. The number dropped from there, reaching a low point of Cowboys -2 at most Las Vegas shops. Recent buyback in the other direction has resulted in the current spread of -2.5 in favor of Mike Gundy’s Cowboys.
The total opened at a hefty 60.5, and perhaps for good reason in a game featuring D’Eriq King. Sharp money has come in on the Under, dropping the line down to 58.5 at most shops. There are a few 59’s still available in the market. Time will tell if these lines are set to fall or if other books will rise back up to match the slightly higher number.
Prediction
It’s worth noting that the two teams come into the Cheez-It Bowl off of very different results in their respective regular-season finales. Oklahoma State blew out a short-handed Baylor team, looking very impressive offensively in the win. Meanwhile, Manny Diaz’s Hurricanes surrendered 62 points in an ugly home loss to North Carolina.
King’s announcement that he will be returning to The U for another collegiate season has to be a positive for Miami in terms of bowl game motivation. Both teams are ranked and both teams were also just a few different outcomes away from perhaps playing for a lot more this bowl season. I’ve been down on Miami all season, but I have a hard time getting excited about laying points with the Cowboys here.
Look for the Hurricanes to be out to make a statement defensively after getting lit up by UNC. I expect them to be motivated to end the season on a higher note and take momentum into what is now an exciting offseason. Add in the fact that this could be considered a de facto Miami home game with the relocation to Florida and I’ll take the points with the Hurricanes.
Pick: Miami +2.5 (-110 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Henry John is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Henry, check out his archive and follow him @HankTimeSports.