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.