With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Aug. 24.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
National title odds: 30-1 (opened 20-1)
Season win total: 9
FPI win total projection: 7.9
Phil Steele
Strengths: The Cowboys have their version of triplets in quarterback Mason Rudolph, running back Justice Hill and wide receiver James Washington. The offense will be one of the nation's best. The offensive line was a weakness two years ago, but it is now a top-40 unit. Expect big numbers offensively.
Weaknesses: The defense was respectable last year, allowing 26.5 points per game, but the 465 yards per game was the most they have allowed since 2011. The Cowboys go from having seven returning starters on defense to just five, and only 53.4 percent of their tackles are returning, which is No. 105 in the FBS.
Over/under (9): I have Oklahoma State favored in nine games, an underdog in two and a pick 'em in one. They are a legitimate contender in the Big 12, so I would lean with the over. If they finish at nine, it's a push.
National title odds (30-1): Oklahoma State gets the Bedlam Series against Oklahoma at home, and their odds of winning the Big 12 are very close to where I have Oklahoma in my ratings. Yet, the Sooners are priced at 18-1, and the Cowboys are at 30-1. That means there is some solid value on Mike Gundy's squad, and they are worth a play.
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
Over/under (9): What's not to like about the Cowboys this year? They have a great coach, returning QB, my favorite wide receiver in the country and my favorite non-tree mascot in all of sports -- the one and only Pistol Pete. But seriously, the Pokes have 12 returning starters and a schedule that includes games vs. Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas State and TCU in Stillwater. While plenty of focus will be on the Rudolph-to-Washington connection, which accounted for 71 completions, 1,380 yards and 10 touchdowns, it's the other weapons in this offense, such as Jalen McCleskey (73 catches in '16) and Justice Hill (1,142 rushing yards and six scores in '16), that could push this team to the next level. The belief here is that Gundy has his best team since he has been at the helm. They are my favorite to win the conference, and I like the over on nine wins this season. I also think Oklahoma State is worth a shot at 12-1 to make the College Football Playoff.
Chris Fallica
Over/under (9): We have the Cowboys at 7.9 wins, and I think they are one of the bigger differences between public perception and actual power ratings. For instance, our numbers say that Oklahoma State has just a 67 percent chance to beat Baylor at home, a game which the Cowboys should win without much problem. There's a fairly tough consecutive five-week stretch at Texas, at WVU, Oklahoma, at Iowa State and Kansas State, and that game at Iowa State has all the makings of a letdown sandwich game. I don't see 10-2, and if 9-3 is a best-case scenario, then the under is a good play here. Heck, the Cowboys could even lose at home to TCU or come out on the wrong side of a pinball game on the road against Texas Tech. I know people love Mason Rudolph, Justice Hill and James Washington, and yes, they are fun to watch, but I'm not buying double-digit wins. I'm in on the under. Too many teams in the Big 12 are going to be better this year, and that could tack a loss or two on OSU's record. One thing the over backers have going for them is the game at Pittsburgh is nowhere near as daunting as it could have been, given the recent suspensions for the Panthers.
National title odds (30-1): If you like them, have at it at that price. I still think they are a 9-3 type team and a long shot to make the College Football Playoff. Should they reach the playoff, I can't see them matching up with someone like Alabama, Clemson, Florida State or Ohio State in the trenches and coming out on top.