T. Boone Pickens isn't around anymore, so no one can blame deep-pocketed Oklahoma State boosters for influencing Big 12 schedule-makers who seemed to provide the Cowboys with a break this fall, putting all four conference newcomers (BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF) on the 2023 slate while avoiding a collection of always-challenging foes from the Lone Star State. Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, and Texas are nowhere to be found -- and the Longhorns are now gone for the foreseeable future as they prepare for their exit to the SEC in 2024. 

The reality is that OSU looks like it could use a favorable slate, with more questions than they have been used to answering in recent years at Stillwater. Significant roster turnover on the heels of a collapse down the stretch last autumn looms as a threat to the seventeen consecutive winning seasons and bowl berths under the watch of the somewhat under-appreciated Mike Gundy, the unquestioned dean of Big 12 coaches. Believe it or not, he's now one of the longest-serving mentors in all of college football entering the fall. Where has the time gone?...

Bruce Marshall's full breakdown of Oklahoma State's 2023 outlook, which includes how he's playing their win total, can be found below as part of SportsLine's preview of the Big 12 season.

Big 12 preview: Conference winner | Baylor | BYU | Cincinnati | Houston | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | Texas | TCU | Texas Tech | UCF | West Virginia

2023 Oklahoma State at a glance

• Last Year: 7-6 SU, 6-7 ATS, 6-7 O/U
• Returning starters: Offense 4; Defense 2
• Win total: 6 (Over -130, Under +110)

What do you need to know about Oklahoma State before locking in your Big 12 futures bets? And which side of their win total makes for the best play? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Big 12 futures betting strategy from a veteran college football expert!