The Big Ten’s Purdue Boilermakers head deep into the heart of Texas on New Year’s Day to tangle with the Big 12’s Oklahoma State Cowboys in a high-noon showdown at the Cotton Bowl. This game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.

You know there are just too many bowl games when the fourth-best team in the Big Ten Leaders Division is playing on Jan.1, but postseason bans to both Ohio State and Penn State elevated Purdue’s standing despite a straight up record of 6-6. The Boilermakers posted a 3-5 SU losing record in conference play and went 6-6 against the spread overall as well.

Oklahoma State was only slightly better at 7-5 SU, but at least it had a winning 5-4 SU record in the Big 12 this season. The Cowboys did go 3-1 ATS down the stretch to finish 6-5 ATS overall. The total went “over” in four of their final five games.

Purdue vs. Oklahoma State Betting Storylines

Purdue did make a bit of noise this season by keeping No.1 Notre Dame on the ropes in a 20-17 loss as a 14-point road underdog as well as taking the undefeated Buckeyes to overtime as a 17-point underdog on the road, but too many inconsistencies on both sides of the ball plagued this team all year long. The Boilermakers gave up 44 points to Michigan and 38 points to Wisconsin and were ranked 72nd in the nation in points allowed.

Offensively, Purdue rolled up 48 points or more in four games this season, but the Boilers managed to score only nine points against Penn State and 20 points against Illinois. This created a mix bag that made this team extremely hard to handicap all season long as production on both sides of the ball seemed to come and go like the wind.

Oklahoma State was another team that was hard to figure out this season, but that was primarily due to a defense that allowed an average of 29.4 points a game. It gave up 40 points or more in all five losses this season.

There was no question about a Cowboys offense that finished the regular season ranked 22nd in the nation in rushing yards per game and seventh passing the ball. The net result was an average of 44.7 points a game, which was the fourth-highest total in the country. Oklahoma State relied on a trio of quarterbacks this season, but wide receiver Josh Stewart was clearly the No.1 target with 96 receptions for 1,154 yards and seven touchdowns. The workhorse out of the backfield was running back Joseph Randle. He rushed for 1,351 yards and 14 scores.

Purdue vs. Oklahoma State Heart of Dallas Betting Odds and Trends

BetOnline Pointspread: Oklahoma State -16.5
Bet Online Total Line: 70

The Boilermakers are 1-4 ATS in their last five bowl games and 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 games following a SU win. The total has gone over in three of their last five nonconference games.

The Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following a SU loss and 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a loss ATS. The total has gone over in their last four nonconference games.

These two teams will be meeting in a bowl game for the first time since 1997. Purdue actually won that game 33-20 as a 3.5-point favorite

2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl Picks: Purdue vs. Oklahoma State Predictions

Both these teams come into this matchup flawed, but the Cowboys’ offense is no match for the Boilermakers and should be able to run away with this game from the start. While you never like to give up that many points in a bowl game given the long layoff for both teams, look for Oklahoma State to win this game by three touchdowns to easily cover the 16.5-point spread.

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