Author: Mike Merlet

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Oklahoma State Cowboys 2026 Big 12 prediction

Big 12 Sleeper 2026

Oklahoma State Cowboys 2026: Why ASA Picks OSU as the Big 12 Prediction

Oklahoma State CowboysCollege football’s most chaotic conference is back with 16 teams, nine league games each, and plenty of room for a team nobody is talking about in August to wreck November. After a 1-11 collapse in 2025, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are that team. Notably, the Oklahoma State Cowboys 2026: Why ASA Picks OSU as the Big 12 Sleeper storyline is already picking up steam among analysts.

ASA’s power ratings have the Cowboys favored in seven of their 12 games. They face only two opponents currently inside our top 30 (Oregon and Texas Tech). A new coach is on the sidelines. Additionally, they have a top-shelf transfer quarterback and one of the most experienced (if brand-new) rosters in the country. This makes Stillwater the most interesting rebuild in the Big 12. Furthermore, it is evidence for Oklahoma State Cowboys 2026: Why ASA Picks OSU as the Big 12 Sleeper to be on every preview list this season.

2026 Big 12 Football Teams

The Big 12 remains a 16-team league in 2026 with no membership changes.

  • Arizona Wildcats
  • Arizona State Sun Devils
  • Baylor Bears
  • BYU Cougars
  • Cincinnati Bearcats
  • Colorado Buffaloes
  • Houston Cougars
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • Kansas Jayhawks
  • Kansas State Wildcats
  • Oklahoma State Cowboys
  • TCU Horned Frogs
  • Texas Tech Red Raiders
  • UCF Knights
  • Utah Utes
  • West Virginia Mountaineers

Texas Tech and BYU enter as the consensus favorites after last season’s championship game. Houston and Utah sit in the next tier. Oklahoma State is the team that can jump from afterthought to bowl favorite—or higher—if Year 1 under Eric Morris pans out. As you can see, Oklahoma State Cowboys 2026: Why ASA Picks OSU as the Big 12 Sleeper is a question on the minds of many fans and media alike.

Oklahoma State Cowboys Prediction

Oklahoma State fired legendary head coach Mike Gundy during a disastrous 1-11 campaign and turned to North Texas head coach Eric Morris. Morris just finished 12-2 with the Mean Green and was widely viewed as one of the best hires of the cycle. Analysts including Bill Connelly flagged the move as a high-upside fit; we agree.

COACHING

Morris brought his offense with him. The centerpiece is quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who followed his coach from Denton to Stillwater. As a redshirt freshman at North Texas, Mestemaker threw for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns. He led the FBS in passing yards and won American Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. He is already drawing preseason All-Big 12 attention and Newcomer of the Year buzz.

ROSTER IMPROVEMENTS

The roster overhaul was massive. Morris added 50-plus transfers (sources range from the mid-50s to the mid-60s depending on counting method), including a large contingent of former North Texas players. 247Sports ranked the haul among the top 15 nationally and No. 2 in the Big 12. The Cowboys return almost none of last year’s snaps—one of the lowest percentages in FBS. However, they imported so much proven production that their total career FBS experience ranks near the top of the country. In fact, there are roughly 18,000-plus snaps on the offensive side alone in some tallies, and top-five overall career snaps in CBS Sports’ roster study.

SKILL POSITIONS

That experience shows up in the skill positions. Running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young also came from North Texas and earned preseason All-Big 12 notice. The offense should be explosive from Week 1. The defense is the question mark. Indeed, Morris’s North Texas units improved under coordinator Skyler Cassity, who followed him to Stillwater, but the Cowboys must prove they can stop Big 12 offenses after ranking near the bottom of the league a year ago. Chemistry on a roster with 80-plus new players will decide whether this is a six-win team or a nine-win surprise. Ultimately, the Oklahoma State Cowboys 2026: Why ASA Picks OSU as the Big 12 Sleeper discussion will depend on how Morris’s system and the new talent come together in conference play.

2026 schedule snapshot

Oklahoma State opens at Tulsa, hosts Oregon in Morris’s home debut, then plays Murray State before a critical conference opener at West Virginia. League games include home dates against UCF, Colorado, Texas Tech, and Kansas, plus road trips to Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Arizona State. Missing BYU and Utah on the conference slate helps. The two games against current top-30 teams (Oregon and Texas Tech) are both at Boone Pickens Stadium.

ASA’s power ratings currently project the Cowboys as favorites in seven games. That lines up with several national projections that have them in the 8-4 to 9-3 range. This is true if the offense translates and the defense is merely average. Preseason media polls have them around ninth in the league—exactly where a sleeper lives.

If Mestemaker plays like the nation’s leading passer and Morris’s staff installs the system quickly, Oklahoma State will not finish ninth. The Cowboys have the pieces to contend for a bowl berth at minimum. They also have a surprise run at the top half of the Big 12 if a few results bounce their way. That’s why ASA has Oklahoma State as the Big 12 sleeper of 2026. In summary, Oklahoma State Cowboys 2026: Why ASA Picks OSU as the Big 12 Sleeper is rooted in their upside to quickly rebuild and surprise the conference this season.

Check back at ASAwins.com for updated power ratings, weekly picks, and betting analysis as the season unfolds.

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NFL Hall of Fame Game 2026 Preview: Cardinals vs Panthers Odds and Analysis

nfl hall of fame game preview 2026

NFL HALL OF FAME GAME PREVIEW

This NFL Hall of Fame Game Preview Cardinals vs Panthers will set the stage for an exciting matchup. These two teams face off in this celebrated preseason event.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers – August 6th 2026

Football is officially back. On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the NFL’s 107th season kicks off with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. The Arizona Cardinals take on the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona, who finished last season 4-13 (worst mark in the NFC and tied for worst in the NFL), begins the era of first-year head coach Mike LaFleur. He is the brother of Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur. Mike LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for the Rams the last 3 seasons. The Cardinals have decided to start rookie QB Carson Beck, a third-round pick out of Miami. Beck may get at least a full half of work and potentially more. Projected starter Jacoby Brissett and his back up Gardner Minshew are both expected to sit this one out. 2nd year man Kedon Slovis (2 career regular season pass attempts) is expected to take over when Beck heads to the bench. Furthermore, the NFL Hall of Fame Game Preview Cardinals vs Panthers will showcase how the young Cardinals roster handles this unique pressure.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Carolina enters after an 8-9 season that still delivered an NFC South title and a home playoff appearance under 2nd year coach Dave Canales. They became just the 5th team since the 1970 merger to win their division with a losing record. The Panthers will start veteran QB Kenny Pickett (5,000 career passing yards). However, we look for him to only get a few series. Rookie QB Haynes King (from Georgia Tech) will then take the rest of the snaps with starter Bryce Young sitting this one out. Notably, for the NFL Hall of Fame Game Preview Cardinals vs Panthers, much attention will be on Carolina’s depth and quarterback performance.

BETTING SNAPSHOT

This line has been jumping around a bit but has settled at Carolina -1.5 favorites (as of Wednesday afternoon) with a total of 35.5. This game has historically been fairly low scoring, with only 3 of the last 15 Hall of Fame games reaching 40 or more total points. The average total points scored in the last 15 HOF games is 33. The underdogs have been on an 80% ATS run since 2013 (8-2-1 ATS). The 2016 (field conditions) and 2020 (Covid) games got cancelled. Prior to that, the favorites had covered 6 in a row from 2007 through 2013. The 2011 game got cancelled due to the NFL lockout. All things considered, the NFL Hall of Fame Game Preview Cardinals vs Panthers offers a great opportunity for fans to analyze trends and gain insights ahead of the new season.

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ASA ACC Win Total Projections: Cal Under & Clemson Over

ACC predictions 2026

ASA’s ACC WIN TOTAL PROJECTIONS

2026 Regular Season Win Total Projections courtesy Draftkings:

Boston College 3.5

California 6.5

Clemson 7.5

Duke 5.5

Florida State 6.5

Georgia Tech 6.5

Louisville 8.5

Miami FL 10.5

NC State 7.5

North Carolina 4.5

Pittsburgh 7.5

SMU 8.5

Stanford 3.5

Syracuse 4.5

Virginia 7.5

Virginia Tech 6.5

Wake Forest 5.5

ASA ACC Win Total Projections 2026: Cal Under 6.5 & Clemson Over 7.5

Looking for the best ACC win total projections ahead of the 2026 college football season? Our latest ACC football win total analysis highlights one team we like Under its season win total and one we strongly favor Over.

Here are our top ACC win total projections at DraftKings.

california bears under 6.5 wins

California Golden Bears Under 6.5 Wins (-130)

Cal finished with a 6-6 regular season record last year, and we expect the Golden Bears to take a small step back in 2026. They went 4-4 in ACC play, but all four of their conference wins came by four points or fewer, while three of their four losses were by double digits. Their average ACC win margin was just +3.25 points, while their average loss was a lopsided -15.75 points. In short, they were fortunate to finish .500 in league play.

The Bears were also outgained overall on both a yards-per-game and yards-per-play basis. While they return a solid quarterback in Jeron-Keawe Sagapolutele, they enter the year with a first-time head coach plus new offensive and defensive coordinators. An adjustment period is likely.

Although Cal avoids the ACC’s top team (Miami) this season, the schedule still presents challenges. The Bears make three trips to the East Coast and face non-conference tests at UNLV and against UCLA. We project them as clear favorites in only two games (vs. Wagner and Stanford). Cal has not exceeded six regular-season wins since 2019.

Projection: 6-6 at best, more likely 5-7. We like the California Golden Bears Under 6.5 wins.

Clemson Tigers Over 7.5 Wins (-140)

Clemson Over 7.5 wins

Clemson entered last season as a top-10 team but disappointed with a 7-5 regular-season record. We expect a solid bounce-back in 2026 from a program that has claimed eight of the last 11 ACC titles. Playing with slightly less external pressure could actually help the Tigers.

Despite going 4-4 in ACC play last year, Clemson outgained its conference opponents by nearly +70 yards per game—a performance that typically produces a record closer to 6-2. The defense should take another step forward under second-year coordinator Tom Allen, one of the top defensive minds in the country. We rate the Tigers’ defensive line, linebackers, and secondary as top-three units in the ACC.

While they must replace former starter Cade Klubnik, new quarterback Christopher Vizzina showed promise in his lone start last season, throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns against a strong SMU defense. He returns for his third year in the program and has plenty of weapons around him if he can stay consistent.

Schedule-wise, Clemson avoids both Louisville and SMU—two of the ACC’s strongest teams alongside Miami and the Tigers themselves. They also enjoy a favorable home slate with seven home games and just five on the road. Prior to last season, Clemson had not failed to win at least eight regular-season games since 2010.

Projection: Bounce-back year for the Tigers. We like Clemson Over 7.5 wins.

Final Thoughts on These ACC Win Total Projections

These two plays stand out among our 2026 ACC football win total projections. The California Golden Bears face roster and coaching transition challenges that should keep them under their number, while Clemson has the talent, defense, and schedule to clear 7.5 wins comfortably.Stay locked in for more college football win total projections and ACC betting analysis throughout the offseason.

CHECK BACK DAILY AS WE CONTINUE TO ADD CONFERENCE WIN TOTAL PREDICTIONS AND MUCH MORE…

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South Carolina Gamecocks 2026

South Carolina Sleeper

South Carolina football predictions 2026.

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS sleeper team – The Gamecocks finished a disappointing 4-8 last season which was their worst season under head coach Shane Beamer.  Their only other losing season under Beamer was in 2023 when they finished 5-7 and bounced back in 2024 with a 9-4 record. 

Despite their record, South Carolina had a positive point differential and positive yards per play differential last season.  Kendal Briles (TCU offensive coordinator last season) has been brought in to coordinate the offense and he should have success with 3rd year starting QB Sellers back. 

The O-line is rebuilt with transfers but has a ton of experience with over 6,000 combined snaps, the most in college football.  The offense as a whole brings back over 10,600 snaps, also the most in CFB. 

The Gamecocks should get off to a fast start as they should be favored in 4 of their first 5 games and only 1 road tilt during that stretch. South Carolina could provide some solid betting value early on in 2026. Furthermore, the South Carolina hopes to emerge as the SEC Sleeper, and the Gamecocks could be a surprise team in 2026 due to their experienced leadership and key playmakers.

As anticipation builds, many are pointing to the possibility that the Gamecocks could be South Carolina’s true SEC Sleeper in 2026.

SEC Teams Win Totals 2026. Notably, there is much conversation surrounding the status of South Carolina as a contender entering the season.

Alabama O/U 8.5

Arkansas O/U 4.5

Auburn O/U 6.5

Florida O/U 7.5

Georgia O/U 9.5

Kentucky O/U 4.5

LSU O/U 8.5

Mississippi State O/U 4.5

Missouri O/U 6.5

Oklahoma O/U 7.5

Ole Miss O/U 7.5

South Carolina O/U 6.5 – Many believe that in 2026, the SEC sleeper to watch could be the Gamecocks of South Carolina. Moreover, it is worth noting that some experts project the South Carolina Gamecocks as an SEC sleeper in 2026.

Tennessee O/U 7.5

Texas O/U 9.5

Texas A&M O/U 8.5

Vanderbilt O/U 6.5

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Free College Bets | Wisconsin vs Indiana | Nov 15

#344 ASA FREE COLLEGE BET – ON Indiana -29 over Wisconsin, Saturday at 12 PM ET

It’s not often we lay a huge number but this one is warranted.  Indiana has played only 3 Big 10 home games and they’ve won those by 53 points (vs Illinois), by 50 points (vs UCLA), and by 25 points (vs MSU). 

IU head coach Cignetti is not afraid to bury teams and he’s done just that at home.  The Hoosiers are undefeated at home since Cignetti took over at the beginning of last season and their average margin of victory in those games is +36 points. 

They are in the top 10 nationally in both total offense and total defense.  This offense has put up at least 30 points in 17 of their 23 games under Cignetti. 

The problem for Wisconsin is they can’t score.  They have only 4 total TD’s in their 6 Big 10 games and they haven’t topped 300 total yards in a conference game this season.  Last week they beat Washington at home 13-10 with 205 total yards and 48 yards passing, of which 24 came from their punter on a fake punt. 

It looks like true freshman Carter Smith will get his first ever collegiate start here.  That’s a rough spot for an inexperienced QB.  If Wisconsin can’t run the ball, they are in huge trouble. 

The IU defense allows just 83 YPG on the ground so Smith will have to somehow create some plays through the air.  The Badger defense has been very solid over the last few games but they are running into a juggernaut here as Indiana averages 548 YPG on 7.7 YPP at home this season. 

This one looks like another Hoosier home blow out. 

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