Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Betting Guide

It is a meeting of the two teams which most narrowly missed getting into the College Football Playoff this season. Oklahoma State came one yard short of probably making the playoff, falling to Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game. Once Oklahoma State lost, Notre Dame had the next best shot at making the playoff, but Alabama got in the playoff instead by beating Georgia. These two teams will try to leave the season with a good feeling. They clash at the Fiesta Bowl.

• Game: Oklahoma State (11-2) vs. Notre Dame (11-1)
• Location: State Farm Stadium (Glendale)
• Day/Time: Saturday, January 1 – 1:00 p.m. ET
• Television: ESPN

The Cowboys fell just short against Baylor, losing 21-16 after having first down and goal in the final minute against the Bears. Oklahoma State got stuffed on three plays near the goal line, the final fourth-down play involving a one-on-one, open-field tackle near the left pylon. An attempt to reach the ball to the pylon was denied, with the ball-carrier being pushed out of bounds before the ball could touch the orange pylon and break the plane of the goal line. Oklahoma State’s offense simply never got in gear. Quarterback Spencer Sanders threw multiple interceptions which helped give Baylor enough points to win the game. It was a disaster for an Oklahoma State offense which wasted a great showing by its defense. Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was one of the very best coordinators and assistant coaches in the country this season. His work with the OSU defense is why the Cowboys were in position to make the College Football Playoff. Yet, the Pokes’ offense just didn’t give enough help and support to the defense. That offense needs to show up against a very strong Notre Dame defense in the Fiesta Bowl.

Notre Dame easily defeated a 3-9 Stanford team, running away with the game in the second half and scoring a blowout triumph. Few people knew this at the time it happened, but that win on Nov. 27 turned out to be the last win at Notre Dame for head coach Brian Kelly. On the job in South Bend for just over a decade, Kelly made the BCS National Championship Game at Notre Dame in the 2012 season. Notre Dame barely missed the College Football Playoff in 2015 but got there in both 2018 and 2020 under Kelly’s guidance. The team narrowly missed out on the playoff this year. Kelly built a very strong, durable and successful program. Kelly, however, chose to bolt for LSU and take that open job. Notre Dame didn’t want to wait until early January to hire Luke Fickell of Cincinnati, who is coaching in the playoff against Alabama. The Fighting Irish went with defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, promoting him internally instead of seeking an outside candidate. This Fiesta Bowl will be Freeman’s first game.

Betting on the Game

With Marcus Freeman coaching Notre Dame, the Irish figure to be very motivated to play for a popular and respected coach. Players are likely to give maximum effort. This doesn’t mean Oklahoma State won’t be motivated, but it means Notre Dame is likely to play with a little more juice. In a bowl game, that is often the kind of edge people are looking for.