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NCAAB

Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Cincinnati Bearcats

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Matchup Analysis

This NCAAB matchup features Oklahoma State Cowboys (17-11 (14-4)) traveling to take on Cincinnati Bearcats (15-13 (13-3)) at Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, OH. These two teams are closely matched, with both squads posting similar scoring differentials this season. This projects as a competitive contest that could go either way. Cincinnati averages 72.5 points per game, but they face a Oklahoma St defense that holds opponents to 81.5 PPG. The visitors' defensive prowess could limit the home team's scoring output. The Oklahoma St offense puts up 83.8 PPG and faces a Cincinnati defense allowing 67.5 PPG. The visitors have the offensive firepower to stay in this one. Home court advantage is worth approximately 3.5 points in NCAAB, and Cincinnati will look to leverage their home crowd. Our model projects Cincinnati to win by approximately 5.3 points. The 68% confidence interval ranges from Cincinnati winning by 18 to losing by 7. The market has this game at -9.5, but our model sees value on Oklahoma St with a 4.2-point edge. Our line: Cincinnati -5.3. Combined with the total projection of 156 versus the market line of 150.5, there are opportunities to find value on both sides of this matchup.

Team Comparison

OKST Oklahoma St
Stat
CIN Cincinnati
17-11 (14-4)
Record
15-13 (13-3)
Last 10
83.8
PPG
72.5
81.5
Opp PPG
67.5

Current Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
OKST Oklahoma State Cowboys
+380 +9.5 O 150.5
CIN Cincinnati Bearcats
-500 -9.5 U 150.5
Source: Draft Kings Updated: Feb 28, 5:03 AM
Opening line: -9.5 / O/U 150.5

Model Projection

Team Moneyline Spread Total
OKST Oklahoma State Cowboys
+160 +5.3 O 156.4
CIN Cincinnati Bearcats
-160 -5.3 U 156.4
Source: Model Updated: Feb 28, 5:43 AM

Our Picks

Spread
Oklahoma St (opened at -9.5)
54% Confidence

Play to -6.1

Total
Over (opened at 150.5)
61% Confidence

Play to 155.6

Recent Trends

Cincinnati enters at 15-13 (13-3), hovering around the .500 mark. They've shown flashes of strong play but haven't been able to sustain consistency. At home, they'll look to put together a complete performance and build momentum. Oklahoma St sits at 17-11 (14-4) on the season. They've been competitive in most outings but have had their share of inconsistent performances. On the road, they'll need to bring their best effort to come away with a win. When these teams meet, the home team typically has the edge given the crowd advantage and familiarity factor. The team that controls tempo and limits turnovers will likely dictate the outcome of this matchup.

Matchup Edges

Cincinnati

Advantages

  • Home court advantage and crowd support
  • Elite defense allowing just 67.5 PPG
  • Familiarity with home venue and routines

Disadvantages

  • Potential for inconsistency in key moments

Oklahoma St

Advantages

  • Strong 17-11 (14-4) overall record this season
  • Potent offense averaging 83.8 PPG
  • Road underdog motivation — play with less pressure

Disadvantages

  • Playing on the road without home crowd support
  • Defense allows 81.5 PPG — exploitable

More NCAAB Picks for Saturday, February 28, 2026