Oklahoma State football vs. Central Michigan: Broadcast info, betting lines, breakdown

Jacob Unruh, Oklahoman
·2 min read

No. 11 Oklahoma State hosts Central Michigan at 6 p.m. Thursday in the season opener. Here is a breakdown of the matchup.

More:How Oklahoma State defensive end Brock Martin is a 'father figure' for Cowboys' defense

How to watch No. 11 Oklahoma State vs. Central Michigan

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater

TV: FS1 (Cox 67/HD 728, DirecTV 219, Dish 150, U-verse 652/HD 1652)

Radio: KXXY-FM 96.1

Line: Cowboys by 20.5

Over/under: 58.5

More:Oklahoma State football from A to Z: Everything you need to know about the 2022 Cowboys

Central Michigan's Lew Nichols III (7) at the 88th Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Washington State at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
Central Michigan's Lew Nichols III (7) at the 88th Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Washington State at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.

Scouting Central Michigan

2021 Record: 9-4, 6-2 Mid-American Conference

Best player: Sophomore running back Lew Nichols III had a breakout 2021, leading the Football Bowl Subdivision with 1,848 rushing yards and 142.2 rushing yards per game. He led the nation with 341 carries and was ninth nationally with 16 rushing touchdowns. The Chippewas will get him the football often, even with experienced quarterback Daniel Richardson returning. Things run through Nichols, so the Cowboys’ run defense will be key.

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The case for Central Michigan: The two teams have not met since 2016 — and that controversial win for Central Michigan will stick with the Cowboys forever — and an upset is entirely possible. If the Chippewas, a very physical team, can get Nichols going in a big way, things can get super interesting. That would keep the ball away from OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders and Co. But Central Michigan’s defense will be put under heavy pressure by the Cowboys’ up-tempo attack offensively.

The case for OSU: The Cowboys are healthier than they were a year ago at this point when they struggled to beat Missouri State. That’s perhaps the best news to come out of fall camp. They were without Sanders along with several other key players, nearly crippling the offensive gameplan. With a mostly healthy roster, the Cowboys’ strength, talent and depth should take over and pull away

—Jacob Unruh, Staff writer

Tramel:Six years later, Central Michigan returns to scene of the crime at Oklahoma State

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU football vs. Central Michigan: Broadcast info, betting lines, matchups