#23 Oklahoma (16-4, 5-2) is a cool team, one that started the year playing 14 of their first 15 games at home. Against Baylor on Jan. 18, they were obvious underdogs, but never wavered from their style of play, and won the road test, 66-64, after trailing by six at the half. Led by senior Cameron Clark (17 ppg) and sophomore Buddy Hield (16.7 ppg) the Sooners have a host of versatile bodies willing to move the ball within the offensive system. They didn't really impress me against Baylor (or the announcers until they suddenly had the lead), but they were consistent and sport a decent stock of rebounders. (They're also 12th in the country in scoring at 83.8 ppg.)

#8 Oklahoma State (16-3, 4-2) may not be as cool, evidenced by Marcus Smart's chair crushing in Saturday's tough win against West Virginia (in which he scored just four points and fouled out) and previously in their late game semi-meltdown against Kansas (failing to get off a clean last shot in a two-point loss). Still, they're getting a good amount of respect in the latest polls (highest ranked three-loss team and a spot ahead of two-loss Villanova) and were within two points of beating the nation's hottest squad (Kansas) on their home floor.

Having won three straight and fared better than expected in the conference, Oklahoma is probably trending harder right now versus Oklahoma State's tough last two games.

"This group is growing," Sooners coach Lon Kruger told ESPN. "We're still learning. We're still growing. But we've done a good job finishing ball games."

The Sooners are indeed growing, in ways beyond my current understanding. I think they'll continue the Cowboys' frustration and give them a close game, maybe even a loss. Based on a spread of 4.5, Oklahoma for the cover. Confidence scale: 5.

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Regular season: 7-6 (won last five)

Picking Schedule:

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)

Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)

Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)