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Oklahoma State has one of the best conference records over the past five seasons. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

OSU is picked to win the Big 12 in 2013. That’s what the experts believe. The Cowboys are a 15-point favorite over Mississippi State in the Aug. 31 season opener in Houston. That’s what the public believes.

Both have good reasons for such confidence. The Cowboys have produced in such a way to elevate their program beyond what we might think without research. Lack of tradition is a hard thing to overcome, but once it’s overcome, sometimes it’s hard to appreciate the perseverance.

Here’s an example. OSU-Mississippi State at first glance, for some, seems like a good matchup. Solid Big 12 program. Solid SEC program.

Except it’s not any shape or form a matchup of equals. Even giving Mississippi State credit for playing in the superior SEC, these programs aren’t anywhere close in production.