A couple of teams that prefer running the football, Bulldogs (-21) are set to host their in-conference foe Wyoming Cowboys in Fresno State. Fans can catch the action live on ESPNU and the game is scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Wyoming Cowboys vs. Fresno State Bulldogs Betting Preview
Fresno State has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 21 points to Wyoming. Bookmakers have yet to decide where the game’s over/under (O/U) will be set. Multiple good in-game betting scenarios could present themselves during the match.
The line initially opened at -20, but has recently shifted.
The hapless Cowboys are 1-5 against the spread (ATS) and are down 2.9 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an Over-Under mark of 3-2. The Bulldogs are up 1.9 units this season. The team is 4-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-3.
The Cowboys are just 2-4 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against conference opponents. The Bulldogs are 4-1 SU overall and 1-0 SU in conference play.
Wyoming enters this matchup on a three-game winning streak while Fresno State has come up short in each of its last two. The Cowboys lost to Hawaii 17-13 in a contest where Tyler Vander Waal completed only nine-of-16 passes for 87 yards. Nico Evans (192 rushing yards on 24 attempts) led the ground attack. James Price (three receptions, 38 yards) and Raghib Ismail Jr. (three catches, 19 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Fresno State just picked up a 21-3 win over Nevada. Marcus McMaryion completed 20-of-28 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Mims (11 rushing yards on eight attempts) spearheaded the running game as KeeSean Johnson (seven receptions, 65 yards, one TD) and Jamire Jordan (three catches, 19 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
Wyoming has run the ball on 57.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Fresno State has a rush percentage of 53.8 percent. The Cowboys have rushed for 144 yards/game (including 119 per game versus Mountain West opponents) and have seven scores on the ground this year. The Bulldogs are averaging 138 rushing yards per game and have 14 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Bulldogs could hold an edge when it comes to quarterback protection. Their offensive line has allowed just four sacks while their D-line has logged 12 sacks. The Cowboys offensive line has given up 18 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing signal-callerss on just 11 occasions.
The Cowboys offensive scheme has averaged 148 yards through the air overall (151 per game versus conference opposition) and has three passing scores so far. The Bulldogs have put up 268 pass yards per contest and have 10 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Wyoming has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 135 yards and throw for 238 yards per game. The Fresno State defense has allowed 192.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 124.4 yards per game on the ground. The Bulldogs are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 2.89 to opponents, while the Cowboys have given up a 6.06 ANY/A.
Offensively, Vander Waal is up to 675 passing yards this year. He’s completed 54 percent of his 127 attempts with two scores through the air and two interceptions. Vander Waal has a 3.64 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 4.45 over the last two outings.
Nico Evans, James Price and Raghib Ismail Jr. have collectively accounted for 538 total yards and two touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Marcus McMaryion has completed 84-of-119 passes for 923 yards, five TDs and one INT for Fresno State. His ANY/A stands at 7.83 for the year and 11.00 over his past two games.
We also expect the Fresno State offense to spread its attack this Saturday. Jordan Mims, KeeSean Johnson and Jared Rice have collectively accounted for 502 total yards and five touchdowns the last two outings.
When these two teams faced one another last year, Fresno State knocked Wyoming off by two field goals 13-7.
RELATED: Week 7 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Wyoming Cowboys vs. Fresno State Bulldogs
SU Winner – Fresno State, ATS Winner – Wyoming
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
Wyoming was getting 4 points in its last game and the Over/Under was set at 51. The under cashed and the spread pushed in the 17-13 defeat to Hawaii.
Wyoming has produced 3.84705882352941 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.1 over its last two.
Fresno State has averaged 3.2 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.5 over its last two.
Fresno State has lost three fumbles this season while Wyoming has let two get away.
Wyoming has lost five of its last six games SU, with a three-point victory over Wofford on September 15th representing the only win over that stretch.
Fresno State was getting 17 points in its last match and the Over/Under was set at 59. The under cashed and Fresno State covered in the 21-3 victory over Nevada.
Over its last three matchups, Fresno State is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Cowboys offense has registered three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Bulldogs have put up six such plays.
The Wyoming defense has allowed two pass plays of 40+ yards, while Fresno State has given up three such plays.
The Wyoming offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Fresno State has created five such runs.
The Cowboys defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bulldogs have given up two such runs.
The Fresno State defensive unit has notched 12 sacks on the year while Wyoming has 11.
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