A couple of schools that like to keep the ball on the ground, Head Coach Craig Bohl and the Wyoming Cowboys are getting 15 points as they prepare to host the Utah State Aggies to Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. ATSN will televise the action and kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET. When these two squads faced each other a year ago, Wyoming emerged victorious by a score of 28-23.
Utah State Aggies vs. Wyoming Cowboys Betting Preview
In this Saturday Mountain West game, Utah State is projected as the big favorite and is currently giving up 15 points. The Aggies are also receiving -840 moneyline odds while the Cowboys are +550. If one squad can get out in front early on it will result in a decent betting opportunity in-game. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 53.5 points.
This game’s opening line was 14.5. The over/under has yet to change after it was initially posted at 53.5.
The Aggies are 6-0 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 2.0 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 6-0. The Cowboys have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 3.9 units. The team is 1-6 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Aggies are 5-1 straight up (SU), including 2-0 SU against conference opponents. The Cowboys are 2-5 SU overall and 0-3 SU in conference play.
Utah State enters this matchup on a zero-game losing skid while Wyoming has won zero in a row. The Aggies are coming off a resounding 59-28 victory over UNLV last week where the Aggies completed 22-of-31 passes for 377 yards and five touchdowns. Jordan Love went 17-for-23 for 322 yards and five touchdowns while Henry Colombi completed five-of-eight for 55 yards. Darwin Thompson (52 yards on 11 rush attempts, one TD) and Gerold Bright (72 yards on 11 carries) led the ground attack while Jalen Greene (five receptions, 132 yards, one TD) and Ron’Quavion Tarver (four catches, 52 yards, two TDs) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Wyoming just fell 27-3 to Fresno State. The team’s defense let the Bulldogs eat up the clock by running for 104 yards on 33 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Jared Rice had a solid outing for Fresno State, posting 94 yards on seven catches. For Wyoming, Tyler Vander Waal completed 12-of-32 passes for 117 yards and one interception. Nico Evans (58 yards on 18 rush attempts) spearheaded the running attack while James Price (three receptions, 27 yards) and Austin Conway (three catches, 24 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Utah State has run the ball on 51.2 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 47.3 percent across possessions in conference play. Wyoming has an overall rush percentage of 56.2 percent, and has run the ball 53.7 percent of the time when playing MWC opponents. The Aggies have produced 199 rush yards/game (including 177 per game against Mountain West opponents) and have 20 scores on the ground this year. The Cowboys are logging 139 rush yards per game (114 in conference) and have seven total rushing TDs.
Judging by the results so far, it’s looking like the Aggies could hold an advantage in terms of RB efficiency, as their backfield has generated 5.5 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.4 to opponents. The Cowboys have rushed for 4.0 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 3.7 to opponents.
The Aggies offense has logged 280 yards/contest in the air overall (367 per game against conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Cowboys have put up 144 pass yards per game (139.3 against MWC foes) and have three total pass scores.
Utah State appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team’s allowed opponents to rush for an average of 157 yards and pass for 209 yards per game. The Wyoming D has allowed 244.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 130.1 yards per game on the ground. The Aggies are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.43 to opponents, while the Cowboys have allowed a 6.56 ANY/A.
Offensively, Love has put up 1,392 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 68 percent of his 158 attempts with 10 scores through the air and only three interceptions. He’s got a pristine 8.70 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 13.08 over the past two games.
In the other locker room, Tyler Vander Waal has managed to complete 86-of-168 passes for 919 yards, three TDs and three INTs. Vander Waal’s ANY/A stands at a minuscule 3.93 for the season and 2.17 across his last two games.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Pick: Utah State Aggies at Wyoming Cowboys
SU Winner – Aggies, ATS Winner – Aggies, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Notes
The Utah State D has 19 sacks on the year while Wyoming has just 11.
The Wyoming offense has lost two fumbles in 2018 while the Utah State offense has let six get away.
The Aggies have made 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Cowboys have produced three such plays.
The Utah State defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Wyoming has given up two such plays.
The Utah State offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Wyoming has created eight such runs.
The Aggies defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Cowboys have given up five such runs.
The O/U for Wyoming’s last game was set at 44. The under cashed in the 27-3 loss to Fresno State.
Over its last three matchups, Wyoming is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three contests, Utah State is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
Wyoming has dropped six of its last seven games SU, with a three-point win over Wofford on September 15th representing its only victory over that stretch.
The O/U for Utah State’s last game was set at 66. The over cashed in the team’s 59-28 win over UNLV.
Utah State has averaged 5.5 yards per carry across its past three games and 5.5 over its last two.
Wyoming has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.1 over its last two.
*****
