The Boise State Broncos (-16.5) and Wyoming Cowboys are set to do battle on the turf at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. CBS Sports Network will televise the action and the game is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Boise State Broncos at Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming is a significant home underdog in this MWC game and is currently getting 16.5 points. In order to take the favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently need to lay down $1,200 to win $100 back on the Broncos (-1200). The Cowboys are getting +710 moneyline odds. If one team can find paydirt early, it’ll probably produce a solid in-game betting opportunity.
The opening line was initially set at 16 but has moved a bit recently.
The Broncos are 2-1 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 0.1 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 2-1.
The Cowboys have gained 0.0 units this season. The team is 1-3 ATS and also has an O/U record of 2-1.
The Broncos have gone 2-1 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any MWC competition yet. The Cowboys are 2-2 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Broncos are hoping to get back in stride after a 44-21 defeat to Oklahoma State on September 15. The passing attack was on point as Brett Rypien completed 39-of-56 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Alexander Mattison (53 rushing yards on 14 attempts) and the signal-caller Rypien (-30 yards on 11 carries) led the ground attack in the loss. CT Thomas (eight receptions, 52 yards) and A.J. Richardson (six catches, 70 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
Wyoming is coming off of a 17-14 win over Wofford back in Week 3. The team’s defense let the Terriers run for 221 yards on 49 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Lennox McAfee was a bright spot in the defeat for Wofford, recording 91 rushing yards on 13 attempts. For Wyoming, Tyler Vander Waal completed 25-of-42 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Xazavian Valladay (57 rushing yards on 15 attempts) mounted the ground attack in the win as Austin Conway (11 receptions, 89 yards) and James Price (four catches, 43 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Boise State’s run the ball on 47.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Wyoming has a rush percentage of 57.7 percent. The Broncos have produced 181.7 rush yards per game and have six touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Cowboys are putting up 157.0 rushing yards per game and have six total rush TDs.
The Broncos offense has averaged a ridiculous 367.7 yards through the air overall and has 11 passing scores so far. The Cowboys have recorded 147.0 pass yards per contest and have two total pass TDs.
Boise State appears to have an advantage when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents rush for an average of 140.7 yards and pass for 190.7 yards per game. The Wyoming defense has allowed 233.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 122.5 yards per game on the ground. The Broncos are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.23 to opposing QBs, while the Cowboys have given up a 5.83 ANY/A.
Offensively, Rypien is up to 685 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has connected on 70 percent of his 84 attempts with seven scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. He’s got a sparkling 8.36 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.93 over the last two games.
John Hightower (10 rushing yards, 59 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown this season), Alexander Mattison (109 rush yards, one rush TD) and A.J. Richardson (100 receiving yards, one TD) have each played key roles lately.
For the home team, Tyler Vander Waal has connected on 46-of-83 passes for 428 yards, two TDs and two INTs. Vander Waal’s ANY/A stands at a very poor 3.60 for the season and 4.41 over his last two games.
Xazavian Valladay, James Price and Austin Conway have collectively accounted for 326 yards from scrimmage over the last couple of outings.
These two squads met last year with the final result being a 24-14 win for Boise State.
Boise State Broncos at Wyoming Cowboys NCAA Pick
SU Winner: Broncos, ATS Winner: Broncos
Team Betting Trends
- The Boise State defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks nine times this season. Wyoming has recorded five sacks.
- Wyoming has lost one fumble this season while Boise State has let two get away.
- The Broncos offense has recorded five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Cowboys have accounted for two such plays.
- The Boise State defense has allowed one pass play of 40+ yards, while Wyoming has given up zero such plays.
- The Boise State offense has created seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Wyoming has created three such runs.
- The Broncos defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cowboys have given up five such runs.
- Wyoming was favored by -14 points in its previous matchup. The team failed to cover that spread in the team’s 17-14 victory over Wofford.
- In its last three matches, Boise State is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Boise State was the underdog by one point in its previous game and the O/U going into it was 66. The under cashed and Boise State failed to cover in the 44-21 loss to Oklahoma State.
- As a team, Boise State has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last two outings.
- Wyoming has averaged 3.1 yards per carry over its last two.
