In a display of two schools that like to keep it on the ground, Head Coach Matt Wells and the Utah State Aggies (-15) are set to face off against their in-conference foe Wyoming Cowboys at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. This Saturday afternoon matchup is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ATSN.
Betting Preview: Utah State Aggies vs. Wyoming Cowboys
In this Saturday Mountain West matchup, Utah State is tabbed as the big favorite and is currently giving up 15 points. The Aggies are also receiving -840 moneyline odds while the Cowboys are +550. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 53.5 points, and multiple solid live betting possibilities should exist during the showdown.
The line opened at 14.5 while the total hasn’t moved since it opened at 53.5.
The Aggies have gained 2.0 units so far and are 6-0 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 6-0.
The hapless Cowboys have lost 3.9 units this season. The team is 1-6 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Aggies have gone 5-1 straight up (SU), including 2-0 SU against MWC opponents. The Cowboys are 2-5 SU overall and 0-3 SU in conference play.
Wyoming comes into this matchup on a zero-game winning streak while Utah State has lost each of its last zero. 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 in the win while Jalen Greene (five receptions, 132 yards, one TD) and Ron’Quavion Tarver (four catches, 52 yards, two TDs) handled the receiving duties.
One week ago, Fresno State knocked off this Wyoming crew by a score of 27-3. The Cowboys defense allowed the Bulldogs to kill the clock by rushing for 104 yards on 33 attempts, including two rush TDs. Jared Rice had a productive showing in the win, recording 94 yards on seven catches for Fresno State. For Wyoming, Tyler Vander Waal completed 12-of-32 passes for 117 yards and one interception. Nico Evans (58 yards on 18 rush attempts) led the ground game in the defeat as James Price (three receptions, 27 yards) and Austin Conway (three catches, 24 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
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 run percentage of 56.2 percent, and has rushed the ball 53.7 percent of the time against MWC opponents. The Aggies have run for 198.7 yards per game (including 177.0 per game against Mountain West opponents) and have 20 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Cowboys are putting up 138.6 rushing yards per game (114.0 in conference) and have seven total rush TDs.
Based on the results so far, it’s looking like the Aggies ought to have the edge in all aspects of the ground game, since their backfield has generated 5.5 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.4 to opponents. The Cowboys have recorded 4.0 yards per carry and given up 3.7 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Aggies offense has logged 280.0 yards/game through the air overall (366.5 per game versus conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Cowboys have produced 143.7 pass yards per contest (139 in the MWC) and have three total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Utah State should have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed 157.0 rush yards and 208.8 pass yards per game. The Wyoming defense has allowed 244.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 130.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Aggies are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.43 to opposing QBs, while the Cowboys have given up a 6.56 ANY/A.
Offensively, Love has put up 1,392 passing yards this year. He’s completed 68 percent of his 158 attempts with 10 passing scores and only three interceptions. Love’s got a pristine 8.70 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 13.08 over the last two outings.
On the other sideline, Tyler Vander Waal has completed 86-of-168 passes for 919 yards, three TDs and three INTs. Vander Waal’s ANY/A stands at a very poor 3.93 for the season and 2.17 across his last two outings.
When these two squads faced one another a year ago, Wyoming earned the win 28-23.
Utah State Aggies at Wyoming Cowboys Bedding Prediction
SU Winner: Aggies, ATS Winner: Aggies, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The O/U for Utah State’s last game was set at 66. The over cashed in the team’s 59-28 victory over UNLV.
- As a team, Utah State has rushed for 5.5 yards per attempt over its last three contests and 5.5 over its last two.
- Wyoming has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.1 over its past two.
- The Wyoming offense has lost two fumbles this season while Utah State has lost six.
- In its last three contests, Utah State is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Wyoming’s last match was 44. The under cashed in that 27-3 defeat to Fresno State.
- In its last three games, Wyoming is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Wyoming has dropped six of its last seven games SU, with a three-point win over Wofford on September 15th accounting for its lone victory over that span.
- Each team has produced three pass plays of 40 yards or more. The Aggies have have made 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Cowboys have accounted for three such plays.
- The Utah State defense has allowed three pass plays of 40+ yards, while Wyoming has given up two such plays.
- The Utah State offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20+ 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 Utah State defensive unit has 19 sacks on the year while Wyoming has just 11.
