The Wyoming Cowboys and Utah State Aggies are set to face off on the turf at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. Kickoff for this pivotal MWC matchup is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET and ESPNU will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Utah State Aggies vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming is a live dog and is currently getting 6 points in this Saturday MWC game. The Cowboys are also receiving +190 moneyline odds while the Aggies are -240. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 49.5 points, and if one team can create a bunch of points in the early stages, it’ll likely create a reasonable live betting opportunity.
This game’s opening line was -7. The over/under has not moved since it was initially established at 49.5.
The profitable Cowboys have recorded 7.0 units so far and are 6-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 3-6.
The Aggies are down 0.8 units this season. The team is 5-4 ATS and owns an O/U record of 4-5.
The Cowboys are 6-3 straight up (SU), including 3-2 SU against MWC opponents. The Aggies are 5-4 SU overall and 4-1 SU in conference play.
These two squads faced off last year with the final outcome being a 24-16 victory for Utah State.
The Cowboys fell to Boise State 20-17 in a nailbiter where their D allowed the Broncos to pass for 194 yards and rush for 91 yards. Offensively, Tyler Vander Waal completed 15-of-23 passes for just 160 yards. Xazavian Valladay (124 rushing yards on 37 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the ground attack. Josh Harshman (six receptions, 48 yards) and Raghib Ismail Jr. (three catches, 37 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Utah State just put together a 37-35 win over Fresno State. Jordan Love completed 30-of-39 passes for 388 yards and two touchdowns. Gerold Bright (79 yards on 14 rush attempts, one TD) and Jaylen Warren (30 yards on 12 carries, one TD) mounted the running game as Siaosi Mariner (11 receptions, 103 yards, two TDs) and Caleb Repp (five catches, 75 yards) led the receiving attack in the win.
Wyoming has run the ball on 71.4 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 73.5 percent across possessions in conference play. Utah State has an overall rush percentage of 46.5 percent, and has run the ball 49.9 percent of the time when playing MWC opponents. The Cowboys have run for 226.4 yards/game (including 234.2 per game versus Mountain West opponents) and have 21 scores on the ground this year. The Aggies are logging 152 rush yards per game (143.4 in conference) and have 12 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then it’s looking like the Cowboys might own an edge when it comes to efficiency in the ground game. Their backfield has generated 5.1 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 2.8 to opponents. The Aggies have ran for 4.5 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.0 to opponents.
The Cowboys offensive scheme has averaged 128.8 yards in the air overall (140 per game versus conference opposition) and has eight passing scores so far. The Aggies have recorded 279.4 pass yards per outing (235 in the MWC) and have 13 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Wyoming has allowed 97.6 rush yards and 278.2 pass yards per game. The Utah State D has allowed 258.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 182.4 yards per game to opposing runners. The Cowboys are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.45 to opposing QBs, while the Aggies have given up a 7.12 ANY/A.
Love has been more effective than Vander Waal lately. The Aggies man under center has an adjusted net yards per pass attempt 5.92 for the year and 7.56 across his past two outings while Vander Waal’s ANY/A is 5.13 (and 5.86 over the past two outings).
Wyoming Cowboys vs. Utah State Aggies NCAA Tip
SU Winner: Utah State, ATS Winner: Utah State, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- The Wyoming defense has 28 sacks on the year while Utah State has just 15.
- The Utah State offense has lost six fumbles this season while Wyoming has let two get away.
- The Cowboys offense has tallied five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Aggies have accounted for six such plays.
- Both teams have allowed five pass plays of 40+ yards. The Wyoming defense has given up 11 pass plays of 30+ yards while Utah State has yielded 14 such plays.
- The Wyoming offense has created 21 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Utah State has created 13 such runs.
- The Cowboys defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Aggies have given up 10 such runs.
- The Over/Under for Utah State’s previous match was set at 59.5. The over cashed in the team’s 37-35 victory over Fresno State.
- In its last three contests, Utah State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three games, Wyoming is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The Over/Under for Wyoming’s previous game was 47.5. The under cashed in the team’s 20-17 loss to Boise State.
- Wyoming has rushed for 4.5 yards per attempt over its past three outings and 4.3 over its last two.
- Utah State has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.9 over its past two.
