The No. 14 Boise State Broncos (-6.5) and BYU Cougars are ready to do battle on the grass at LaVell Edwards Stadium. ESPN2 will broadcast the action and the game is scheduled to kick off at 10:15 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: BYU Cougars vs. Boise State Broncos
BYU is the home underdog in this game and is currently getting 6.5 points. The Broncos are also receiving -270 moneyline odds while the Cougars are +210. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 50.5 points, and some decent live betting possibilities might be unveiled during the game.
Sharp bettors have been siding with the over, as the game’s over/under was initially set at just 48.5.
The profitable Broncos have gained 5.1 units so far and are 5-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 3-3.
The Cougars are down 1.9 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-4 ATS and also have an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Broncos have gone 6-0 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Cougars are 2-4 SU.
The Broncos are hoping to remain undefeated after a 59-37 victory over Hawaii last week. the Broncos completed 21-of-37 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns. Chase Cord went 12-for-18 for 175 yards and three touchdowns while Jaylon Henderson completed six-of-10 for 82 yards and one touchdown. Robert Mahone (74 rushing yards on 16 attempts, one TD) and George Holani (64 yards on nine carries, one TD) led the ground attack in the win while John Hightower (seven receptions, 141 yards, two TDs) and CT Thomas (four catches, 53 yards) handled the receiving duties.
BYU just lost 27-23 to South Florida. The defense allowed the Bulls to eat up the clock by rushing for 243 yards on 44 attempts, including three rush TDs. Jordan Cronkrite was on a different level for South Florida, putting up 158 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 attempts. As a group, the Cougars collectively completed 21-of-33 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. Jaren Hall went 15-for-23 for 148 yards and one touchdown while Baylor Romney was six-of-10 for 73 yards. Hall (83 rushing yards on 16 attempts, one TD) and Emmanuel Esukpa (43 yards on 13 carries) handled the ground game in the defeat as Matt Bushman (five receptions, 44 yards) and Talon Shumway (four catches, 56 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Boise State’s run the ball on 50.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while BYU has an overall rush percentage of 48.2 percent. The Broncos have rushed for 166.5 yards per game and have 11 scores via handoffs this year. The Cougars are putting up 121.3 rush yards per game and have eight total rushing TDs.
If 2019 results are any indication, then it appears the Broncos might hold an advantage in all aspects of the ground game. Their running backs has generated 4.3 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.9 YPC to opponents. The Cougars have ran for 3.6 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 4.8 to opponents.
The Broncos offensive scheme has averaged 321.7 yards in the air overall and has 16 passing TDs so far. The Cougars have put up 265.2 pass yards per outing and have six total pass scores.
Boise State has allowed opponents to run for an average of 125 yards and throw for 202.7 yards per game. The BYU defense has allowed 188.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 224.5 yards per game on the ground. The Broncos are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.39 to opponents, while the Cougars have given up a 6.29 ANY/A.
Offensively, Bachmeier has amassed 1,248 passing yards on the year, and has completed 90-of-146 attempts with seven scores through the air and three interceptions. He’s got a 7.57 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 10.28 over the last two outings.
On the other sideline, Zach Wilson has connected on 108-of-175 passes for 1,312 yards, five TDs and four INTs. Wilson’s ANY/A sits at 6.19 for the year and 7.38 over his last two games.
When these two squads faced each other a year ago, Boise State earned the win 21-16.
Boise State Broncos at BYU Cougars NCAA Prediction
SU Winner: Boise State, ATS Winner: Boise State, O/U: Over
Betting Notes
- The Boise State defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 19 times this season. BYU has registered just five sacks.
- The BYU offense has lost four fumbles in 2019 while Boise State has let five get away.
- The Broncos offense has produced six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Cougars have put up three such plays.
- The Boise State defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while BYU has given up two such plays.
- The Boise State offense has created eight rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while BYU has created six such runs.
- The Broncos defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cougars have given up six such runs.
- The Over/Under for BYU’s last outing going into it was 49. The over cashed in that 27-23 loss to South Florida.
- Over its last three matches, BYU is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three contests, Boise State is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Boise State’s last game was set at 60.5. The over cashed in the team’s 59-37 victory over Hawaii.
- Boise State, as a team, has produced 5.0 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.7 over its last two.
- BYU has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.9 over its last two.
