Jason Storm
Free Picks Newsletter Lead Researcher
119-77-1 Overall Record

College Football: Utah State (+7.5) vs BYU (-7.5) Over – Under 50

 

I know if you looked at their last meeting, you will see that BYU lost outright to Utah State as a 4 point favorite. It was Utah State first win over BYU in 10 meetings. If you remember last year was a rebuilding year for BYU. Last season was the only year in the last 5 season that BYU went through the entire year not ranked in the top 25. This is real football program built by head coach Bronco Mendenhall.

Utah State is a struggling football program that had hopes that now head coach Gary Anderson could turn things around. That has not been the case. Anderson is just 9-18 in his career at Utah State. However, this is the same Utah State team that gave Auburn a run for it’s money the opening week of college football. As 24 point underdogs this team only lost by 4 to the defending BCS Champion Auburn Tigers.

The Utah State Aggies were able to keep that game close with Auburn by shutting down the run. They allowed only 2.3 yards a run that game. This is on par what this Aggies team can do on defense. They can and do shut down the run. In fact, they have only allowed 82 yards rushing per game. Unforunately for Utah State, BYU isn’t a running team. They average less than 70 yards a game. Utah State’s ability to stop the run will mean nothing against pass happy teams like the BYU Cougars.

The reason the Utah State did lose to Auburn is because they allowed11.3 yards per pass play. The fact they only allow 187 yards through the air is misleading. Auburn killed them through the air. Their next two games were against Weber State and a dreadful Colorado  Stteam. Utah State did end up losing to Colorado, a team they are far better than, but just had too many turnovers, fumbling 4 times.

 

I have bet on BYU more than any other team this year. You know how I feel, I love the make up of this team. Jake Heaps is a talented QB. He sees the field well and can really throw the touch pass. If I had any criticize of him, it’s he throws the ball too hard. Or maybe his receiveres just drop too many passes. His completion percentage on the year is 66% but would be over 70% if he would take a little bit off the ball. His receivers drop too many passes, but they are still a talented bunch. This is a BYU offense that is going to throw the ball down the field, and Utah State doesn’t have the atheletes at corner to match up. BYU is going to surprass it’s 223 yards through the average.

What makes me love this BYU team is its defense. Again, they are much better than the stats indicate. They are big, strong and atheltic. They are going to shut down this Utah State team. Utah State hasn’t defeated BYU at BYUsince 1978. It’s not happening this year either. BYU was favored by 24 in their last home game against Utah State. This 7.5 point spread a joke and should be at least 13 points. Make the book pay and take BYU

Take BYU -7.5