Boise State vs. BYU Prediction
Will Boise State be able to go on the road and beat BYU by more than a touchdown when the two rivals meet up tonight at 10:15PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Boise State is favored on the road, as the Broncos are getting odds of -8.5 points against BYU. The over/under total for the game is listed at 47 points. The home team has won six straight games in this series and the Cougars are 5-1 against the spread in those six games. Tonight’s game takes place from LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah and it will air on ESPN.
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BYU is 1-4 this season following a 40-24 loss at Utah State last week. The Cougars have yet to cover the spread in any game this season, including as an underdog in three of them. BYU hasn’t had much of an offense at all, as the Cougars average 12.6 points and 256.6 yards per game. Tanner Mangum has thrown for 466 yards this season, but he is dealing with an ankle injury that has him as a game-time decision tonight. His backup, Beau Hoge, is out due to a concussion. Ula Tolutau and Squally Canada have combined for 365 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The BYU defense is allowing 26.4 points and 381.6 yards per contest.
Boise State is 2-2 on the season following a 42-23 loss at home to Virginia two weeks ago. The Broncos are 2-2 against the spread, failing to cover in their last two games, both of which were at home. Boise is holding opponents to 29 points and 346.8 yards per game. On offense, Boise State is putting up 29.8 points and 351.3 yards per game. Montell Cozart has thrown for 416 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Cedrick Wilson has caught 29 passes for 485 yards and three touchdowns.
Boise State hasn’t looked the best at times, but this Broncos team nearly upset Washington State a few weeks ago on the road. Their defense looked a little shaky two weeks ago, but I think the Broncos will be able to handle this BYU offense just fine. The Cougars could be down to a third-string quarterback and the offense has struggled even with Mangum playing. Look for the Broncos’ defense to shut down the Cougars while doing enough on offense to cover.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: BOISE STATE -8.5