2016 Poinsettia Bowl Prediction
Will BYU cover as a double-digit favorite tonight when it takes on Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl at 9:00PM ET?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Cougars are 10-point favorites versus the Cowboys after opening as a 7.5-point favorite. As for the total, the number hit the board at 57 and that’s where it currently sits at the majority of online and Vegas sports books.
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BYU KEY TRENDS: The Cougars are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games versus Mountain West Conference opponents and have covered in four of their last five games overall. They’re also 8-3 against the number in their last 11 non-conference games, are 5-2 at the betting window in their last seven games coming off a win, and are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
WYOMING KEY TRENDS: The Cowboys are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games overall, are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games versus a team with a winning record, and are 4-0 ATS in their last four games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. That said, they’re just 3-7 against the number in their last 10 non-conference games.
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OUR PREDICTION: The Cougars will be without starting quarterback Taysom Hill, who went down in the last game with a season-ending injury for the fourth time in five years. Fortunately BYU has an experienced quarterback replacing Hill in Tanner Mangum, who was excellent as a freshman a year ago. This game boils down to defense. Wyoming ranks 112th in the nation in total yards allowed, are 106th in passing yards allowed, 87th in rushing yards allowed and surrender 34.8 points per game (105th in the nation). BYU struggles against the pass (255.9 yards per game, 100th in the country), but is otherwise stout defensively. The Cougars allow just 19.4 points per game, are ninth in the nation in run defense and 33rd in college football while allowing 364.3 yards per game. The 10 points seems like a lot but when Wyoming struggles to score, BYU will pull away in the second half.
2016 POINSETTIA BOWL PREDICTION: BYU COUGARS -10