Note: If you’re
looking for the 2013 Week 6 Friday night matchup between these teams, please
go here: BYU
Cougars vs. Utah State Aggies Pick.
Brigham Young Cougars (1-3, 1-3 ATS) vs. Utah State Aggies (1-3, 1-3 ATS), Week 5 College Football, Romney Stadium, (SprinTurf) Logan Utah, Friday, October 1st, 2010 8:00 PM Eastern
By Jeff Hochman of JHSportsline.com
Betting Odds: BYU -6/USU +6
Over/Under Total: OFF
Two teams heading in the same direction collide in a non-conference matchup on Saturday night. Both schools enter this game with identical 1-3 records overall and 0-1 in their respective conferences. If BYU or Utah St. wants to win this game, they will need to do a better job at containing their opponent’s quarterback. Last week, both teams gave up chunks of yards with very little resistant. BYU allowed Nevada to rack up 239 yards rushing and 435 total yards. Utah State allowed 504 total yards last week and their pass defense better get right quickly. They allowed 362 yards passing to a team that is not known for having big games through the air.
Colin Kaepernick threw for a touchdown and ran for another, as the Nevada Wolf Pack defeated the BYU Cougars, 27-13 as 5-point road favorites, in a non- conference showdown at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. Kaepernick threw for 196 yards on 16-of-25 pass attempts, while rushing for 82 yards on 17 carries. Vai Taua led Nevada with 133 rushing yards and a touchdown on 29 carries. Jake Heaps passed for 229 yards on 24-of-43 tosses for BYU, which has dropped three games in a row for the first time since 2005-06.
Ryan Lindley connected on 17-of-24 passes for 362 yards with three touchdowns and one interception as the San Diego State Aztecs cruised to a 41-7 victory, as 9.5-point home chalk over the Utah State Aggies in non-conference action. Vincent Brown hauled in five receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns in the victory for San Diego State while Diondre Borel completed 14-of-31 passes for 130 yards with one Interception in the loss.
Neither team is playing at a high level on both sides of the ball so far this young season. The Cougars are averaging just 15 points per game while the Aggies are averaging 23. Jake Heaps and Riley Nelson are completing just over 50% of their passes for BYU. On the flip side, Diondre Borel is completing only 54% of his throws for the Aggies.
The defense has been bad as you might suspect with a losing team. BYU is allowing 28 points per game compared to 32 for the Aggies. The major difference has been penalties this season as the Cougars have committed 14 more than Utah State. Not committing dumb penalties is a great way of improving your chance of winning. Could be a factor in this game!
BYU is much better at defending the pass than the run so look for the Aggies to pound the ball early and often. The Cougars are allowing 169 yards per game through the air, but are giving up 263 rushing yards per game so far this season. Utah State has been the exact opposite. They are allowing 241 yards per game through the air and 154 rushing yards so far this season.
This game has been dominated by BYU for the last ten years, but not at the cashier’s window. BYU is 10-0 straight-up, but they are just 4-6 against-the-spread during that time. Last year, BYU won 35-17, but failed to cover the large 24-point spread. That line shows you how different the Cougars are from last year’s squad.
BYU is 1-8 ATS in their last nine October games while Utah State is 6-2 ATS in their last eight vs. the Mountain West.
Jeff’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Utah State Aggies +6
Both teams have injury concerns on both sides of the ball heading into this contest. The Aggies are more disciplined and should be fired up knowing they have lost 10 straight to BYU. This would be their best chance in over 10 years to defeat BYU. I think a FG will win this game, but I am not sure who will get it. Take the generous six points in this one!
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