No matter how much you think you can predict what will happen in college football betting, there’s always a party crasher who likes to muck things up every season. This year, it’s BYU, as the Cougars look to sneak into the college football playoff with a stellar quarterback and a weak schedule.
“Bro, I’m not trying to be rude, but who invited you, man? Don’t tell me. Boise State, right? No, no, no. Wait. UCF. I KNEW it.” But that’s part of the fun, and BYU is showing no signs of slowing up this season.
Here are our best college football free picks and predictions for Texas State at No. 11 BYU. It’s a late-night affair, with kickoff set for 10:15 ET on Saturday, October 24 in Provo, Utah.
Texas State Bobcats vs BYU Cougars betting preview
Weather
It’s going to be cold on Saturday night in Provo, so bundle up! Expect a high of 32 degrees with wind out of the northwest at 8 mph and a 10 percent chance of rain. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key Injuries
Texas State: J.P. Urquidez OL (Out), Waydale Jones WR (Out), Tyler Huff TE (Out).
BYU: Hank Tuipulotu TE (Questionable), Gunner Romney WR (Questionable), Sione Finau RB (Questionable).
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Cougars are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. Find more NCAA football betting trends for Texas State vs. BYU.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
If the Cougars are the “party crashers,” then the Bobcats are the team that stays home, plays a nice game of bridge and is neatly tucked away in bed by 8:30. Texas State is 1-5 with three consecutive losses, which includes a 30-20 defeat to South Alabama last week. Texas State has played two quarterbacks this season, with Tyler Vitt getting the most recent call. He’s thrown for 602 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions. But if he struggles, look for Brady McBride to get another shot.
BYU hasn’t played a difficult schedule, but the Cougars roared back from a 12-point deficit and scored 22 unanswered points to beat Houston 43-26 last Friday. Quarterback Zach Wilson has quietly inserted himself into the Heisman race with his 12 touchdown passes, with BYU sitting at 5-0 for the first time since 2008.
The Cougars could use a more formidable rushing attack — Wilson also led the team on the ground with 40 yards last week — but that won’t matter here. For BYU to be legitimately considered the national title discussion, they have to win and win big.
PREDICTION: BYU -28.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
Texas State is going to have a hard time moving the football, which initially had me leaning toward the Under, and that’s where all of the trends point.
Still, the Cougars might drop 50 points by themselves, and since they need to impress voters as much as possible, I’ll take my chances with the Over.
PREDICTION: Over 61.5 (-110)
Team total pick
The Texas State pass defense allows 285.7 yards per game, and it hasn’t nearly had the challenge of stopping an offense as dangerous as the one led by Wilson. This matchup isn’t going to be close, so it’s simply a matter of how many points the Cougars put on the scoreboard. Party on.
PREDICTION: BYU team total Over 43.5 (-120)
Texas State vs BYU betting card
- BYU -28.5 (-110)
- Over 61.5 (-110)
- BYU team total Over 43.5 (-120)
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