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With kick-off times quickly approaching for both affairs, let’s get started.
In Depth Analysis On The College Football Betting: SU Picks For First Round Of Bowls
BYU vs. Wyoming
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 21, 2016Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
TV: ESPN
NCAAF Odds: BYU -8.5
Analysis:
When the San Diego Country Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl gets underway on Wednesday, December 21 at 9:00 PM ET, the BYU Cougars will have a new starting quarterback trying to lead them to a season-ending victory over Mountain West rival Wyoming.
The good news is that BYU’s backup is actually a former starter that has experienced plenty of success when he was called upon to start in the past. With oft-injured senior signal-caller Taysom Hill suffering his fourth season-ending injury in five years in BYU’s regular season finale the Cougars will turn to sophomore Tanner Mangum.
The strong-armed signal-caller completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 3,377 yards with 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a freshman last season after Hill went down with a season-ending injury on BYU’s very first game a year ago. Mangum did play sparingly in the Cougars’ final three games this season while going, 14-for-18 pass for 145 yards and two touchdowns. BYU senior running back Jamaal Williams rushed for a stellar 1,165 and 11 scores despite missing three of BYU’s final five games with an ankle injury
Wyoming is led by sophomore signal-caller Josh Allen who threw for 2,996 yards with 26 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. Allen will look to hook up early and often with senior wide receiver Tanner Gentry (18.7 yards per 65 receptions, 12 touchdowns).
The Cowboys also have gifted running back in junior Brian Hill, who rushed for 1,767 yards and 21 touchdowns to finish third and second, respectively in the Mountain West Conference. Hill will however, face a BYU defense that ranked eighth against the run nationally by limiting opposing running backs to an average of 108.4 yards per game.
Okay…now moving on to my SU pick for this contest…I’m going to urge you to back the BYU Cougars to get the outright win over a Wyoming team that has been very good this season but has an overly generous defense in allowing 34.8 points per game this season to rank 104th nationally.
To back up my pick, just know that BYU has gone 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings against Wyoming while the favorite in this Mountain West rivalry has gone an identical 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings. There’s a reason why BYU is favored by 8.5 points and it’s because they’re the better team!
Pick:
BYU 35 Wyoming 28
Western Kentucky over Memphis
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 20, 2016Where: FAU Football Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida
TV: ESPN
NCAAF Odds: Western Kentucky -4.5
Analysis:
Western Kentucky and Memphis will look to cap off their respective seasons with a victory when they take to the gridiron in the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7:00 PM ET.
Western Kentucky has won seven straight games and spanked Louisiana Tech 58-44 in their Conference USA title game win on Dec. 3 to cash in as a 12-point favorite. The Hilltoppers will be without head coach Jeff Brohm who accepted the job at Purdue on Dec. 5. Defensive coordinator Nick Holt will take over in the interim for this bowl game clash.
Memphis won two straight and three of its final four games, including a stunning 48-44 win over Houston in their finale. The Tigers had a fine season after losing head coach Justin Fuente and starting quarterback Paxton Lynch after last season’s eye-opening campaign. Nevertheless, new head coach Mike Norvell and starting quarterback Riley Ferguson both had fine first seasons as the Tigers put up a whopping 39.5 points per game.
The Hilltoppers averaged a stellar 45.1 points per game this season and they’re my pick to get the outright win over Memphis in a matchup that looks like a shootout waiting to happen. Quarterback Mike White passed for a whopping 4,027 yards with 34 touchdowns and just six interceptions this season and Western Kentucky’s defense held three of its final five opponents to 10 points or less. It is their blossoming defense that I believe will lead the Hilltoppers to the outright win against the Tigers.
Besides, Memphis is just 1-4 ATS in their last five games in the month of December while Western Kentucky has gone 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall. I like the Hilltoppers to get the outright win.
Pick:
Western Kentucky 38 Memphis 35
