Utah State Aggies vs. BYU Cougars Picks, Predictions, Odds

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

The Utah State Aggies and Brigham Young Cougars renew acquaintances Thursday at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.

Updated on 12/22/2024

BetMGM Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus!

Bonus Code VIBONUS1600 Claim Now

Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER

UTAH STATE AGGIES vs. BYU COUGARS BETTING PREDICTION

The Aggies opened the season with a 31-20 win over UConn in Week 0, and it appeared as if everything was going to go rather swimmingly for head coach Blake Anderson's team again in 2022. However, the Aggies took it on the chin in a money game at Alabama, 55-0, and they've been off the rails ever since. After getting cleaned by Bama, USU returned home and got pounded by FCS Weber State, sending the Aggie faithful to the White Owl rooftop to drown their sorrows with some delicious Polygamy Porter. Yes, that's a real beer.

It gets worse. UNLV came to town last weekend after a bye and two-week rest, and won the Mountain West opener 34-24. The good news is that the offense was somewhat functional again, but the defense allowed 34 or more points for the third consecutive game.

BYU bounced back from its first loss of the season, a 41-20 shellacking at Oregon, to top Wyoming 38-24 in Provo. The Cougars failed to cover the spread, however, while cashing the OVER for the third time in four outings. That's the complete opposite of Utah State, which has hit the UNDER in all four games to date.

Score Prediction: BYU 45, Utah State 17
Best Bet: BYU -24 (-105)
Best Bet: OVER 59.5 (-110)

UTAH STATE AGGIES vs. BYU COUGARS BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds | CFP Central

UTAH STATE AGGIES vs. BYU COUGARS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022
Matchup: MWC vs. Independent
Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium
Location: Provo, Utah
Time-TV: ESPN, 8:00 p.m. ET
Expert Picks

UTAH STATE AGGIES BETTING ANALYSIS

The stats have been about as bad as you would expect for a 1-3 SU team which has a loss to an FCS team. Utah State ranks 101st in the country in total yards (345.5), 100th in passing yards (205.0) and 123rd in points scored (15.5) per game. RB Robert Briggs has one touchdown run this season, and that leads the team. That's it. He is the only one.

BYU will likely stack the box and make QB Logan Bonner beat them. So far the former Arkansas State signal caller has had a lot of luster rub off after last season's solid showing. He has completed just 56.4% of his attempts for 753 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions, but there really aren't any better choices.

Utah State is 5-1 ATS in the past six games on the road, but that's when this team looked like a higher-end FBS team. This season it has performed more like a mid-tier FCS team, and even that might be a bit generous. The Ags have failed to cover in the past four games overall.

For totals, bettors have loved USU. The UNDER is a perfect 4-for-4 so far, and 5-2 in the past seven road games dating back to last season, while going 6-0 in the past six outside of the MWC.

BYU COUGARS BETTING ANALYSIS

The Cougars are easily the most battle-tested team, having already made a cross-country trip to Tampa, playing host to Baylor in a Top 25 matchup, traveling to Oregon for another ranked battle, and hosting a solid Wyoming side.

BYU hasn't been a cash cow for bettors, really, as it is just 2-2 ATS this season, and 2-5 ATS in the past seven games overall. The Cougars are 1-5-1 ATS in the past seven games against teams with a losing record, too, while going 2-5 ATS in the past seven against the Mountain West. Still, while technically this is a rivalry game, BYU is heads and tails better than this flailing, struggling USU side.

The good news for BYU is that WR Gunner Romney is expected to make his season debut after making his way back from a lacerated kidney suffered during fall camp. WRs Puka Nacua (lower leg) and Chase Roberts (undisclosed) were unable to finish the Wyoming game, and are uncertain for Thursday, so Romney's return will be very welcome. OT Kingsley Suamataia (undisclosed) is expected to return.

On the defensive side of the ball, three injured defenders nursing assorted injuries were rested for the Wyoming game to allow more recovery time. DL Gabe Summers, LB Max Tooley and DL Earl Tuioti-Mariner are expected to play, giving the Cougars a boost on D.

UTAH STATE AGGIES vs. BYU COUGARS BETTING TRENDS

• Utah State is 0-4 ATS in the past four games overall
• Utah State is 5-1 ATS in the past six road games
• Utah State is 3-8 ATS in the past 11 after a non-cover
• BYU is 2-5 ATS in the past seven games overall
• BYU is 2-5 ATS in the past seven vs. Mountain West
• UNDER is 5-0 in the past five overall for Utah State
• UNDER is 5-2 in the past seven road games for Utah State
• UNDER is 6-0 in the past six non-conference games for Utah State
• OVER is 5-1 in the past six games overall for BYU
• OVER is 4-1 in the past five home games for BYU
• Underdog is 9-3 in the past 12 meetings
• Road team is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings
• OVER is 5-2 in the past seven meetings

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish