Sure, 2010 wasn’t the same for BYU and NCAA football betting sharps who wagered on them. The glory days of Max Hall are a thing of the past. But the Cougars can’t complain, really. They had a nice run. And they get their 29th all-time bowl appearance when they battle the University of Texas-El Paso in the New Mexico Bowl. It’s not too early to make a betting pick!
BYU Cougars vs. UTEP Miners
Saturday, December 18, 2:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook favorite: BYU -12
It’s not a huge surprise to see the spread at 12 points in BYU’s favor right now, as the Cougars definitely enter the New Mexico Bowl with more momentum. They closed out the season by winning four straight games and before coming within a hair of beating Utah on the road in their final game on November 27. The Cougars scored 40-plus points in three of those games; they also went 6-1 against the spread over their final seven games.
Defensively, BYU was respectable this season, ranking 38th in the nation and 21st against the pass with 187.8 yards allowed per game. The Cougars ran the ball pretty well with J.J. Di Luigi averaging 5.2 yards per carry and running for seven scores.
The Cougars’ passing attack was a liability early in the season when Riley Nelson and Jake Heaps split quarterbacking duties but Nelson’s season-ending injury was almost a blessing. Heaps seemed to find himself down the stretch, throwing 10 touchdown passes and just two interceptions over his final five starts. He hurt his shoulder against Utah but is expected to be ready for the New Mexico Bowl.
UTEP’s season was the inverse of BYU’s. The Miners won five of their first six games but lost five of their last six games. They struggled defensively, allowing 399.8 total yards of offense per game. Quarterback Trevor Vittatoe wasn’t horrible, throwing 19 touchdown passes versus 10 interceptions, but he’s simply not a difference maker. He topped 200 passing yards just once in UTEP’s last five games.
The Cougars may not have been too happy with their season but I still think they’re a class above UTEP. They’re a solid choice to cover the spread without much trouble.
Free pick: BYU -12