The Utah State Aggies and Washington State Cougars meet Saturday at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Utah State vs. Washington State odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Aggies tumbled to a 1-5 mark last season. Utah State made a change at the top, and head coach Blake Anderson comes over from Arkansas State to take the reins. QB Logan Bonner and WR Brandon Bowling follow Anderson from Jonesboro to Logan to give USU an immediate injection of talent.
The run-and-shoot is in effect in Pullman. After a strange 2020 campaign with little to no time to implement his system, head coach Nick Rolovich has had a full and more normal offseason to get things in place.
RB Max Borghi is a jack of all trades who should shine in Rolovich’s system, and they return top-notch WRs Renard Bell and Travell Harris. QBs Jayden de Laura and Tennessee transfer Jarrett Guarantano are likely to split work under center, at least early on.
Utah State at Washington State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Utah State +520 (bet $100 to win $520) | Washington State -800 (bet $800 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Utah State +17.5 (-107) | Washington State -17.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 66.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Utah State at Washington State odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Washington State 41, Utah State 31
Money line
Risking eight times your potential return on Washington State (-800) is not a recommended play. That’s just too much risk, especially for a team with some question marks under center.
AVOID.
Against the spread
UTAH STATE +17.5 (-107) should be much better this season, especially with a bona fide winner in Bonner under center. While he is new to Logan, he isn’t new to Anderson’s system. He’ll shine, regardless of the logo on the side of his helmet, due to the familiarity.
I don’t expect the Aggies to win this one outright, but I do think they’ll give Wazzu a scare. Rolovich and the Cougs are still trying to find their way after transitioning from Mike Leach and the “Air Raid” offense in 2019.
Over/Under
OVER 66.5 (-107) is the play here. Washington State has a multi-faceted back in Borghi who can do big things and several receivers who can house it every time they touch the ball. The Cougars will pass, pass and then pass more. Over bettors love teams addicted to the pass.
Utah State averaged just 15.5 points per game in 2020, but it will be much, much better with Bonner and Anderson at the helm. The Aggies are going to be much more exciting, and it will show immediately in this potential shootout.
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