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The Kansas State Wildcats (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) travel to meet the BYU Cougars (3-0, 0-0) Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Kansas State vs. BYU odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Wildcats are coming off an impressive win over Arizona in the conference opener Sept. 13, winning 31-7 as 7-point favorites. After falling behind 7-0 midway through the 1st quarter, K-State outpaced Arizona 31-0 for the final 52:34.
Kansas State was able to rack up 235 rushing yards and 391 total yards, while committing just 3 penalties in the win Friday. Dual-threat QB Avery Johnson completed 14 of 23 passes for 156 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs, while leading the team with 110 rushing yards on 17 attempts.
The defense deserves a tip of the cap, too, though. K-State was suffocating, allowing just 56 rushing yards while winning the turnover battle with a plus-1 ratio. While dynamic Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan went for 11 catches and 138 yards, most of the damage was with the game well out of hand.
For BYU, it posted a 34-14 win at Wyoming last week to cover as a 9.5-point favorite, its 2nd straight win on the road. It won 18-15 at SMU Sept. 6 as a 12.5-point underdog in a truly impressive defensive effort. In fact, D has been the calling card of the Cougars, allowing just 14.0 PPG in 3 games.
Kansas State is No. 14 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Kansas State at BYU odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated Friday at 4:39 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kansas State -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | BYU +210 (bet $100 to win $210)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kansas State -6.5 (-115) | BYU +6.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 49.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Kansas State at BYU picks and predictions
Prediction
Kansas State 26, BYU 22
Moneyline
Kansas State (-275) would set you back nearly 3 times your potential return, which is way too much risk for not enough reward. Backing the Wildcats straight up, or as part of a multi-leg parlay, is not a recommended betting strategy in what should be a rather close game.
PASS.
Against the spread
BYU +6.5 (-105) is the play, but go a little on the light side. If this line gets up to a flat 7, or even better, +7.5, then go a little heavier.
BYU has surprised with a 3-0 ATS mark through 3 games, including an outright win as a double-digit underdog at SMU. This will be the 1st home game since Aug. 31 and 1st overall against an FBS opponent in Provo. The Cougars have done a great job shutting down the opposition’s run game, but this will be the biggest test yet against Kansas State -6.5 (-115) and Johnson.
Over/Under
UNDER 49.5 (-110) is worth a look, but go lightly.
Again, BYU has allowed 14.0 PPG through 3 games, and it is especially solid against the run game. But it shut down SMU’s aerial attack, too, and should be respected.
K-State has cashed low on the total in 2 of 3 games, hitting the Over in its only road game at Tulane. A lot of the damage from the Green Wave came in the pass game, going for 342 yards. That’s just not BYU’s game, as QB Jake Retzlaff is an OK passer with good legs to scramble. But he isn’t a huge downfield thrower, so the gains BYU makes will be in small increments.
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