Tag: Utah State

Utah State QB Jordan Love impresses at first day of Senior Bowl practice

Utah State quarterback prospect Jordan Love is a name to watch in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he’s already off to a hot start at the Senior Bowl

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The New Orleans Saints will probably be on the lookout for a new quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. All three incumbents — Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill — are pending free agents, and it’s no sure thing that each of them will return next season. Beyond the short-term need to fill out the roster, there’s long-term concerns about who could inherit the starting quarterback job from Brees once he rides off into the sunset. Bridgewater could be courted by other teams in free agency, and Hill plays his best football when he isn’t asked to drop back and pass.

One draft prospect who could be the new heir-apparent might be Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. Love has a reputation as a gambling gunslinger (he’s thrown 60 touchdown passes in his career against 29 interceptions, with just 20 scores against 17 of those turnovers in his last year) but his arm talent can’t be denied. He’s done a good job in practice with the South Team at Senior Bowl practice, impressing Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling:

LSU’s Joe Burrow and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa appear to be the clear-cut top two in this year’s quarterback class, but there’s a battle brewing for the next spot, and Mobile is the venue. Oregon’s Justin Herbert looked as advertised during Tuesday’s South team practice, but Utah State’s Jordan Love looked every bit at promising.

While both passers missed a handful of throws, they also displayed the arm strength, touch and placement NFL decision-makers will want to see. Don’t be surprised if both of these guys finish the week strong, and challenge for top-10 consideration come April.

If Love does end up getting top-tier consideration and Saints coach Sean Payton is a big believer in him, it’s not impossible to imagine another big trade up the draft board for Payton to get his guy. We’re not too far removed from the Saints trading up to No. 14 for Marcus Davenport, a move that cost them two first-round picks (No. 27 in 2018 and their 2019 selection) and a fifth-round pick (No. 147).

Before that, in the 2017 draft, two teams made big leaps up the board for quarterbacks. The Houston Texans swapped two first-round selections (No. 25 in 2017 and their 2018 pick) to get Deshaun Watson at No. 12. And the Kansas City Chiefs traded two first-rounders (No. 27 in 2017 and their pick in 2018) and a third-round pick (No. 91) to move up to No. 10 for Patrick Mahomes.

The Saints currently own picks at Nos. 24 and 88, as well as a few third-day selections and their entire 2021 allotment. Nobody in Houston or Kansas City is arguing about their team’s bold move; if Payton believes Love is the right fit, it’s very possible he follows their lead.

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2020 Senior Bowl: Practice schedule, rosters

2020 Senior Bowl: Practice schedule, North-South rosters

Nothing signals the end of one NFL season and the subsequent start of the next like the Reese Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

With the NFL Draft being the league’s next huge event, the biggest collegiate all-star game going convened on Monday, as this week in Mobile, Alabama, the top senior draft prospects will come together to practice, compete, interview and play against each other in front of NFL’s top decision-makers, coaches and evaluators.

With practices scheduled to begin on Tuesday and the game set for Saturday afternoon, here is this week’s schedule in its entirety.

****

Tuesday:

South team practices from 1-2:30 p.m. ET, followed by the North team from 3-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday:

North team practices from 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET, followed by the South team from 3-5 p.m.

Thursday:

North team practices from 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET, followed by the South team from 3-5 p.m.

Friday: No practice; community events

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Miraculous comeback by Boise State sinks Aggies’ at-large hopes

RayJ Dennis scored all of his career-high 19 points in the final 3:23 of regulation as Boise State fought back from a late 19-point deficit.

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Game Recap: Boise St. 88, Utah St. 83 (OT)

Broncos erase 19-point deficit in stunning fashion

Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire

High drama in Boise means high stress for Utah State

It seemed for all the world that Utah State was moving past its early struggles in the Mountain West, leading comfortably in Boise with just a few minutes to play.

But a late Boise State surge propelled the Broncos to one of the most unlikely wins of the season in college basketball, the home team escaping with an 88-83 overtime win in ExtraMile Arena.

Freshman guard RayJ Dennis led the comeback charge for Boise State, scoring all of his career-high 19 points in the final three-plus minutes of regulation. Dennis shot 5-for-5, including four three-pointers. He was also a perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw stripe.

It was one of the most electrifying individual performances of the season—not just in the MW, but in the nation—and it came from one of the most unassuming players on the court.

This win wasn’t just unlikely—it was all but impossible.

According to Ken Pomeroy, the win probability for Utah State (14-6, 3-4 MW) peaked at 98.8% after Justin Bean’s free throws put them up 18 points with 4:10 remaining. The Broncos’ 0.2% shot at victory was about as slim as it gets.

But on some nights, college basketball simply refuses to be penned in by such limits.

Utah State’s collapse spoiled a season-high scoring night from its star player, Sam Merrill, who finished with 30 points on the night. Bean had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Neemias Queta added 12 points before fouling out, but those performances weren’t enough to stave off the Broncos’ late push.

The gut-wrenching loss may be the final straw that breaks the back—and heart—of the Aggies.

With just over six minutes to play in regulation, Queta hit two free throws to give the Aggies a 62-43 lead over Boise State, matching the Aggies’ largest lead of the game at 19 points. Over the next two minutes, the Broncos only managed to chisel one point off of that deficit, with Utah State leading 66-48 with four minutes to play.

Then it happened.

RJ Williams drew a foul on Queta, the fifth of the game for the Portuguese sophomore. Over its next few possessions, Utah State alternated between missed shots and turnovers, resulting in a 14-0 run for Boise State that cut the Aggie lead to four points with one minute remaining.

After two Abel Porter free throws with eight seconds to play, Utah State held a 75-70 lead and looked like they would be able to survive Boise State’s big haymaker.

But Dennis came down and capped off his out-of-the-blue explosion, nailing a three-pointer with four seconds remaining.

Boise State’s comeback hinged on forcing one last turnover.

Justinian Jessup didn’t disappoint.

The senior sharpshooter was able to intercept Diogo Brito’s inbounds pass, and he quickly layed the the ball in with 1.3 seconds on the clock, tying the game at 75.

The two teams would take that scoreline with them into overtime. With the wind fully at their backs, Boise State drew first blood in the extra period—and never gave the lead back.

Jessup and Williams both finished in double figures for the Broncos, with Derrick Alston also chipping in 19 to tie Dennis for the team-high in scoring.

The win moves Boise State (12-6, 4-4 MW) to .500 in league play—something Utah State can no longer claim. The Broncos have had issues with depth at times this year, but the big plays out of RayJ Dennis and Max Rice down the stretch is a sign of growth for Leon Rice’s bench.

It’s a step in the right direction for a Broncos team coming off two straight losses to San Diego State and Air Force. Consistency hasn’t been this team’s strong suit this season, but any indications of progress are encouraging. If nothing else, it seems unlikely that Boise State will repeat its dismal showing in the Mountain West after last season’s mess.

For the Aggies, the loss not only hands them a losing record in conference play—it might have completely dashed any remaining hopes that Utah State had to get an at-large bid in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Craig Smith’s team came into the season with massive expectations, but the Aggies have fallen well short of them. Utah State was pegged to win the league going away, with San Diego State a distant second in the league. Questions lingered about how the team would fare with Queta on the mend from a summer knee injury, but a 7-0 start to the season for the Aggies quelled those fears.

But since Thanksgiving, that narrative has been completely flipped on its head, with Utah State going just 7-6 in games since their holiday trip to Montego Bay for the Jamaica Classic. And things are getting worse in 2020, with the Aggies having won just one game in five tries so far in the new year. Those games include losses to Air Force and UNLV.

Even on the road, those were games the Aggies were supposed to win.

At this point, preseason projections have to be thrown out. Though it’s not entirely clear what is wrong with the Aggies, they are nowhere near where the prognosticators—myself included—thought they would be.

The Aztecs, meanwhile, are still standing as the last undefeated team in the nation.

Utah State does hold wins over LSU and Florida, but those victories won’t be enough to buoy the Aggies’ chances at getting an at-large bid. At this point, they may need to run the table the rest of the way to have a shot at one. Failing that, Utah State’s only way forward will likely be through the Mountain West Tournament.

They will have plenty of competition there, though, with San Diego State having already all but locked up their ticket to the Big Dance. No other team in the league can make such a claim, so the stakes will be enormous at the Thomas & Mack Center in March.

Let’s hope that all of those games can be exciting as this one was.

UP NEXT

Boise State: The Broncos will have something of a light week compared to their recent forays against SDSU, Air Force, and Utah State. On Saturday, Boise State hosts Fresno State (6-12, 2-5 MW), who has struggled to the tune of a 2-5 start in league play. The Bulldogs have weapons, though. Leon Rice would do well to remind his team not to rest on their laurels, especially with no midweek game to keep them sharp.

Utah State: The Aggies will look to right the ship at home against Air Force (9-10, 3-4 MW). Remember: this team beat the Aggies by 19 points just two weeks ago. The Falcons’ offense has been impressive behind the play of Ryan Swan and Lavelle Scottie, but Dave Pilipovich has yet to field a consistent winner on the year. Utah State will also host San Jose State (6-13, 2-5 MW) next Saturday.

It’s not a stretch to say that these are must-win games for Utah State if they are to have any hope at getting into the NCAA Tournament through the front door.

Andrew is a current USBWA member, covering college basketball for multiple outlets, including Mountain West Wire of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Busting Brackets of the FanSided Network. He also runs the Dieckhoff Power Index, a college basketball analytics system, and provides bracketology predictions throughout the season.

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2020 NFL Draft: Which surprise QB prospect could Bears target?

The Bears could possibly bring in a rookie QB to develop behind Mitchell Trubisky. Perhaps that rookie will be Utah State QB Jordan Love.

The Chicago Bears have several needs they need to address this offseason in free agency and the NFL Draft. But one of the most important is addressing the quarterback position.

While the Bears remain committed to Mitchell Trubisky in 2020, time and actions will tell if that’s general manager Ryan Pace’s true intentions.

Regardless, the Bears need to solidify the quarterbacks room. Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray are free agents and most likely aren’t going to return. Chicago needs to bring in a veteran to challenge Trubisky and possibly a rookie to develop.

Perhaps that rookie will be Utah State quarterback Jordan Love, who Bleacher Report has pegged as a surprise target for the Bears.

A second-round investment in a quality, young option to develop is a different conversation, especially since the Bears have two second-rounders in this year’s draft.

Utah State’s Jordan Love didn’t perform as well as expected in 2019. The early entrant posted a 20-to-17 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His natural skill set is obvious, though.

Love would give the Bears a safety net, while the front office could say he’s a developmental project to avoid immediately challenging Trubisky.

Love is a dual-threat quarterback who is just as accurate from the pocket as he is on the run. He’s got great athleticism and mobility, and he has the ability to extend plays with his legs. But Love is someone that keeps his eyes downfield and won’t necessarily bail from the pocket at first sign of trouble.

If Love falls to the Bears in the second round, you have to wonder if they’ll pull the trigger with one of their two second round selections.

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Report: Former Longhorns Defensive Coordinator To Join Texas Tech

Former Texas Longhorns defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is set to join his old boss Matt Wells in Lubbock according to Pete Thamel.

Following the Texas Longhorns victory over Big 12 rival Texas Tech, head coach Tom Herman relieved defensive coordinator of his duties prior to their bowl game against the Utah Utes. Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports is that Todd Orlando will stay in the state and take a job with the Red Raiders.

Orlando was on staff with Matt Wells at Utah State from 2013-2014 before leaving to take a job with Tom Herman at Houston and then Texas. It is likely that he will be the linebackers coach with Wells once again. Orlando served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under Wells for the Aggies.

 

Week 7 DPI Rankings: Lobos Rising After Six-Game Streak

It was back to non-conference play last week for the Mountain West. Not everybody was in action—and some who were now wish they hadn’t been.

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Week 7 DPI Rankings: Lobos Rising After Six-Game Streak

The top two stand pat, but plenty of movement below

Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire

New Mexico, Boise State climbing in the latest DPI rankings for Week 7

It was back to non-conference play last week for the league’s affiliate members on the heels of the opening salvo to the long Mountain West season. Not everybody was in action—and some now wish they hadn’t been.

But it wasn’t all misery.

Some teams are making big strides, including one squad trying to make a move into the uppermost echelon of the MWC.

Below are the DPI rankings heading into the heart of Week 7. If you’re new to the rankings or just want a refresher, head here for a rundown of how the DPI is calculated. The ratings below reflect games played through Tuesday, December 17. As always, non-Division I games are not counted in the DPI.

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#1 — SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS

Last Week: #1

The Aztecs moved to the #1 spot in the Mountain West last week and with no games since their close shave against San Jose State, they haven’t moved much up or down. Brian Dutcher’s team is still undefeated and boasts one of the best defenses in the country. Malachi Flynn’s star turn has propelled SDSU into the national polls, along with the play of Matt Mitchell, Yanni Wetzell, and Jordan Schakel. If KJ Feagin can provide a little more offense, this team could really turn in a special season.

#2 — UTAH STATE AGGIES

Last Week: #2

It’s been a bit of a rough patch for the Aggies over the past few games. They still have one of the two best rosters in the league, but they aren’t quite living up to preseason expectations so far. After losing to Saint Mary’s and looking underwhelming in their first two Mountain West games, Utah State fell to BYU on Saturday in Salt Lake City. It was only their second loss, but it’s a missed opportunity for a good out-of-conference win to put on their NCAA Tournament resume.

#3 — NEW MEXICO LOBOS

Last Week: #4

The Lobos have won six straight after toppling New Mexico State and Grand Canyon since the last DPI rankings were posted here. Though they aren’t playing at the level of SDSU just yet, this patchwork roster of homegrown talent and incoming transfers has performed admirably in the early going. JaQuan Lyle has been everything that Paul Weir could have wanted and more. Oh, and Carlton Bragg is averaging a double-double. So far, so good.

#4 — NEVADA WOLF PACK

Last Week: #3

The Wolf Pack looked like they were starting to turn a corner over the past few weeks, winning five straight games on either side of Thanksgiving. But last week, Nevada was the second casualty of BYU’s surge, along with Utah State and UNLV. The offense had been clicking on all cylinders, but immediately downshifted from a 100-point performance against Air Force to a 42-point outing against the Cougars. That kind of volatility that makes it tough to trust Steve Alford’s club.

#5 — BOISE STATE BRONCOS

Last Week: #6

Leon Rice is getting things back on track in Boise, but outside of their win over BYU—before Yoeli Childs came back, of course—the Broncos haven’t really beaten anybody. It was another rocky showing for Boise State last week, with a midweek loss to Tulsa preceding a blowout win over Alabama State. Derrick Alston is averaging 21 points and Justinian Jessup is finding his form. But the starting five is not the problem here; Rice’s team suffers from a lack of depth.

#6 — COLORADO STATE RAMS

Last Week: #5

The Rams jumped out to a promising start, but they’ve lost three of their past four games, including both of their opening Mountain West bouts. Mixed in there was a 72-68 win over South Dakota State, and while the Jackrabbits are not a bad squad by any means, that they played CSU so closely gives a good indication of where the Rams are right now. Niko Medved’s team gave in-state rivals Colorado a run for their money, but ultimately fell 56-48 over the weekend.

#7 — AIR FORCE FALCONS

Last Week: #8

The defense still leaves a lot to be desired, but recently, the Falcons have been getting better results than they did during a rough November. The new month has been kinder to the cadets, with Air Force winning four of its past five (Note: Tuesday’s 99-42  win over Johnson & Wales is not counted in the DPI). AJ Walker has taken an important step forward as an offensive option. The sophomore was averaging 20 points per game over the past three games coming into Tuesday.

#8 — FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS

Last Week: #10

Justin Huston finally got his team to a second Division I win on Saturday against Cal Poly. But the bigger story here is the seven losses that they have already incurred. Nate Grimes is doing exactly what was expected of him so far, averaging a double-double with 13.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per night. Guards Jarred Hyder and New Williams both have some good performances under their belts, but they haven’t been able to click at the same time. That needs to change.

#9 — UNLV RUNNIN’ REBELS

Last Week: #9

The Rebels didn’t play last week, so the bad taste of the 33-point loss to BYU back has been lingering for a week and a half. There have been a lot of close calls, with UNLV playing in four separate overtime games so far. They are shooting under 42% from the field and turning the ball over 15 times a night. Games against Pacific and Robert Morris this week offer TJ Otzelberger the chance to start making some headway in his first year at the helm.

#10 — WYOMING COWBOYS

Last Week: #7

Allen Edwards got his Cowboys out to a 3-3 start, but they have dropped five straight games, including their most recent defeat at the hands of Northern Colorado. The Bears didn’t just sneak past Wyoming, either—the Big Sky hopefuls handed the home team a 21-point drubbing at Arena-Auditorium. The defense has been fair to middling, but the offense has been dreadful thus far. The Cowboys are shooting under 50% on two-pointers and just over 30% on threes.

#11 — SAN JOSÉ STATE SPARTANS

Last Week: #11

There’s a bit of a running joke around here about which Spartan is most likely to transfer next year, since the sputtering Spartans have seen five double-digit scorers depart in the past three offseasons—including Brandon Clarke, who parlayed his post-SJSU star turn at Gonzaga into a budding NBA career. All jokes aside, Seneca Knight has separated himself as the Spartans’ top option, scoring 12.5 points per game. Hopefully the sophomore can remain an important building block for Jean Prioleau.

That’s it for this week. Check back next week to see who’s rising and falling in the Mountain West and be sure to visit the Dieckhoff Power Index daily for updated rankings on all 353 teams in Division I basketball.

Andrew is a current USBWA member, covering college basketball for multiple outlets, including Mountain West Wire of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Busting Brackets of the FanSided Network. He also runs the Dieckhoff Power Index, a college basketball analytics system, and provides bracketology predictions throughout the season.

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Great Wisconsin moments from the 2010s: 2012 Utah State

Wisconsin-Utah State in 2012

There is no doubt that the best moment of the Wisconsin Badgers’ 2012 football season was the wipeout of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big Ten Championship Game. Hanging 70 on a 10-win Nebraska team and winning a third straight Big Ten title enabled Wisconsin to put the struggles of a rocky season behind it. The Badgers naturally got lucky that Ohio State was ineligible for postseason play, but someone had to play Nebraska in Indianapolis. Wisconsin made the most of that opportunity and reached a third straight Rose Bowl.

We wrote about that 2012 Big Ten title game, however, so we don’t have to devote this space to an extended look at that game. If there was another highlight of that season — if referring to victories and not defeats (one could argue that it is a highlight to play in the Rose Bowl, regardless of result) — the Utah State win comes to mind.

Yes, the 2012 Badgers thrashed Minnesota for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. In terms of a game which meant a lot to the Wisconsin community, there is zero doubt that Minnesota matters more than Utah State in any season, 2012 included. No one is arguing that 2012 Utah State meant more on a personal level than the 2012 Minnesota game. However, in terms of the evolution of the 2012 team and the way it improved as the season continued, yes, the Utah State game marked a more significant turning point for Wisconsin.

Let’s remember where Wisconsin was when it faced Utah State in September. The Badgers were coming off a 10-7 loss to Oregon State. Their offense was in tatters with Russell Wilson beginning his storied NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks. It was clear that Wisconsin was not going to be a 10-win team. These Badgers had to survive.

They did exactly that against Utah State.

Wisconsin trailed 14-3 at halftime. The Badgers were going to need help, and they were going to need surprising lightning-bolt plays. An 82-yard punt return for a touchdown by Kenzel Doe was one. A shanked Utah State punt, setting up a short field, was another. Wisconsin started its go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown drive at the USU 42 after that shank. Montee Ball scored on a 17-yard run with 3:06 left to create the 16-14 lead. The Badgers then got one more source of help from the Aggies, who missed a 37-yard field goal in the final seconds to preserve Wisconsin’s escape.

If the Badgers had not won that game, would this team have been able to hit its stride later in the year, with three straight blowout wins over Illinois, Purdue, and Minnesota? Maybe… but we’ll never truly know. Figuring out a way to fight through on-field adversity gave that 2012 Wisconsin team the important realization that it could taste its own blood and still survive. In many ways, that’s what the 2012 team did.

The other reason the Utah State game is notable when looking back at the decade is that Wisconsin’s next coach after Bret Bielema was standing on the other sideline. Who could have known that Gary Andersen, just a few months later, was going to replace Bielema as UW’s next coach? It is hard to think that the 2012 Utah State game had no influence on Barry Alvarez as he tried to usher the Badgers through this decade after Alvarez’s very successful successor, Bielema, chased SEC glory in Arkansas.

No, the 2012 Utah State game didn’t mean more on an emotional level than the 2012 Minnesota game, but it did show more about the 2012 Wisconsin team’s evolution.

Utah State at St. Mary’s odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Utah State Aggies at St. Mary’s Gaels sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Utah State Aggies (7-0) head to Moraga, Calif. to tangle with the St. Mary’s Gaels (5-1) at McKeon Pavilion at 11:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Utah State-St. Mary’s odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Utah State at St. Mary’s: Three things you need to know

1. Utah State G Sam Merrill has been filling up the stat sheet this season, racking up 16.6 points per game while shooting a robust 51.1% from behind the 3-point line this season.

2. St. Mary’s has posted a 172-22 record at McKeon Pavilion across the past 11 seasons, but they already have a loss there this season. The Gaels fell to unranked Winthrop by a 61-59 count back on Nov. 11 as 19.5-point favorites.

3. These teams met on a neutral-site court on Nov. 19, 2018, and it was Utah State embarrassing St. Mary’s by an 80-63 score. Merrill posted 23 points with eight assists and four rebounds.

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Utah State at St. Mary’s: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:55 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Utah State 73, St. Mary’s 68

Moneyline (ML)

UTAH STATE (+145) is a strong value on the road against unranked St. Mary’s (-176). The Aggies are off to a 7-0 start, while the Gaels had a near-miss at Wisconsin and the Winthrop setback. They’re a good team, but USU is just playing better.

Against the Spread (ATS)

UTAH STATE (+3.5, -110) won against LSU and North Texas to win a tournament in the Bahamas, and it’s a respectable 4-2 against the spread across the past six games. The LSU win was by two points, while the Aggies’ other six games have all been decided by eight or more points.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 134.5 (-115) is the way to go in this solid matchup. While SMC plays a deliberate style, Utah State will be off and running. I expect both teams to be at or around 70 points, with the total going Over in the final couple of minutes with frequent fouls and free throws helping the total inch over.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Boise State at Utah State odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Boise State Broncos at Utah State Aggies sports betting odds and lines, with college football picks, tips and bets.

The Boise State Broncos (9-1, 6-0, MWC Mountain) and Utah State Aggies (6-4, 5-1 MWC Mountain) square off in Logan, Utah at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday in a key divisional showdown with postseason implications. We analyze the Boise State-Utah State odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boise State at Utah State: Three things you need to know

1. The Broncos are 0-1 straight up and against the spread in the state of Utah this season, losing 28-25 at BYU Oct. 19 as seven-point favorites.

2. Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier (shoulder) is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. QBs Chase Cord and Jaylon Henderson have started and held down the fort in the true freshman’s place since he went down vs. Hawaii, and again against San Jose State.

3. Boise State has dominated this series against the number, going 8-1 ATS in the past nine trips to Logan, and 12-3-2 ATS in the past 17 meetings overall. The road team is also 7-3-2 ATS in the past 12 battles.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Boise State at Utah State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Boise State 34, Utah State 23

Moneyline (ML)

Boise State (-334) is just too expensive on the road, as there is too much risk and not enough reward. The Broncos will win this game and keep their New Year’s Day bowl hopes alive, though.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Boise State to win would return a profit of $3.00.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BOISE STATE (-8.5, -115) is worth a small-unit play, as it has playmakers all over the offense, including the dynamic WR Khalil Shakir (44-615-4, also two rushing TDs), as well as leading WR John Hightower (37-754-6) and RB George Holani (131-692-5, also two receiving TDs). USU just doesn’t have the same kind of athletes as the Broncos, and it will show, particularly in the second half.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER (52.5, -110) is worth a small-unit play, too, but don’t get crazy. The Over is 9-3-1 in the past 13 meetings, including 4-0 in Logano. However, the Under has dominated for both of these sides lately, including 8-1 in the past nine vs. winning teams for Boise, and 7-1 in the past eight MWC games for USU.

Still, we could see some nice offense, especially with no snow in the forecast; however, it is expected to snow the rest of the week. Sounds like a good excuse to warm up with some spirits at the White Owl in Logan, a great place for drinks in Utah State’s little college town.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Wyoming’s Four Turnovers Lead to 26-21 Defeat vs. Utah State

Wyoming’s backup quarterback Tyler Vander Wall had too many errors in the loss to Utah State.

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Bridger’s Rifle will spend one more year in Utah

Wyoming’s 4 turnovers were too much to overcome

Contact/Follow @jessetachiquin & @MWCwire

The Cowboys played hard but were unable to overcome 4 turnovers included a critical interception with the Pokes driving for the potential winning score. Xazavian Valladay put in another blue-collar effort with 114 yards on 25 carries. Aside from the 3 interceptions, the Cowboys had one of their best showings throwing the ball this season led by Josh Harshman’s 6 catches for 76 yards and Austin Conway’s 5 catches for 64 yards.

There were stretches during the game where Utah State quarterback Jordan Love torched Wyoming’s pass defense but the Cowboys forced 2 turnovers and did a good job of forcing field goals instead of touchdowns. Given the number of turnovers from the Pokes offense, the fact that Wyoming even had a chance late in the game is a testament to how well Logan Wilson and the rest of the defense performed.

It’s time to meet Levi Williams

After the Boise State game, I wrote that the Cowboys were going to be fine with Tyler Vander Waal at quarterback down the stretch. That was until I saw the turnover party he threw in Logan on Saturday. The fumble in the red zone and the final interception to seal the loss could be chalked up to trying to do too much. The other 2 interceptions are hard to make an excuse for. Given the way the door closed on him last season with Sean Chambers taking over, I can see how he might have been in a situation where he was just “trying too hard”. 

At this point in Vander Waal’s career, I think we know what we can expect from him this season. He has been an excellent teammate but the reality is that the offense really struggles to move the ball when he’s under center. We’ve seen this throughout two seasons. Vander Waal is certainly not the one to blame as Josh Allen, Nick Smith, and Chambers have also struggled in this offense but Allen and Chambers ability to run the ball made the offense effective.  It’s not time to write him off but it is time to see what else the Cowboys have. 

Levi Williams is a true freshman from Texas who was recruited by TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Houston. A coaching change at Houston presented Wyoming with a chance to bring him in. He’s listed as a pocket passer but he accounted for 1,230 rushing yards with 16 rushing TD’s in his senior season. The Cowboys have a very young team with a bright future but the team is out of contention for the conference title and needs to find one more win to ensure a bowl birth. With the new redshirt rules, what’s it hurt to see what he can do? Perhaps Williams will even show enough to give Chambers a run for his money next season. If anything, it gets a young player meaningful game experience with no consequence of losing a year of eligibility.

The Offense Wasn’t A One Man Show

I’ve been waiting for Conway to have a huge game in his final season and he was a big part of the game plan against the Aggies. In addition to his six catches, he had 2 rushing attempts and looked great on punt returns. He is far too talented to be as underutilized as he has been this season. Brett Brenton took advantage of his opportunity adding 22 yards on four carries and a catch for 5 yards. Valladay even got an opportunity to run out of the Wildcat on the first drive of the game. While the overhaul to the offense wasn’t as comprehensive as many would like, it’s clear that Vigen and his group were attempting to add new wrinkles.

Mountain West Officiating Leaves Much To Be Desired

The Cowboys didn’t lose because of poor officiating but it’s becoming to be a glaring problem for the league. Utah State was called for a phantom pass interference early when the defensive back used the sideline perfectly.  Tyler Hall was penalized twice for pass interference on plays where he was guilty of running the Utah State receiver’s route better than the Utah State player, Essias Gandy was called on a late hit out of bounds in a play where he didn’t hit the returner and a relatively weak holding call was enforced on a long punt return from Austin Conway that took great field position from the Pokes on their final drive. It’s easy to hate the officials because nobody recognized when they do a good job but these inexcusable mistakes keep piling up with no consequences.

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