Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

Wyoming Cowboys Football Picks Week 13 vs. Colorado State: Specialization Series


by Chris Vasile - 11/19/2019

Wyoming Cowboys' QB Tyler Vander Waal

If I could run a poll and ask the question, "would you prefer to keep the starters in the majority of the game, or rest them the minute the game gets out of hand?" I'd be interested to see how many of you err on the side of caution when it comes to preventing injuries. I bring this up because over the weekend, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a season-ending, potentially draft stock hurting, hip injury in the second quarter of a game that Alabama was leading 35-7. Normally, the Crimson Tide don't blow those kinds of leads, so one would beg the question, especially after the game against LSU where Tua was under pressure constantly (returning from an ankle injury), why was Tua still in the ball game?

It sucks that we live in a world where the college landscape and the CFP committee reward teams based on how badly they beat their opponents. If this wasn't the case, Tua would likely have been pulled immediately in favor of getting Mac Jones some quality playing time. Not only did Alabama lose their star QB for the season, but they hurt his chance at being a high draft selection in the upcoming draft.

As I said, we'll never know what the right thing to do is as it pertains to resting starters or pulling them from the game when it's all but wrapped up, but here's to a speedy recovery for Tagovailoa and a return to form once he makes a full recovery.

Each week this article will give you a small recap on how the team fared in their last game. You'd be surprised at how many times a team's win/loss outcome was either justified or lucky to happen. The box score may say one thing, but actually watching the game and seeing what's happening is a vital tool in handicapping. At the end of the article, I'll give you a selection on the upcoming game. I'll be using the Doc's Sports Unit Betting System for every pick which will allow readers to follow along and track the results.

Last Game

 

We passed on last week's game from a betting perspective, and thank god we did. The game finished 26-21, which was right on the spread and the total checked in at 47, just two points under the posted total. This game could have gone either way, and both sides of the game could have gotten the win or cover. This contest started out slow and was rather dull through the first quarter. In the second quarter is where we saw the bulk of the action as the teams combined for 34 points, with Utah State holding on to a six-point lead at the break. From there, Utah State went on to add three more in the third quarter to extend their lead before Wyoming won the fourth quarter 7-3 but ultimately fell short. From a team perspective, Wyoming didn't get much help from their starting quarterback, Tyler Vander Waal, as he completed just 55.6 percent of his passes and three interceptions. Xazavian Valladay continues to churn out excellent production as he ran for 114 yards on 25 carries, but it was Vander Waal who got into the end zone twice. Defensively, the Cowboys gave up far too many big plays in the passing game as Utah State scored 80-yard and 35-yard passing touchdowns. The defense also gave up a total of 422 yards, which will not win you very many football games.

Week 13 vs Colorado State

As of writing, 5Dimes is the only site with a posted lined on this game. The current line is Wyoming -7 (-110) and the posted total is set at 50.5 (-110). It hasn't been a great start to November for the Cowboys as they've dropped two straight road games to Boise and Utah State. Those aren't exactly the worse teams to lose to on the road, so a bounce-back in this week's game against the Rams is necessary . They should be able to move the ball on the ground with ease as the Rams just gave up 227 rushing yards to Air Force and 107 yards to UNLV the game before to that. This is the Cowboys' Senior Night, so the place should be rocking, and the team should be extra motivated to do well for their upperclassmen. The Rams come into this game in flat out desperation mode as they need to win both of their remaining two games to get to six wins and a potential Bowl game. If they can get the win in this spot, they will leave it up to a home game vs. Boise State next week.

Series History: This series dates back all the way to 1899 when the Cowboys and the Rams hooked up in a 12-0 Colorado State win in Laramie. Since then, Colorado State has gone on to win a total of 58 games, with Wyoming claiming 47. The Cowboys come into this game on a three-game series win streak as they've beaten the Rams by scores of 38-17, 16-13, and 34-21 last year in Laramie.

Colorado State vs Wyoming Football Picks

 

If you've been following along closely for the duration of this season, you would know that Wyoming is a run-first team that relies on it's defensive to shut the door and get turnovers. They did both of those things pretty well last week against Utah State, scoring on a pick-six and rushing for 185 yards. Going up against a Colorado State team that was just gashed on the ground by Air Force, the Cowboys should be sitting pretty and in line for a much-needed win heading into the back end of November. Colorado State may be desperate for these final two wins, but heading into Laramie is a tough place for any team to play, let alone one that comes in with a terrible road record. We are going to bank on the Cowboy's QB protecting the ball better than he did in the last game, and we are going to ride Wyoming to the betting window to cash the ticket.

Selection: 3-Unit Play. #114 (5Dimes). Wyoming -7 -110 over Colorado State (Friday at 9:30 pm)

 

Doc's Sports is offering a great deal for new clients - you can get $60 worth of free college football picks with no obligation. No credit card is needed, and you will never have to deal with a salesman. Get $60 worth of premium members' picks free . Get free weekly free college football picks at Doc's Sports free football picks page.

 

Most Recent College Football Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers