BYU at Arizona College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Arizona Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Arizona Wildcats host the BYU Cougars at Arizona Stadium on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this game has Arizona as 15 point favorites. The Wildcats had an over/under record of 9-4-0 and they were 6-7-0 against the spread last year. The Cougars had an ATS record of 4-9-0 while their over/under record was 5-8-0.

Valuable BYU Cougars Betting Trends

The BYU Cougars were 5-8-0 against the over/under last season

The BYU Cougars were 4-9-0 against the spread last year

Important Arizona Wildcats Betting Trends

The Arizona Wildcats were 9-4-0 against the over/under last season

The Arizona Wildcats were 6-7-0 against the spread last year

Key BYU Cougars Injuries

08/22/18 DB Troy Warner Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Arizona
08/21/18 RB Beau Hoge Undisclosed is probable Saturday vs Arizona
08/21/18 LB Johnny Tapusoa Undisclosed is out indefinitely
08/21/18 DB Trevion Greene Undisclosed is out indefinitely
07/11/18 QB Tanner Mangum Achilles is available Saturday vs Arizona

Key Arizona Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Useful Offensive Statistics

The BYU Cougars ran for 1,699 yards as a team last year, which ranked 99th in college football. They ran 402 times, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Cougars were penalized on offense 59 times for 510 yards last season, which had them 111th in the country in penalties. They were 121st in the nation in points scored with 222. They ran 820 plays last season for 4,229 yards, which ranked them 90th in Division 1 in total offense. The Cougars averaged 5.2 yards per play, which was 107th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 215 1st downs last year, placing them 113th overall as an offensive unit. Tanner Mangum averaged 6 yards per pass attempt and 5 adjusted yards per throw last season. He completed 147 passes on 257 attempts for a completion percentage of 57.2%. His quarterback rating last year was 110.8. He threw for 1,540 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Cougars rush defense allowed 520 attempts for 1,919 yards last year, putting them in 50th place in D-1 against the run. BYU committed 69 penalties for 637 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 56th in college football. They were 56th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 321. They surrendered a total of 4,846 yards on D, which was 61st in the country. The Cougars were ranked 46th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Opposing offenses completed 254 passes on 386 attempts against the BYU Cougars defense last season, placing them 90th and 60th in Division 1. The BYU pass defense also gave up a total of 2,928 yards through the air, which was 79th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The BYU Cougars attempted 20 field goals last season and made 14, which was 72nd in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 70%. BYU Cougars kickers made 96% of their extra points, going 23 for 25 last year. Their punters totaled 2,571 yards on 60 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That placed them 39th in Division 1 in punting average. BYU was ranked 33rd in the nation in punt returns with 23 last year. They accumulated 118 punt return yards and averaged 4.9 yards per return, which was 107th in college football. They returned 38 kicks for 667 yards on special teams, ranking 89th in kick return yardage. The Cougars averaged 18 yards per kick return and they were 115th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,014.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Wildcats were 7th in the country in points scored with 537 last season. They ran 905 plays last year for 6,369 yards, which ranked them 99th in Division 1 in total offense. The Arizona Wildcats averaged 7 yards per play, which was 7th in the nation. As a team they accumulated a total of 306 1st downs last season, ranking them 20th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Arizona ran for 4,026 yards, which ranked 3rd in college football. They ran 610 times, averaging 6.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Wildcats were penalized on offense 69 times for 715 yards last year, which had them 84th in the country in penalties. Khalil Tate passed for 1,591 yards last year. He completed 111 throws while attempting 179 passes for a completion percentage of 62%. His quarterback rating last season was 152.4. He averaged 8.2 adjusted yards per throw and 8.9 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Arizona was 117th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 447 last year. They gave up a total of 6,159 yards on D, which was 122nd in D-1. The Wildcats were 94th in yards per play allowed with 6.1. Opponent offenses completed 307 throws on 493 attempts against the Arizona defense last season, ranking them 127th and 124th in the nation. The Arizona Wildcats pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,719 yards in the air, which was 128th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 520 attempts for 2,440 yards last season, putting them in 98th place in the country against the run. The Wildcats had 107 penalties for 983 yards on defense last year. That placed them 130th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Arizona was 63rd in the country in punt returns with 18 last season. They totaled 186 punt return yards and averaged 10.3 yards per return, which was 27th in D-1. They returned 31 kicks for 771 yards on special teams, which put them 59th in kick return yardage. The Arizona Wildcats averaged 25 yards per kick return and they were 13th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 7,326. The Wildcats tried 20 field goals last year and made 14, which was 67th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 74%. Arizona kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 68 for 69 last season. Their punters accumulated 1,781 yards on 51 punts, averaging 35 yards per punt. That ranked them 130th in the NCAA in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Cougars/Wildcats college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Wildcats -15

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