Utah vs BYU NCAA Football Game Picks 8/29/2019
Thursday, August 29, 2019
LaVell Edwards Stadium
Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game
The Utah Utes head to LaVell Edwards Stadium to play the BYU Cougars on Thursday, August 29, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Utah as 7 point favorites. The Utes were 7-7-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 8-6-0. The Cougars were 9-4-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 4-9-0.
Valuable Utah Utes Betting Trends
The Utah Utes were 8-6-0 against the over/under last season
The Utah Utes were 7-7-0 against the spread last year
Important BYU Cougars Betting Trends
The BYU Cougars were 4-9-0 against the over/under last season
The BYU Cougars were 9-4-0 against the spread last year
Key Utah Utes Injuries
08/23/19 WR Britain Covey Knee is OUT Thursday vs BYU
Key BYU Cougars Injuries
08/22/19 QB Zach Wilson Shoulder is probable Thursday vs Utah
08/01/19 WR Neil Pau'u Suspension is out for season
07/08/19 RB Beau Hoge Leg is out for season
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Utah Utes were 52nd in the country in points scored with 393 last season. They ran 970 plays last year for 5,550 yards, which ranked them 60th in Division 1 in total offense. The Utes averaged 5.7 yards per play, which was 73rd in the nation. As a team they accumulated a total of 284 1st downs last season, ranking them 39th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Utah ran for 2,554 yards, which ranked 38th in college football. They ran 563 times, averaging 4.5 yards per rush as a unit. The Utes were penalized on offense 71 times for 657 yards last year, which had them 82nd in the country in penalties.
Defensive Statistics
Utah was 24th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 272 last year. They gave up a total of 4,432 yards on D, which was 29th in D-1. The Utes were 16th in yards per play allowed with 4.7. Opponent offenses completed 272 throws on 468 attempts against the Utah Utes defense last season, ranking them 115th and 118th in the nation. The Utah pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,014 yards in the air, which was 83rd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 483 attempts for 1,420 yards last season, putting them in 11th place in the country against the run. The Utes had 64 penalties for 616 yards on defense last year. That placed them 40th in college football.
Special Teams Stats
Utah was 12th in the country in punt returns with 29 last season. They totaled 225 punt return yards and averaged 7.8 yards per return, which was 79th in D-1. They returned 15 kicks for 293 yards on special teams, which put them 119th in kick return yardage. The Utes averaged 18 yards per kick return and they were 61st in the nation in all-purpose yards with 6,068. The Utah Utes tried 31 field goals last year and made 27, which was 3rd in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 84%. Utah Utes kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 45 for 45 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,699 yards on 62 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That ranked them 16th in the NCAA in punting average.
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Cougars ran for 1,996 yards as a team last year, which ranked 81st in college football. They ran 481 times, averaging 4.1 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The BYU Cougars were penalized on offense 74 times for 633 yards last season, which had them 75th in the country in penalties. They were 77th in the nation in points scored with 354. They ran 853 plays last season for 4,748 yards, which ranked them 83rd in Division 1 in total offense. BYU averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 78th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 250 1st downs last year, placing them 89th overall as an offensive unit.
Related: Get NCAA Football predictions on all of today's games
Defensive Statistics
The BYU Cougars rush defense allowed 462 attempts for 1,697 yards last year, putting them in 25th place in D-1 against the run. BYU committed 79 penalties for 641 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 48th in college football. They were 25th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 278. They surrendered a total of 4,213 yards on D, which was 15th in the country. The Cougars were ranked 18th in yards per play allowed with 4.7. Opposing offenses completed 259 passes on 429 attempts against the BYU defense last season, placing them 108th and 95th in Division 1. The BYU Cougars pass defense also gave up a total of 2,517 yards through the air, which was 33rd overall in total pass defense.
Special Teams Stats
The BYU Cougars attempted 16 field goals last season and made 10, which was 103rd in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 69%. Cougars kickers made 96% of their extra points, going 43 for 46 last year. Their punters totaled 2,538 yards on 62 punts, averaging 40 yards per punt. That placed them 84th in Division 1 in punting average. BYU was ranked 35th in the nation in punt returns with 23 last year. They accumulated 159 punt return yards and averaged 6.6 yards per return, which was 91st in college football. They returned 20 kicks for 364 yards on special teams, ranking 113th in kick return yardage. The BYU Cougars averaged 19 yards per kick return and they were 101st in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,270.
Who will win tonight's Utes/Cougars college football game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take the Cougars +7
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