Saturday, October 24, 2020, LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo Utah, 10:14 p.m. ET
Bobcats at Cougars Betting Preview: Bobcats (+29), Cougars (-29)
Texas State Bobcats
The Bobcats (1-5) go into the game with a three-game losing streak but the only game that got out of hand all season was a 37-17 loss at Troy on October 10. The 30-20 loss to South Alabama was a 17-17 tie going into the fourth quarter, and the Bobcats were tied at 21-21 midway through the third quarter of a 31-24 loss to SMU.
Their other two defeats were three-point decisions to Texas-San Antonio and Boston College.
“We’re not good enough yet to overcome a lot of mistakes,” coach Jake Spavital said. “Right now, we’re still in that struggle where our room for error is pretty small.”
Quarterbacks Brady McBride and Tyler Vitt have both thrown six touchdown passes for Texas State and combine to average just under 236 yards per game.
The Bobcats’ running game has averaged a mediocre 138.5 yards per game with Calvin Hill (325 yards) and Brock Sturges (281) leading they way. They have rushed for three touchdowns each.
BYU Cougars
No. 12 BYU is taking a lesson from history in preparing to host an underdog Texas State team. Just two years ago the Cougars (5-0) moved into the Top 25 early in the season and then suffered back-to-back blowout losses.
“As we have seen in the years past, we win big games and then we lose games we shouldn’t,” linebacker Zayne Anderson said. “It comes down to focusing on each game and really locking in and taking every game very (seriously).
“That’s what we are planning on doing. This is a really good Texas State team, and they have a really good offense and are capable, so that’s where our focus is now.”
The Cougars have superior offensive weapons and are averaging 43.6 points a game to Texas State’s 28.0 average. Last week they scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 26-21 deficit and beat Houston 43-26.
Quarterback Zach Wilson has been the main instigator. He has passed for 12 touchdowns and rushed for six more while averaging 328.2 passing yards per game. He has the attention of Spavital, who knows the passing game after coaching under such Air Raid bosses as Sonny Dykes and Dana Holgerson.
“What makes him special is that he’s not a one-dimensional quarterback,” Spavital said of Wilson. “He’s not just a spread-gun type of guy. They’re so multiple in what they do.”
Bobcats at Cougars Betting Pick for October 24, 2020
The two teams have two common opponents. BYU holds a 48-7 win over Troy and a 27-20 decision over Texas-San Antonio. Texas State lost to both, 37-17 to Troy and 51-48 to UTSA in overtime.
Bobcats at Cougars Betting Pick:
Cougars 56, Bobcats 10
Bobcats at Cougars Best Bet for October 24, 2020
The Cougars are on a mission to earn playoff consideration and aren’t likely to let up on the gas at any point this season. Despite their record the Bobcats are an improved team but will have trouble scoring against a BYU defense that has allowed only two opponents to hit the 20-point mark.
Bobcats at Cougars Best Bet: OVER 61.5
–Field Level Media
