Top sportsbooks online favor the Washington State Cougars by three points over the Wyoming Cowboys. What?! Only three points? Just a field goal? Do they even know that the Cougars have a super-sophomore? Whatever that means. What we do know is that WSU’s receiving corps is not lacking depth. In more ways than one. “We have a lot of deep threats on this team,” Martin said. “Calvin (Jackson Jr.) is pretty fast. We’ve got Renard Bell,” wide receiver Tay Martin said. “I’ve also been a guy that can go up and get the jump balls,” he added.
The Cowboys have a similar situation going on, but at tight end. Which is known as the poor man’s wide receiver. Tyree Mayfield, Austin Fort and Josh Harshman only had 33 catches, 363 yards and three touchdowns between the three last year. However, they do bring experience and leadership to the position. “Just having us three together, we’re just competing with each other and just making each one of us better,” Harshman said. “So it’s been a great thing. I’m just excited to see what we can do this year.”
Betting Washington State
So the Cougs have a stacked receiving unit. That begs the question, who is going to throw them the ball. It certainly will not be Luke Falk. The Pac 12 record-holder for career passing attempts, completions, completion percentage, passing yards, and passing touchdowns graduated and was drafted by the Titans. WSU already had juniors Trey Tinsley and Anthony Gordon, and freshman Cammon Cooper. Ironically, though not really, it may be East Carolina transfer Gardner Minshew who lands the starting gig. “I thought [Gardner] had the best scrimmage,” head coach Mike Leach said. “I think Gardner looked real sharp. Missed some balls down there, but other than that, he drove the group pretty well.” Gardner passed for 2,140 yards and 16 touchdowns last season with the Pirates.
Betting Wyoming
Regardless of who starts under center, WSU’s offense may very well find itself in a jam against the Cowboys’ defensive line. Senior defensive end Carl Granderson and junior defensive tackle Youhanna Ghaifan paced the Mountain West Conference in tackles for loss last season. Granderson had 16 and Ghaifan 15.5. Additionally, they had 9½ and seven sacks respectively, ranking them second and fourth in the conference. “Both of them are pretty boisterous out there,” head coach Craig Bohl said, “but what really helps is if they can be on the same side (and) you get a great push from a tackle, that shortens the edge for the end and vice versa. If that end’s coming on a pass rush, that’s not much room for the tackle. They’ve been a good complement to one another.”
They even may have some new tricks up their sleeves. “[Granderson] has this one move where he looks like he’s going to go outside like speed rush, but the next thing you know, he’s going inside,” offensive tackle Alonzo Velazquez said.
Washington State Cougars vs. Wyoming Cowboys Betting Information
- Date: September 1st.
- Time: 12:30 pm PT
- Venue: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY
Best online sportsbooks odds from BetOnline.ag:
- Washington State -3½ (-110)
- Wyoming +3½ (-110)
Top sportsbooks online betting trends
- The Cougars are 3-4 SU in their last seven games.
- The Cougars are 3-4 ATS in their last seven games.
- The total has gone over in four of the Cougars’ last five games.
- The Cowboys are 4-3 SU in their last seven games.
- The Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games.
- The total has gone under in six of the Cowboys’ last seven games.
FREE Pick: The Cougars’ uncertainty at QB and the Cowboys’ defensive skills leads one to believe that Wyoming could pull off the upset.
