BYU Cougars vs Baylor Bears Betting Pick & Prediction 9/28/24
BYU is coming into this week five matchup against Baylor with a 4-0 record, while Baylor is 2-2 on the season. Kick-off is set for 12:00 ET at McLane Stadium in Waco, and you can catch the game on FS1. The over/under line is 45.5 points, and Baylor is the -3.5 point favorite at home. The money line odds are +136 for BYU and -164 for Baylor.
BYU COUGARS VS BAYLOR BEARS BETTING PICK
The Pick: BYU Cougars +3.5
This game will be played at McLane Stadium at 12:00 ET on Saturday, September 28th.
WHY BET THE BYU COUGARS:
- We have the BYU Cougars winning this one by a score of 25 to 19
- Not only do we have the BYU Cougars winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +3.5
- We see this game finishing below the line of 45.5 points
Will The BYU Cougars Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs
BYU is off to a perfect 4-0 start after their 38-9 win over Kansas State. Entering the game as +7.5 point underdogs, the Cougars not only won but also covered the spread. This was a big win for BYU, as Kansas State is a fellow Big 12 team. The over/under line was set at 49.5 points, but the game ended with just 47 combined points, hitting the under.
BYU took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, and after Kansas State added a field goal in the second, the Cougars outscored them 14-0 in the second quarter to take a 17-6 lead at halftime. BYU continued to dominate in the second half, outscoring Kansas State 21-3 to remain undefeated.
BYU’s offense, led by quarterback Jake Retzlaff, put up 319 yards and 38 points in their 38-9 win. Retzlaff completed 15 of 21 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns, earning a passer rating of 122.92. Chase Roberts was the top receiver, with two catches for 47 yards.
The Cougars’ ground game was effective, with 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Sione Moa led the team with 76 yards on 15 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt, and also found the end zone.
BYU’s defense was effective in their most recent game, holding Kansas State to just 9 points and 367 total yards. The Cougars’ defense was particularly strong against the pass, allowing just 139 yards on 16 completions. They also came up with two interceptions. However, BYU did struggle to stop the run, giving up 228 yards on the ground.
Are The Baylor Bears Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?
Baylor is looking to bounce back after a tough 38-31 road loss to Colorado, bringing their season record to 2-2. The Bears, who were +2.5 point underdogs, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The combined score of 69 points surpassed the over/under line of 52.5 points.
After trailing 7-3 in the first quarter, Baylor outscored Colorado 21-10 in the second quarter to take a 24-17 lead at halftime. However, the Bears were shut out in the third quarter, and although they tied the game at 31-31 by the end of the fourth quarter, they lost 7-0 in overtime.
After their 38-31 road loss to Colorado, Baylor’s offense will be looking to bounce back. The Bears put up 314 yards of total offense, with 166 yards coming on the ground. Sawyer Robertson, who led the team in rushing with 82 yards and a touchdown, also threw for 148 yards, completing 52.4% of his passes. Robertson connected with Hal Presley twice for 43 yards, the most on the team.
In their 38-31 road loss to Colorado, Baylor’s defense allowed 433 total yards. The Bears struggled to contain the passing game, giving up 341 yards through the air on 25 completions. Their secondary will need to improve, as they allowed two passing touchdowns. On the ground, Baylor’s defense was more effective, holding Colorado to just 92 rushing yards, but they did surrender three rushing touchdowns.