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The game of the year in college football and the most watched game on ESPNU since 2015 saw the BYU Cougars came up just one-yard short of pulling off a dramatic, last minute comeback in the final minute. With a loss now on their resume, the Cougars return home where they will close their barnstorming 2020 regular season against the San Diego State Aztecs.
The college football world is still buzzing over last Saturday’s thriller between BYU and Coastal Carolina, a matchup that was put together in less than three day’s time after Coastal’s scheduled game against Liberty was canceled due to COVID-19. What ensued was the Cougars’ very brand of physicality being turned against them as presumptive 2021 NFL Draft first-round quarterback Zach Wilson was roughed up throughout the majority of the game. Despite that, the BYU QB managed to march his team down the field within the final minute, where his attempt at a walkoff touchdown pass to Dax Milne came up just short, resulting in a 22-17 defeat.
Wilson, who is set to cross 3,000 yards and potential 30 touchdowns on the year this Saturday, has led a BYU offense currently ranked eighth in offensive SP+. Complementing them through 10 games has been a defense ranked 15th in defensive SP+, forcing 13 turnovers and allowing 20 or more points only three times this season.
Heading into Provo is a San Diego State squad that downed Colorado State last week 29-17 thanks to both a kickoff return and punt return touchdown on special teams. At 4-3, the strength of the team has been on one side of the football, with the defense ranking fifth in defensive SP+. The offense? 118th. This means Brady Hoke has indeed returned to the sidelines.
Game Time/TV Channel/Streaming
You can watch San Diego State vs. #18 BYU on Saturday, December 12th at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2, or you can stream it via the ESPN app with a cable or streaming login.
Point Spread, Totals, Odds, Trends
Point spread: San Diego State vs. BYU (-17)
Point Total: 47.5
Money line: San Diego State (+600), BYU (-1000)
Betting splits against spread
San Diego State: (11% of action, 10% of bets)
BYU: (89% of action, 90% of bets)
The Best Bet
Expect the Cougars to come out angry after last week’s loss at Coastal and run it up offensively on the Aztecs to get to 10 wins.
Pick: BYU (-17)
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