NCAAF: BYU vs. Boise State odds, preview, and pick

Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin talks to his players. (Photo by Kyle Kester/Icon Sportswire)

November 3rd, 2020

We are privileged to get a Friday-night matchup between two undefeated, high-quality teams from outside the Power Five conferences.

BYU will head to the blue turf to take on Boise State in a game that could decide the top-ranked non-Power Five team in the country.

BYU vs. Boise State

Boise State has been nearly unbeatable at home

BYU is 7-0 and 5-2 ATS, while Boise State is 2-0 and 2-0 ATS. Dating back to 2005, Boise State has been the most successful home team in the NCAA, with a 90-8 (91%) record. The Broncos are just 44-49-1 ATS during that time, though, which is representative of their position as a conference powerhouse that defeats weaker competition.

Wilson has been on point in 2020

BYU does not represent weaker competition, and the Cougars are led by fantastic quarterback Zach Wilson. Wilson has completed 74.7% of his attempts on the year, with an 11.2 yards-per-attempt average and with a touchdown to interception ratio of 19-2. He is a longshot to win the Heisman Trophy, thanks to his elite play and winning ways.

Has there been a better deep passer than Zach Wilson this season?

(Hint: The answer is no.) pic.twitter.com/ncjESzNL3i
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 27, 2020

QB is a question mark for Boise State

Boise State has a talented quarterback of its own, Hank Bachmeier, but whether he will be available for Friday night’s game is in question, after he missed last week’s game for an undisclosed reason.

THAT IS HOW YOU GET A GAME GOING!!

Jack Sears gets his @BroncoSportsFB career going with a TD just 10 seconds in. pic.twitter.com/prWRczWAi5
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 31, 2020

Backup Jack Sears filled in well in Boise State’s matchup against Air Force. He completed 17 of his 20 pass attempts for 280 yards and three touchdowns, but head coach Bryan Harsin would surely like his normal starter back.

BYU has more experience, a better quarterback, and has proven it can handle a team that wants to play a shootout, after its 43-26 defeat of Houston earlier in the year. The BYU rushing attack is nothing special, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it forces the Cougars to put the ball in the hands of their brilliant quarterback more frequently.

Friday will be Wilson's time to shine

I’ll take the Cougars, before this line moves. BYU is 4-1 ATS in its last five games at Boise State, and 12-5 in its last 17 road games overall. The blue turf doesn’t intimidate BYU, and this is Wilson’s best opportunity to leave an imprint on the national stage.