Wyoming vs. UC Davis Prediction, Game Preview


Wyoming vs. UC Davis prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Cowboys and Aggies.


Wyoming vs. UC Davis Game Preview

Head coach Craig Bohl narrowly led his team to a 40-34 win over Northern Illinois in Week 1, but things went much differently in the Cowboys’ second game of the season. Wyoming went on the road to Lincoln and fell to Nebraska, 52-17. The Cowboys went into halftime with a 10-point deficit. They battled back in the third quarter before the Cornhuskers hung 28 points on them in the fourth. 

As for UC Davis, it, too, had a reverse fortune from its first matchup. Two weeks ago, the Aggies went on the road to Eugene and fell to Oregon, 53-28. However, this past weekend was a complete 180-degree turn. UC Davis stomped on Southern Oregon, 52-36. The Aggies posted 35 points and allowed 21 points in the first half. The UC Davis offense skidded while Southern Oregon scored 14 points in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to take down the Aggies. 

What To Know About Wyoming

If there’s anything to know about the Cowboys offense, it’s the fact they love to run the ball. Running back Brian Hill has already broken into the end zone three times this season. He’s taken 50 carries for 174 yards, and quarterback Josh Allen is right behind him with 77 rushing yards on 17 carries. Throwing the ball hasn’t been as solid for Wyoming. Last weekend, Allen completed 16-of-32 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, but he was intercepted five times. However, Allen has seemed to find a groove with wide receiver Tanner Gentry, who caught seven balls for 124 yards and Allen’s lone touchdown throw. 

Clearly, with 52 points given up, the Cowboys defense wasn’t at its best. Safety Andrew Wingard recorded 13 total tackles, though, and Marcus Epps was right behind him with 11. Wingard also picked off Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. once. Linebacker D.J. May and defensive end Carl Granderson notched one sack each, and Wyoming ended up allowing 550 yards of total offense and 25 first downs to Nebraska.

What to Know About UC Davis

The Raiders certainly let the pigskin fly last week, and UC Davis made them pay. Southern Oregon quarterback Tanner Trosin completed 25-of-51 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns, but he was also picked off four times. Meanwhile, the Aggies also allowed 225 rushing yards and two touchdowns. UC Davis also forced and recovered a fumble against Souther Oregon.

Offensively, it was much smoother for the Aggies. Quarterback Ben Scott connected on 22-of-29 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns. He and wide receiver Ramon Vargas were dialing up their connection the whole game. Vargas ended up with six grabs for 208 yards and a score. But UC Davis also pounded the rock, too. Manusamoa Luuga and Joshua Kelley combined for 208 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.

Advantages

Offense: This one’s close, but Allen was very questionable last weekend. Scott is coming off a solid game, though. He and the combination of Luuga and Kelley give a slight edge to UC Davis here. 

Defense: Defensively, yes, Wyoming was smacked in the mouth by Nebraska. But at least the Cowboys didn’t surrender a ton of points to Southern Oregon. With Wingard roaming in the secondary, Wyoming get the nod. 

Special Teams: Cooper Rothe is 3-of-7 on field goal attempt so far. Matt Blair has hit 1-of-2 field goals, but the other one was blocked. Still, the threat of D.J. Mays in the kick return game gives the Cowboys the advantage. 

Coaching: Bohl built a quality program at North Dakota State, where he won three NCAA FCS championships, before heading to Wyoming. Ron Gould has been around the game a lot, too. He’s coached guys like C.J. Anderson, Shane Vereen and Marshawn Lynch, but Bohl has the better team and knows what to do with it. Wyoming gets this category, too. 

Matchup To Watch

 Josh Allen vs. Ben Scott

This one could come down to whichever quarterback messes up the least. You want to play to win the game instead of playing to not lose it, but both quarterbacks have to make smart decisions with the football. Whichever one gets into a rhythm early and minimizes the mistakes will end up getting the victory. 

Wyoming vs. UC Davis Betting Odds

Spread: N/A
Over/Under: N/A

Wyoming vs. UC Davis Prediction

Allen will be much sharper with the ball this time around. He’ll still throw a few questionable balls, but Wyoming will survive it and find itself with a double-digit lead at halftime. The Cowboys will control the time of possession by giving the ball to Hill and also letting Allen take off with it a few times. 

Luuga will do most of the damage on the ground for the Aggies and will score twice. But as the second half winds down, UC Davis will be caught in a position where it will have to start stretching the field vertically, and Scott will get intercepted by Wingard to put the game on ice.  

Wyoming vs. UC Davis Score Prediction: Wyoming 38, UC Davis 33

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