Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Wyoming Cowboys

5Dimes Review Odds: Fresno State -11.5

Heading Into The Bowl: Fresno State

Internet sports betting handicappers watched the Bulldogs finished their regular season on Dec. 5 with a 53-52 win at Illinois, thanks to two highlight-reel plays at the end of regulation. With his team trailing, 52-45, FSU receiver Jamel Hamler caught a pass from quarterback Ryan Colburn and stretched the ball to the goal line a fraction of a second before his knee hit the ground at the 1. The touchdown with two seconds left enabled Fresno to attempt a game-deciding two-point conversion. On the play, Colburn lobbed a desperation pass that was knocked away from the goal line by an Illinois defender. However, FSU lineman Devan Cunningham made a legal reception of the tipped pass at the 5 and powered his way into the end zone for the winning score.

Heading Into The Bowl: Wyoming

Sports handicapping experts know that the Cowboys also lived on the edge in their final regular season game. Coach Dave Christensen’s club eked out a 17-16 victory at Colorado State to attain bowl eligibility. Wyoming quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels presided over an offense that totaled just 233 yards against Colorado State, but the signal caller generated just enough offense to produce the game’s winning points. Carta-Samuels ripped off a 49-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys a 14-13 fourth-quarter lead over the Rams, and when CSU retook the lead with a field goal, Carta-Samuels was able to lead his teammates downfield on a game-winning field goal drive. Wyoming kicker Ian Watts nailed a 33-yard boot with 1:27 left, and the Pokes held on to preserve the win.

The Matchup

As the New Mexico Bowl kicks off the 34-game bowl season, be forewarned about these postseason exhibitions: They’re extremely unpredictable. The normal rhythms of the regular season are gone, the motivation levels almost impossible to discern. Fresno State was a solid favorite against Colorado State in last year’s New Mexico Bowl, but the Bulldogs were flat as a tortilla – especially on defense – against the far more enthusiastic Rams. As a result, Colorado State powered its way to a 40-35 upset of Fresno, thanks to a whopping 285 rushing yards from running back Gartrell Johnson.

Wyoming shouldn’t roll up 619 yards the way Colorado State did last year in Albuquerque, but it’s hard to tell how mentally fresh Fresno will be. Coach Pat Hill’s Bulldogs are the more talented team, but they’ve been known to play down to their competition. Hill was recently retained as FSU’s head coach, so that fact should probably give the Bulldogs just enough incentive to play well. Fresno won’t blow out Wyoming, but the Bulldogs should ultimately corral the Cowboys. Fresno 27, Wyoming 17.

College Football Betting Pick: Wyoming +11.5

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