Cowboy Up

I get it. Today's Florida Atlantic v Wyoming match-up won't be a headline-grabber.

But I'll have vested interest in this one, as I see a real weakness in the oddsmaker's line.  

For example, Bovada has the home Cowboys posted as a measly four-point favorite, and that's not giving Wyoming near enough credit here.  

The Cowboys are coming off a tough 48-14 loss at Oregon last week, but unless your team dons the green and gold, just about every game is tough there. However, the Cowboys did cover the 42-point spread, making it two straight weeks the cashed after coming from behind to cover and win straight up against Air Force the week before.  

In talent level, this week's Wyoming opponent drops about as far as a walk from Boca Raton to Laramie. That's part of the reason I'll be backing the Cowboys.

On the other side of the ball is an FAU Owl squad that opened the season getting blown out twice on the road by Nebraska and Alabama. It seems that brutal scheduling may have paid off when they unloaded on Tulsa last week, 50-21, after being installed as only a one-point favorite.

So after a a bit of a down week for Wyoming and such a big high for the Owls, why back Wyoming?

Well it's for those reasons exactly, coupled with Wyoming playing at home. The Cowboys just sqaured off against what's likely the fastest team in college football with a Heisman hopeful playing quarterback. So any team from a mid-major conference will likely look like molasses the following week.

And on the Owl's side, it'll be a tall order to repeat such a dominant performance, having to travel about three-quarters of the way across the continent, not to mention playing in the stadium with the highest elevation in the nation. No, for a team from Florida, this will be no day at the beach.

In fact, hardly any of Florida Atlantic's games are when the Owls are away from home.

Notice one key stat on the Bovada data tool on the Home page. It mentions FAU's dismal record on the road, going back several seasons of 4-21 straight up.

This won't be No 5. The travel, altitude, and having to face a decent team that just met up with Oregon will be too much. This one will go the way of the Cowboys.

It'll probably be worth a rather aggressive play, too. I think oddsmakers are missing this one by at least a field goal. Wyoming wins by a touchdown minimum, and that means their backers win, as well.

My pick:  Wyoming     -4

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Result:  Wyoming 20 Florida Atlantic 19     Owls cover

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