Poinsettia Bowl Betting: BYU vs. Wyoming Odds, Analysis and Pick

BYU may be playing in a bowl for the 12th straight season, but it's also 0-3 both straight up and against the spread over its last three bowl appearances. The Cougars shoot to stop that skid when they renew acquaintances with longtime rival Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl on Wednesday, December 21 at 9 p.m. ET in San Diego.

Poinsettia Bowl point spread: The Cougars opened as 7.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark (view line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via OddsShark computer: 37.9-29.2 Cougars (view college football picks on every game).

Why the BYU Cougars can cover the spread

Brigham Young started 1-3 this season, losing to Utah, UCLA and West Virginia by a total of seven points. Then, with a spark from unretired running back Jamaal Williams, the Cougars won seven of their last eight games, including their last four in a row. And the only defeat over that span came at Boise State by one point.

BYU closed out its regular season with a 28-10 victory over Utah State, covering as 17-point favorites. The Cougars outgained the Aggies 355-200, outrushed them 249-97 and won time of possession by a 37-23 split. BYU has now outgained each of its last four opponents and outrushed its last five.

The Cougars lost quarterback Taysom Hill for the season to an elbow injury, but backup Tanner Mangum is no rookie, having thrown 446 passes (with 23 touchdowns) while filling in for an injured Hill last year.

Why the Wyoming Cowboys can cover the spread

The Cowboys evolved into one of the most pleasant surprises in college football this season, winning the MWC's Mountain Division title one year after going 2-10. Wyoming started 2-2 this year and then won five in a row, including an upset of Boise State. A later victory over San Diego State earned the Cowboys their first berth in the Mountain West Championship Game. They gave the Aztecs a good battle in a rematch, losing 27-24 but covering as seven-point dogs.

Wyoming grabbed an early 10-0 lead on San Diego State, fell down 24-10 and rallied to within a field goal with six minutes left but could get no closer. On the night, the Cowboys outgained the Aztecs 343-327, so they've now outgained six of their last eight opponents and outrushed six of their last nine.

Wyoming is also 6-1 ATS this year as an underdog on the betting lines.

Smart pick

The Cowboys may hold a short edge on offense, but the Cougars own a significant advantage on defense. And in matchups like this one, the better defense is almost always the better bet at online sports betting sites.

Betting trends

BYU is 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS in its last seven games against Wyoming.

Wyoming is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games.

BYU is 0-3 SU and ATS in its last three games in the postseason.

All college football lines and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.