Kent State Vs. Wyoming Betting Odds, Picks, and Predictions (12/21/21)

These two teams had very different starts and finishes to the season on their way to virtually the same record – Kent State finished 7-6, and Wyoming finished 6-6. The Golden Flashes struggled through the first part of the year with three losses in four games to Power Five teams, but they recovered and went 4-2 in their final six games of the season. The Cowboys, meanwhile, went 4-0 to start the year and looked like they might make a real push for the Mountain West conference championship before slipping with a 2-6 record in their final eight games. It will be interesting to see if the momentum for Kent State will play a significant role in this game, and it certainly plays a part in the team opening as four-point favorites.

Kent State Golden Flashes Vs. Wyoming Cowboys Betting Odds

Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Odds

The Golden Flashes came up just short of winning the Mid-American Conference with a loss to Northern Illinois in the season’s final game, but it was a successful year for the team by all accounts. Kent State is just 1-3 all-time in bowl games, but the team won its only bowl appearance under current head coach Sean Lewis with a 51-41 win over Utah State in the Frisco Bowl two years ago.

Dustin Crum is coming off a very successful season, his last of college football eligibility, as he threw for 16 touchdowns and added another 11 scores on the ground. However, inconsistency got the better of him in crucial games. He completed just 52.4% of his passes and threw two interceptions in the team’s last game against Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship. Crum was the All-Mac First Team quarterback.

Crum is well-supported by Marquez Cooper, the sophomore running back who ran for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns and finished on the All-Mac Second Team. Dante Cephas, who joined Crum on the All-Mac First Team, also had an exceptional season to finish with 78 catches for 1,124 yards and eight touchdowns. Kent State also got great production from its offensive line in both run-blocking and pass-blocking.

As good as Kent State was on offense, they were held back by a porous defense, even by MAC standards. The only player on defense for the Golden Flashes that made an All-MAC team was a defensive back, Elvis Hines. Kent State allowed 35.1 points per game, ranking 119th out of 130 FBS teams, and they allowed their opponent to register 40+ points in four of their final five games of the season.

Wyoming Cowboys Betting Odds

Wyoming is 8-8 all-time in bowl games, but 2-0 in its last two bowl appearances, both under Craig Bohl, who is bringing the program increased stability and success. In this same bowl game, one of those two games was a win over Central Michigan in 2017. The Cowboys are 4-2 in their last six bowl game appearances.

The days of Josh Allen leading the Wyoming offense are long gone, and the two-quarterback system with Sean Chambers and Levi Williams has not brought the offense much success. Isaiah Neyor led the team with 39 catches for 791 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he made the All-Mountain West Second Team, but this team is not defined by passing offense.

The strength of the Cowboys’ offense is in the ground game with a dynamic rushing offense led by Xazavian Valladay – 190 carries for 984 yards and five touchdowns – and Titus Swen – 124 carries for 737 yards and seven touchdowns. Wyoming loves to establish the ground game early and often, and the Cowboys ran for over 360 yards in two of their last four games of the season.

Wyoming’s defense has been much more successful than Kent State’s this season, and they rank 50th in the country in defensive touchdown rate as they have prevented teams from finishing their drives off with six points. Chad Muma had an incredible season as an All-Mountain West First Team linebacker with a team-leading 129 tackles and three interceptions, two of which he turned into touchdowns.

Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Wyoming Cowboys Picks & Prediction

The Trends

• Golden Flashes are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games
• Golden Flashes are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as underdogs
• Cowboys are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 bowl games
• Cowboys are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games as favorites
• Over is 4-1 in the Cowboys’ last 5 games

The Prediction

The keys to success for Wyoming in this game will be limiting Kent State’s ability to finish drives with touchdowns, and their run game will be a critical part of that plan with the ability to maintain time of possession. However, the Cowboys average fewer than 30 minutes of possession per game, and they haven’t shown the ability to play the grind-it-out style this year.

The Golden Flashes have been unable to get key stops on defense all year, so this game will come down to Dustin Crum’s ability to have a big game. Luckily for the Golden Flashes, I expect Crum to turn up in this game and bring some explosive offense to the table. Kent State has momentum entering this game, and Crum will leave his heart on the field in his final collegiate game.

I like the Golden Flashes’ offense to do enough to win them this game in what should be a high-powered offensive game.

My Pick: Kent State wins 38-34, Kent State covers, over 59.5 points