Wyoming gets 23.5 points in Week 3 pick against Utah at War Memorial Stadium
Improved Cowboy defense and expected Utah game script lead New York Post betting pick of Wyoming +23.5
New York Post betting analysts are siding with the Wyoming Cowboys as underdogs in Saturday night’s college football matchup at War Memorial Stadium, recommending a wager on Wyoming +23.5 (-110 on FanDuel) against the Utah Utes.
The pick leans on Wyoming’s defensive turnaround and the expectation that Utah’s offensive game plan will limit possessions and keep the score within the spread. Utah arrives 2-0 after routs of UCLA and Cal Poly, while Wyoming is 2-0 following wins over Akron and Northern Iowa.
Utah’s ascension this season has been driven largely by quarterback Devon Dampier, who completed 38 of 48 passes (79.2 percent) for 398 yards and five touchdowns in the Utes’ first two games and added 112 rushing yards and a rushing score. Dampier has drawn national attention and is listed at 16-1 in some Heisman Trophy markets. Utah is also being discussed as an early Big 12 favorite after its opening victories.
Analysts caution, however, that Utah’s résumé so far has come against teams that may not represent the toughest competition. UCLA’s program is in a rebuilding phase, and that team’s earlier loss to UNLV after the Rose Bowl meeting weakens the sheen of Utah’s 43-10 win in Week 1, according to the betting writeup.
Wyoming, meanwhile, appears to be making a defensive recovery after a disappointing 2024. Head coach Jay Sawvel and his staff reworked the unit with transfers and junior-college additions, and the Cowboys have held Akron and Northern Iowa to a combined seven points through two games. Those opponents are not high-end competition, but the improvement in defensive results is one of the primary reasons bettors are taking a large spread in Laramie.
Offensively, Wyoming was scoreless through much of its 10-0 win over Akron before showing more in Week 2. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kaden Anderson — who took over late last season — has been described as efficient in moving the ball, and the team benefits from an experienced offensive line. The combination of a conservative Utah attack that leans on the run and a Wyoming defense that has limited scoring creates the projection that the Cowboys can cover a large spread.
The setting adds to the game’s profile: War Memorial Stadium, at nearly 7,200 feet in Laramie, Wyo., is known for its picturesque twilight games and distinctive atmosphere, factors that can affect visiting teams.
The New York Post pick — Wyoming +23.5 at -110 — was made by Michael Leboff, identified in the writeup as a sports bettor with a decade of experience in the gambling industry. The recommendation notes that if Utah’s Dampier has another breakout performance, Utah could win comfortably; the wager rests on the belief that the game script and Wyoming’s early defensive gains make the spread attractive for bettors.
Utah’s schedule also plays a role in the projection. The Utes are expected to have a significant Big 12 matchup after this trip to Laramie, which could influence play-calling and clock management, and make a conservative approach more likely.
Kickoff at War Memorial Stadium is scheduled for Saturday night. Betting lines and odds are subject to change as injury news, weather and late-week developments emerge.