Virginia at BYU odds, picks and prediction
The Virginia Cavaliers (6-2) and No. 25 BYU Cougars (6-2) meet for a Saturday 10:15 p.m. ET game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Below, we look at the Virginia vs. BYU odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Virginia takes a top-15 offense - and a four-game win streak - into Saturday's tilt at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Cavaliers are coming off a 48-40 win over Georgia Tech, and have played three one-score games over their last four contests. With junior QB Brennan Armstrong (64.2% completion rate, 23 TD passes) leading the way, the Wahoos rank fourth in the nation in total yards (539.5 per game) and 16th in scoring (37.6 points per game).
The Cougars are back at home after tough back-to-back contests on the road (at Baylor, at Washington State). Brigham Young went 1-1 on the trip, with the win coming at Wazzou last week. BYU has won 12 of its last 13 at home.
Virginia at BYU odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:00 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Virginia +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | BYU -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Virginia +2.5 (-110) | BYU -2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 65.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Virginia at BYU odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Virginia 34, BYU 28
Money line
PASS, but consider a line watch: grab Virginia if the Cavaliers get to +120.
Against the spread
BYU is 4-10 ATS across its last 14 games vs. winning teams. The Cougars scoring figures are a bit fortunate compared to the quality of BYU's drives in general. The opposite holds true for the UVA defense. (So, a bit of red-zone/inside-the-40 regression spells some lean toward Virginia.)
Last week's UVA win over Georgia Tech was more of a rout than what showed in a garbage-score-tainted final score. An earlier close shave at Louisville (34-33) was a clear statistical win for the Wahoos. UL had a couple big plays find pay dirt, and the Cardinals had three scoring drives of less-than-40 yards.
Former BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall now leads Virginia. His Cavaliers head into a bye week after this trip. In time spanning his years in Charlottesville and Provo, Mendenhall's teams are five for their last six ATS in road efforts before a bye.
UVA will be the best passing game BYU has seen. The Cougars are 1-2 ATS against the three best passing teams it has seen. The one win (Utah State) was influenced by a plus-2 turnover margin and a late BYU score.
TAKE VIRGINIA +2.5 (-110).
Over/Under
The Under is 20-10 over BYU's last 30 home games. This total is higher than any of those 30.
UVA has a really good offense, but its monster performances have come on its home turf.
TAKE THE UNDER 65.5 (-107).
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