Live Free Picks
Home Of 500 Handicappers
Oregon State has been one the biggest surprises in the nation this year, but the Beavers will have to move forward without star quarterback Sean Mannion starting with Saturday’s game at BYU. And the Cougars are 2.5-point favorites on vegassportsbetting.com
Mannion, a sophomore, is out indefinitely after suffering a knee injury in last week’s win against Washington State. Mannion played the entire game against the Cougars but didn’t play well, throwing three of his four interceptions of the season in a 19-6 win for the Beavers. Mannion will require surgery, but there are no further details on the timing of the surgery or recovery.
Mannion completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,358 yards with seven touchdowns. Under Mannion, the Beavers have the Pac-12′s fourth-rated offense, averaging 459.5 yards per game and the league’s No. 2 passing attack.
Junior Cody Vaz will replace Mannion against BYU. Vaz last saw game action in 2010 when he completed six of 17 passes for 48 yards.
BYU (4-2) beat Utah State in an ugly 6-3 game last week to win its second straight. With Riley Nelson still hampered by a sore back, freshman quarterback Taysom Hill stepped up again, passing for 235 yards and a touchdown. BYU’s defense has not allowed a touchdown in 13 straight quarters, and held the Aggies’ high-powered duo of Chuckie Keeton and Kerwynn Williams in check most of the game.
Hill was lost for the season in the win due to a knee injury. Hill suffered a torn LCL in his left knee and damaged his hamstring after absorbing a hard hit on the third-to-last play of the game.
He is expected to undergo surgery in the next week and will be sidelined for 4-6 months. Now, Nelson — who acknowledged Monday that he was playing with “fractures” in his back before he was sidelined — will lead the Cougar offense.
Saturday’s game marks BYU’s annual Homecoming contest. The Cougars have a 44-21 record all-time on Homecoming games, including a 6-1 record under head coach Bronco Mendenhall.
This is the 11th meeting between BYU and Oregon State. The series is tied 5-5, with the Cougars winning last year’s meeting in Corvallis 38-28. Oregon State won the last matchup in Provo with a 10-7 victory in 1986.
Vegas trends: Beavers are 4-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Beavers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Beavers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. Cougars are 7-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Cougars are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game. Cougars are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
Place your NCAA college bets at our online sportsbook!
